Abstract

World War I in France induced many women to enter the labor force after the war, a shock to female labor that persisted over a century. I rely on this historical shock to women's working behaviors to explore mechanisms that underlie the process of cultural change. I build a measure of attitudes that is consistent across time and space by using legislative behaviors of French deputies on gender-issues bills throughout the twentieth century. Preliminary results indicate that the war had an enduring impact on attitudes toward gender roles.

Reference

Victor Gay, “Shocking Culture. The enduring impact of World War I on attitudes toward gender roles”, IAST Lunch Seminar, Toulouse: IAST, November 6, 2018, 12:45–13:45, room MS003.