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Role models among us: Experimental evidence on inspirations and gender disparities set in stones

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  • Bhan, Prateek Chandra
  • Wen, Jinglin

Abstract

Historical monuments and statues mediate a conversation between the past and present. In this randomised controlled trial, we test the presence of such communications and their consequences. Focusing on a cohort of primary school students in India, we study the role modelling effect of historical statues. Students in the treatment group were exposed to a short virtual tour of otherwise locally present yet then inaccessible statues due to the Covid pandemic. The placebo group watched a video on the same role models, comprising of images of these role models instead of their statue. There was a third pure control group. Immediately after the 6-minute intervention, students watching the treatment video performed better than the placebo and control groups in a memory test. We detect improvements in treated students' academic performance after a month, which are sustained after 6-months. The treatment affects only boys suggesting that the lack of female role models and their statues may attribute to this gender gap in academic performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Bhan, Prateek Chandra & Wen, Jinglin, 2024. "Role models among us: Experimental evidence on inspirations and gender disparities set in stones," Working Papers 39, University of Konstanz, Cluster of Excellence "The Politics of Inequality. Perceptions, Participation and Policies".
  • Handle: RePEc:zbw:cexwps:301858
    DOI: 10.48787/kops/352-2-1v78ujgxx8kbb3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Statues; role models; aspirations; education; gender; India;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development

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