Gender Promotion Gaps: Career Aspirations and Workplace Discrimination

Ghazala Azmat, Cuñat, Vicente and Emeric Henry
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Vicente Cuñat

No 14311, CEPR Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Policy Research

Abstract: Using a representative survey of U.S. lawyers, we document a sizeable gender gap in early partnership aspirations, which explains half of the later gender promotion gap. We propose a model to understand aspirations and then empirically test it. We show that aspirations induce greater effort and increase regret if a promotion is not obtained. Furthermore, aspirations are linked to fertility choices and workplace experiences (mentoring and discrimination). Facing harassment or demeaning comments at an early career stage affects later promotion, mediated via a change in aspirations. We highlight that measuring aspirations, and understanding how they are formed, is key to explaining gender career gaps.

Keywords: Promotion; Career aspirations; Gender gaps (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J16 J44 K40 M51 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hrm and nep-law
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Gender Promotion Gaps: Career Aspirations and Workplace Discrimination (2020)
Working Paper: Gender Promotion Gaps: Career Aspirations and Workplace Discrimination (2020)
Working Paper: Gender Promotion Gaps: Career Aspirations and Workplace Discrimination (2020)
Working Paper: Gender Promotion Gaps: Career Aspirations and Workplace Discrimination (2020)
Working Paper: Gender Promotion Gaps: Career Aspirations and Workplace Discrimination (2020)
Working Paper: Gender Promotion Gaps: Career Aspirations and Workplace Discrimination (2020)
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