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The family origin of the math gender gap is a white affluent phenomenon

Gaia Dossi, David Figlio, Paola Giuliano and Paola Sapienza


Previous research has shown that norms around the role of women in society could help explain the gender gap in mathematics and that these norms could be transmitted within the family. Using data from the Florida Department of Education combined with birth certificates, we uncover important heterogeneity in the transmission of gender biases within the family. We find that gender role norms can explain the lower performance of girls in mathematics only in relatively affluent White families, whereas they do not apparently matter for the performance of Black girls.


1 May 2021


AEA Papers & Proceedings 111, pp.179-183, 2021


DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20211124

https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/pandp.20211124

This Journal article is published under the centre's Education programme, Growth programme.