Reshaping Adolescents' Gender Attitudes: Evidence from a School-Based Experiment in India

66 Pages Posted: 11 Dec 2018 Last revised: 25 Mar 2022

See all articles by Diva Dhar

Diva Dhar

University of Oxford; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Tarun Jain

Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad

Seema Jayachandran

Northwestern University - Department of Economics

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Date Written: December 2018

Abstract

Societal norms about gender roles contribute to the economic disadvantages facing women in many developing countries. This paper evaluates a school-based intervention in India that engaged adolescents in classroom discussions about gender equality for two and a half years with the goal of eroding their support for restrictive gender norms. Using a randomized controlled trial, we find that the program made attitudes 0.18 standard deviations more supportive of gender equality, or, equivalently, converted 16% of participants' regressive views. In addition, self-reported behavior became more aligned with progressive gender norms, particularly among boys. The effects observed in the short run were still present two years after the program had ended.

Suggested Citation

Dhar, Diva and Jain, Tarun and Jayachandran, Seema, Reshaping Adolescents' Gender Attitudes: Evidence from a School-Based Experiment in India (December 2018). NBER Working Paper No. w25331, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3298710

Diva Dhar (Contact Author)

University of Oxford ( email )

Mansfield Road
Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 4AU
United Kingdom

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation ( email )

Seattle, WA
United States

Tarun Jain

Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad ( email )

Vastraour
Ahmedabad, 380015
India

Seema Jayachandran

Northwestern University - Department of Economics ( email )

2003 Sheridan Road
Evanston, IL 60208
United States

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