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Born to care (or not): How gender role attitudes affect occupational sorting

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  • Carlianne Patrick
  • Heather Stephens
  • Amanda Weinstein

Abstract

Occupation segregation explains a significant portion of the gender wage gap, with women working in lower paid female‐dominated occupations. We examine how childhood and adolescent exposure to gender biased norms about work influence this occupational sorting. We document that early life exposure to traditional gender role attitudes, which view women's role as caretakers, increase women's likelihood of employment in care occupations and decrease the likelihood for men, thereby increasing the gender care occupation gap. A decomposition of the factors affecting this sorting shows that a primary channel is through differences in the choice of post‐secondary field of study or major. Our results suggest that traditional gender role attitudes may work to segment the labor market for men and women and contribute to the gender wage gap. This suggests that more egalitarian gender role attitudes which increase the share of men entering care occupations would increase wages for both men and women, lowering the gender wage gap.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlianne Patrick & Heather Stephens & Amanda Weinstein, 2024. "Born to care (or not): How gender role attitudes affect occupational sorting," LABOUR, CEIS, vol. 38(2), pages 203-229, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:labour:v:38:y:2024:i:2:p:203-229
    DOI: 10.1111/labr.12261
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    1. Elaine Kelly & Isabel Stockton, 2024. "A senior doctor like me: Gender match and occupational choice," IFS Working Papers W24/11, Institute for Fiscal Studies.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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