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Beliefs about gender differences in social preferences

Author

Listed:
  • Christine L. Exley

    (Harvard Business School, Harvard University)

  • Oliver P. Hauser

    (Department of Economics, University of Exeter)

  • Molly Moore

    (Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University)

  • John-Henry Pezzuto

    (Harvard Business School, Harvard University)

Abstract

While there is a vast (and mixed) literature on gender differences in social preferences, little is known about believed gender differences in social preferences. Using data from 15 studies and 8,979 individuals, we find that women are believed to be more generous and more equality-oriented than men. This believed gender gap is robust across a wide range of contexts that vary in terms of strategic considerations, selfish motives, fairness concepts, and payoffs. Yet, this believed gender gap is largely inaccurate. Consistent with models of associative memory, and specifically the role of similarity and interference, the believed gender gap is correlated with recalled prior life experiences from similar contexts and significantly affected by an experience that may interfere with the recall process of prior memories even though this interfering experience should not affect the beliefs of perfect-memory Bayesians. Application studies further reveal that believed gender differences extend to the household (i.e., beliefs about contributions to the home, family, and upbringing of children), the workplace (i.e., beliefs about equal pay) and policy views (i.e., beliefs about redistribution, equal access to education, healthcare, and affordable housing).

Suggested Citation

  • Christine L. Exley & Oliver P. Hauser & Molly Moore & John-Henry Pezzuto, 2022. "Beliefs about gender differences in social preferences," Discussion Papers 2204, University of Exeter, Department of Economics, revised 10 May 2024.
    • Handle: RePEc:exe:wpaper:2204
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    File URL: https://exetereconomics.github.io/RePEc/dpapers/DP2204.pdf
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Pedro Bordalo & Giovanni Burro & Katherine Coffman & Nicola Gennaioli & Andrei Shleifer, 2023. "Imagining the Future: Memory, Simulation and Beliefs," Working Papers 701, IGIER (Innocenzo Gasparini Institute for Economic Research), Bocconi University.
    2. Pedro Bordalo & Giovanni Burro & Katherine B. Coffman & Nicola Gennaioli & Andrei Shleifer, 2022. "Imagining the Future: Memory, Simulation and Beliefs about Covid," NBER Working Papers 30353, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Kai Barron & Robert Stüber & Roel van Veldhuizen, 2022. "Moral Motive Selection in the Lying-Dictator Game," CESifo Working Paper Series 9911, CESifo.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    experiments; gender; altruism;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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