The effect of gender norms on gender-based sorting across occupations

Abstract

Despite the notable progress that has been made in bridging the gap between women and men in the world of work, women are still underrepresented in many occupations. In this article, the effect of gender norms on whether women enter male-dominated occupations is analysed using differences in gender equality among early-arrival migrants. The variations in gender norms according to the cultural backgrounds of those migrants by country of origin are exploited to identify their impact on occupational choices. Using data from the American Community Survey, it is found that greater gender equality in the country of origin reduces the gender gap in male-dominated occupations. Suggestive evidence is further shown on the roles of job flexibility and women’s relative preferences for family-friendly jobs in shaping gender-based sorting across occupations.