We study how reported sexism in the population affects American women. Fixed-effects and TSLS estimates show that higher prevailing sexism where she was born (background sexism) and where she currently lives (residential sexism) both lower a woman’s wages, labor force participation and ages of marriage and childbearing. We argue that background sexism affects outcomes through the influence of previously-internalized norms, and that estimated associations regarding specific percentiles and male versus female sexism suggest that residential sexism affects labor market outcomes through prejudice-based discrimination by men, and non-labor market outcomes through the influence of current norms of other women.

More on this topic

BFI Working Paper·Jun 17, 2025

The Welfare Effect of Marginal and Nonmarginal Changes in Sales Taxes in the U.S.

Ingvil Gaarder and Lancelot Henry de Frahan
Topics: Economic Mobility & Poverty
BFI Working Paper·Jun 7, 2025

The Local Root of Wage Inequality

Hugo Lhuillier
Topics: Employment & Wages
BFI Working Paper·Jun 5, 2025

Firm Premia and Match Effects in Pay vs. Amenities

Anders Humlum, Mette Rasmussen, and Evan K. Rose
Topics: Employment & Wages