Persistence and Changes in Gender Norms | Prof. Uta Schoenberg
Economics Eminent Speaker Series
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Abstract: While female labor supply and gender role attitudes vary substantially across countries, persistent gender gaps in employment and wages exist in all countries. The arrival of children is one of the primary reasons for persistent gender inequalities in the labor market, which Bertrand (2020) describes as one of the key “pain points” preventing gender equality in the labor market. Despite notable increases in mothers’ workforce participation during the 1970s and 1980s, progress has stagnated, and in some cases regressed, over the past 10 to 30 years. In this public lecture, Uta Schӧnberg will delve into the impact of culture and gender norms on women’s post-childbirth labor market choices. She will explore key questions such as: What role does a woman’s upbringing in a particular culture (“childhood culture”) play in shaping her decisions? How does exposure to a different cultural environment in adulthood (“adult culture”) influence maternal labor participation? Is a childhood culture that is more gender-egalitarian likely to have a lasting impact compared to a more traditional one? Drawing on international research findings and insights from the unique context of German reunification, the lecture aims to shed light on these complex questions.
About the Speaker: Uta Schoenberg is the Chair of Economics at the University of Hong Kong and a Professor of Economics at University College London (currently on leave). Her research focuses on Applied Microeconomics, with a particular emphasis on Labor Economics. She is currently working on topics such as the effects of business and payroll taxation on firms and workers and firm-provided family friendly policies. Uta Schoenberg served as a Joint Managing Editor at the Review of Economic Studies from 2016 to 2021. She is a Fellow of the British Academy, the Society of Labor Economists, and the Econometric Society. Currently, she serves as a Co-Editor at the American Economic Review.
