Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • 2022
  • Working Paper
  • HBS Working Paper Series

Beliefs about Gender Differences in Social Preferences

By: Christine L Exley, Oliver P. Hauser, Molly Moore and John-Henry Pezzuto
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:205
ShareBar

Abstract

While there is a vast (and mixed) literature on gender differences in social preferences, little is known about believed gender differences in social preferences. This paper documents robust evidence for believed gender differences in social preferences. Across a wide range of contexts that vary in terms of strategic considerations, selfish motives, fairness concepts and applications, we find that individuals robustly expect that women are more generous and more equality-oriented. Despite the robustness of these beliefs, the believed gender gap in social preferences—in the range of contexts we consider—is largely inaccurate.

Keywords

Social Preferences; Gender; Behavior; Attitudes; Values and Beliefs

Citation

Exley, Christine L., Oliver P. Hauser, Molly Moore, and John-Henry Pezzuto. "Beliefs about Gender Differences in Social Preferences." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 22-079, June 2022.
  • Read Now

About The Author

Christine L. Exley

Negotiation, Organizations & Markets
→More Publications

More from the Authors

    • February 2023
    • Journal of Political Economy Microeconomics

    Nonprofits in Good Times and Bad Times

    By: Christine L. Exley, Nils H. Lehr and Stephen J. Terry
    • November 2022
    • Nature Human Behaviour

    Measuring Inequality beyond the Gini Coefficient May Clarify Conflicting Findings

    By: Kristin Blesch, Oliver P. Hauser and Jon M. Jachimowicz
    • 2022
    • Faculty Research

    When Do Individuals Give Up Agency? The Role of Decision Avoidance

    By: Holly Dykstra, Christine L. Exley and Muriel Niederle
More from the Authors
  • Nonprofits in Good Times and Bad Times By: Christine L. Exley, Nils H. Lehr and Stephen J. Terry
  • Measuring Inequality beyond the Gini Coefficient May Clarify Conflicting Findings By: Kristin Blesch, Oliver P. Hauser and Jon M. Jachimowicz
  • When Do Individuals Give Up Agency? The Role of Decision Avoidance By: Holly Dykstra, Christine L. Exley and Muriel Niederle
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College