Webinar: Heather Sarsons, Chicago Booth, School Advising and the Gender Gap in STEM

Title: School Advising and the Gender Gap in STEM

Abstract: Differences in men and women's university and career choices are often attributed to differences in preferences. This project tests whether advice that students receive in high school perpetuates these differences. Using a survey experiment and RCT, we find that high school guidance counsellors and teachers provide different advice to students depending on a student's gender. Female students who are unsure of what to major in are steered toward female-dominated majors whereas male students are steered toward male-dominated majors. We then attempt to understand why counsellors and teachers provide differing advice to male and female students.

Presenter: Heather Sarsons, Chicago Booth

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