The Department of Economics Theory, History and Development Seminar series presents

"On the Origins of Gender Roles: Women and the Plough"
with Paola Giuliano, UCLA

April 2, 2012
3:30-5:00 p.m.
Social Science Plaza A, Room 2112

Giuliano's talk will explain the historical origins of cross-cultural differences in beliefs about the appropriate role of women in society. Her research tests the hypothesis that traditional agricultural practices influenced the historical gender division of labor and the evolution and persistence of gender norms. She has found that, consistent with existing hypotheses, the descendants of societies that traditionally practiced plough agriculture, today have less equal gender norms, measured using reported gender-role attitudes and female participation in the workplace, politics and entrepreneurial activities. To test for the importance of culture, she examined second-generation immigrants living within Europe and the United States. She finds that even among individuals born and raised in the same country, those with a heritage of traditional plough use exhibit less equal beliefs about gender roles today.

For further information, please contact Gloria Simpson, simpsong@uci.edu.