While there is a vast (and mixed) literature on gender differences in social preferences,
little is known about believed gender differences in social preferences. Using data from 15
studies and 8,979 individuals, we find that women are believed to be more generous and more
equality-oriented than men. This believed gender gap is ...
While there is a vast (and mixed) literature on gender differences in social preferences,
little is known about believed gender differences in social preferences. Using data from 15
studies and 8,979 individuals, we find that women are believed to be more generous and more
equality-oriented than men. This believed gender gap is robust across a wide range of contexts
that vary in terms of strategic considerations, selfish motives, fairness concepts, and payoffs.
Yet, this believed gender gap is largely inaccurate. Consistent with models of associative
memory, and specifically the role of similarity and interference, the believed gender gap is
correlated with recalled prior life experiences from similar contexts and significantly affected
by an experience that may interfere with the recall process of prior memories even though this
interfering experience should not affect the beliefs of perfect-memory Bayesians. Application
studies further reveal that believed gender differences extend to the household (i.e., beliefs
about contributions to the home, family, and upbringing of children), the workplace (i.e.,
beliefs about equal pay) and policy views (i.e., beliefs about redistribution, equal access to
education, healthcare, and affordable housing).
