Gender Norms, Peers and Women Job-Search Outcomes: Evidence from College Graduates

In this work-in-progress, I assess the role of the social environment – as represented by university peers – as a driver of women's job-search preferences and early-career labor market outcomes. Using extensive data on the universe of Master students in Italy and relying on quasi-random variation in peers' composition within college majors and across adjacent enrollment cohorts, I find that women who are exposed to female peers with more progressive gender norms work more hours, are less likely to take on part-time jobs and earn higher wages when they enter the labor market. Additionally, I shed light on one specific channel through which the effect is likely to act : more specifically, I show that peers exert an influence over women's job-search preferences and aspirations, as stated before they start looking for a job. I find no evidence of significant peer effects on male preferences and outcomes.