CHE Seminar Series: We Don't Talk About Boys: Lack of communication and misperceived masculinity norms
How do adolescents form their views about what is expected of their gender? This paper provides causal evidence that the lack of communication drives incorrect inferences about what their peers think regarding gender norms about men. I conduct a field experiment that encourages communication about masculinity norms among peers with 2,249 Brazilian teenagers in 22 schools. I show that a majority of male and female adolescents overestimate the share of classmates who hold traditional views of masculinity with respect to emotional vulnerability and the use of violence. I then randomly assign adolescents to a structured discussion group to learn peers’ opinions about these masculinity beliefs, or to a control discussion. The masculinity discussion groups reduce misperceptions about classmates’ beliefs by at least 50% in the short run. The effects are similar whether students self-selected into speaking, or were randomly selected. In the medium run, effects persist, indicating that there is no persuasion between students once the discussion is over.
Speaker profile
Ieda Matavelli is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of New South Wales and received her PhD in Economics from the University of British Columbia in July 2023. Ieda undertakes large-scale field experiments to study topics at the intersection of behavioral and culture economics, focusing on gender, labor market, and mental health.
Weekly seminar series
As part of our Centre's vibrant research culture, we host a weekly seminar series. Visiting and invited researchers present current research relating to the economics of health and wellbeing, and the healthcare sector. Visitors are welcome to join these sessions where discussion and debate is encouraged.
For further information on our seminar series, please contact shannon.stanwell@monash.edu.
Event Details
- Date:
- 3 June 2024 at 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
- Venue:
- Caulfield campus, Building H, Level 9, Room H902
- Categories:
- CHE Seminar; General
Description
How do adolescents form their views about what is expected of their gender? This paper provides causal evidence that the lack of communication drives incorrect inferences about what their peers think regarding gender norms about men. I conduct a field experiment that encourages communication about masculinity norms among peers with 2,249 Brazilian teenagers in 22 schools. I show that a majority of male and female adolescents overestimate the share of classmates who hold traditional views of masculinity with respect to emotional vulnerability and the use of violence. I then randomly assign adolescents to a structured discussion group to learn peers’ opinions about these masculinity beliefs, or to a control discussion. The masculinity discussion groups reduce misperceptions about classmates’ beliefs by at least 50% in the short run. The effects are similar whether students self-selected into speaking, or were randomly selected. In the medium run, effects persist, indicating that there is no persuasion between students once the discussion is over.
Speaker profile
Ieda Matavelli is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of New South Wales and received her PhD in Economics from the University of British Columbia in July 2023. Ieda undertakes large-scale field experiments to study topics at the intersection of behavioral and culture economics, focusing on gender, labor market, and mental health.
Weekly seminar series
As part of our Centre's vibrant research culture, we host a weekly seminar series. Visiting and invited researchers present current research relating to the economics of health and wellbeing, and the healthcare sector. Visitors are welcome to join these sessions where discussion and debate is encouraged.
For further information on our seminar series, please contact shannon.stanwell@monash.edu.