Gender inequalities at work - Focus on research at TSE

On the occasion of International Women's Day, we are sharing with you the work conducted at TSE related to gender inequalities in the workplace.

• Discover the full articles by TSE researchers on gender inequality in the TSE MAG

Here is a list of articles related to gender inequalities in the workplace:

• "Behind the Shadow of War" - Victor Gay revisits the impact of women's extensive participation in armament factories during World War I. His research indicates that this massive involvement wasn't as liberating for women as presumed. Instead, women found themselves impoverished, and the post-war era saw a return to patriarchal family norms. However, Gay's research reveals that descendants of World War I workers hold more progressive views on women's roles in the workforce.
• "Why So Few Women Become Economists?" - Emmanuelle Auriol attempts to answer this question in her research. Indeed, women are significantly underrepresented in the field of economics. Women face sexism, especially during job interviews, as revealed by several studies on the online forum Economics Job Market Rumors. The proportion of women in economics departments is lowest in North America. American institutions seem to impose more stringent standards on women. In TSE Mag, Emmanuelle Auriol also shares her experiences as a female economist and provides advice to young economists on combating these inequalities.
• "The Professional Network, a Male Privilege?" - Marie Lalanne examines the difference between the personal and professional networks of men and women and its impact on the proportion of women in leadership positions. Men tend to rely on extensive networks with looser ties, while women rely on tightly-knit networks. The latter are less effective in recruiting for high-level positions. Homophily exacerbates male dominance by encouraging incumbent men to hire other men.
• "The Child, the Real Salary Anchor for His Mother!" - Helmuth Cremer, Emmanuel Thibault, and Francesca Barigozzi (University of Bologna) explore policies that could reduce gender inequalities in the workplace related to the arrival of a child. Women experience a decrease in income following childbirth by forgoing their jobs to perform unpaid work at home. This decrease in female labor supply can trigger a negative spiral leading to permanent poverty. The researchers mention numerous policies such as temporary wage subsidies, childcare services, or paternity leave that could help mothers avoid falling into a low-wage trap.

• We also invite you to listen to the Crossing Channel podcast entitled "Why Are Women Disadvantaged in the Workplace?".

The host of this podcast, Rory Cellan-Jones, former technology correspondent for the BBC, welcomes three renowned researchers to discuss the role of women in the workplace.

Emmanuelle Auriol (TSE / IAST), Dr. Nina M. Jörden (Bennett Institute for Public Policy), and Francesca Bargigozzi (University of Bologna) discuss and delve into the reasons why women are disadvantaged at work.

The experts address the following questions:

- Why are women underrepresented in certain positions?

- Why does the gender pay gap related to motherhood persist?

- How does flexible work affect women's careers?

- And what should policy do to reduce gender inequalities in the workplace?

The experts explain that women perform better in school but continue to face a glass ceiling. They remain overrepresented in low-paying jobs and part-time employment. The gender pay gap remains significant and is linked both to wage gaps and the fact that women work fewer hours per week.

Gender discrimination exists on the employer side, mainly in jobs that cannot be objectively evaluated as science can. This is knowing that women are underrepresented in scientific professions.

Social norms also play a significant role in women's involvement in the labor market. They face a motherhood penalty, having to pause their careers to care for children. This phenomenon varies in intensity depending on the country concerned.

The experts also discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on work and the new flexibility of work, which particularly affects women.

At the end of the podcast, Emmanuelle Auriol, Dr. Nina M. Jörden, and Francesca Bargigozzi propose certain policies aimed at reducing gender inequalities, focusing particularly on education.

Listen to the podcast (recorded in English):