“You just don’t get the best allocation of human capital when one category of people is excluded” (Romero 1). Since economics is the study of the most efficient allocation of resources, why does it consistently exclude women from positions of prestige and academia? A major problem in the field of economics is a severe lack of women, both in the percent majoring in it and as leaders. Like the STEM fields, a lack of women role models can de-incentivize younger females to pursue economics, leading to a vicious cycle. The most blatant problem for women in economics is the notorious gender gap, or the discrepancy between opportunities for men and women. In Economics, the “Leaky Pipeline” shows how the gender gap in economics grows larger the further
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“Why is it that the sciences look like a feminist Nirvana compared with the economics profession, which seems to have a built in bias that prevents women from advancing?” (Smith 1). A Harvard study showed, through graphs, how large the gender gap was in 1990, but then proceeded to state how they could not completely justify the efforts to address and change the current gender balance. This makes it seem as though economists know the problem exists, but due to the field’s male-dominated and conservative leaning culture, they refuse to put forth enough effort to change it. They set up councils to study and present ways to change this trend, but it appears to be more about going through the motions instead of fighting for true change. There is no push to change the sexism that runs rampant amongst top men in the field. Many notable economists have made terrible remarks towards women, including some regarding rape (see Economist John Hanson’s remarks about a “gentle, silent rape” causes less harm than a wife being adulterous), but never saw any punishment nor demands for an apology (Smith …show more content…
There are plenty of influential female economists who could have been included, but the “boys club” aspect of economics struck once again. Miles Kimball, in his article, created a list of biases that exist against women in the field. These reasons range from female professors not receiving the same respect from students (see “What’s in a Name: Exposing Gender Bias in Student Ratings of Teachings” by Dr. Andrea Hunt and Dr. Adam Driscoll), to not receiving respect from some of their male colleagues and their misogynistic jokes, to having to worry about inconsequential things like skirt length in the workplace. Kimball also makes note of the “Catch-22” regarding speaking up could “make them look like a shrew”, but not doing so leaves women in the same uncomfortable position as before. “And with so few female professors in economics, who can show a female graduate student how to promote herself gracefully, break into predominantly male conversations without raising hackles?” (Quartz
“Why is it that the sciences look like a feminist Nirvana compared with the economics profession, which seems to have a built in bias that prevents women from advancing?” (Smith 1). A Harvard study showed, through graphs, how large the gender gap was in 1990, but then proceeded to state how they could not completely justify the efforts to address and change the current gender balance. This makes it seem as though economists know the problem exists, but due to the field’s male-dominated and conservative leaning culture, they refuse to put forth enough effort to change it. They set up councils to study and present ways to change this trend, but it appears to be more about going through the motions instead of fighting for true change. There is no push to change the sexism that runs rampant amongst top men in the field. Many notable economists have made terrible remarks towards women, including some regarding rape (see Economist John Hanson’s remarks about a “gentle, silent rape” causes less harm than a wife being adulterous), but never saw any punishment nor demands for an apology (Smith …show more content…
There are plenty of influential female economists who could have been included, but the “boys club” aspect of economics struck once again. Miles Kimball, in his article, created a list of biases that exist against women in the field. These reasons range from female professors not receiving the same respect from students (see “What’s in a Name: Exposing Gender Bias in Student Ratings of Teachings” by Dr. Andrea Hunt and Dr. Adam Driscoll), to not receiving respect from some of their male colleagues and their misogynistic jokes, to having to worry about inconsequential things like skirt length in the workplace. Kimball also makes note of the “Catch-22” regarding speaking up could “make them look like a shrew”, but not doing so leaves women in the same uncomfortable position as before. “And with so few female professors in economics, who can show a female graduate student how to promote herself gracefully, break into predominantly male conversations without raising hackles?” (Quartz