Hidden Biases: Misperceptions About Women’s Labor Force Participation Among Couples in Colombia

Gender norms play a central role in shaping labour market outcomes, and often limit women’s participation in the workforce. While traditional norms discourage female labour force participation, misperceptions about these norms can amplify gender disparities (Bertrand et al., 2015; Bursztyn et al., 2023). For instance, women may refrain from seeking employment if they mistakenly believe that their families or communities would disapprove.

Our study addresses these issues by examining the specific context of Bogotá, where traditional gender roles intersect with modern economic demands. Previous research indicates that cultural factors play a crucial role in shaping women’s labour market outcomes in relation to gender norms (e.g., Bertrand, 2019; Bursztyn et al., 2020; Fernández et al., 2004). In particular, we explore the concept of pluralistic ignorance, in which individuals hold one specific viewpoint yet assume others hold a contrary one. This misalignment often makes people do things that go against what they believe. For example, a woman might want to work outside the home but be afraid that her husband or community would not approve.

We analyse differences in beliefs about gender norms among couples, documenting misperceptions that vary across socioeconomic dimensions. Group identification is key in fostering pluralistic ignorance (Prentice and Miller, 1993); individuals eager to conform may misinterpret the behaviour of others and therefore misunderstand the beliefs of others. However, social norms are not static; they can be shaped by policy interventions that promote beneficial behaviour (Bursztyn et al., 2020). For example, when men misperceive social norms regarding female labour force participation, targeted information interventions can realign their perceptions and potentially enhance women’s labour supply (Bursztyn et al., 2020).

Bogotá provides a unique perspective on gender dynamics in a rapidly urbanizing Latin American context. Colombia’s diverse socioeconomic landscape and ongoing legislative efforts to achieve gender equality provide a valuable context for examining the impact of entrenched cultural norms on individual beliefs and collective behaviour. In November and December 2022, we surveyed 410 heterosexual couples residing in lower to middle socioeconomic areas, interviewing both partners; the individuals were aged 20 to 60.

Our research focuses on measuring first- and second-order beliefs about female labour force participation, focusing on what wives perceive their husbands’ and neighbours’ views to be. We find that women consistently overestimate the conservatism of their husbands’ beliefs about work flexibility, hybrid arrangements, and late hours. This overestimation extends to views about the community, as women perceive their neighbours to disapprove more strongly than is actually the case. Our results suggest that addressing these misperceptions through targeted interventions could help align individual beliefs with actual norms, potentially enhancing female labour force participation in Bogotá and similar urban areas.