STEM Parents and Women in Finance

33 Pages Posted: 30 May 2017 Last revised: 23 Aug 2018

See all articles by Renee B. Adams

Renee B. Adams

University of Oxford

Brad M. Barber

University of California, Davis

Terrance Odean

University of California, Berkeley - Haas School of Business

Date Written: December 22, 2017

Abstract

We show parental careers differentially affect the future career choices of girls and boys using survey data from CFA Institute members. Among CFA Institute members, women are more likely to have a STEM parent (particularly a STEM mother) than men. Relative to the base rates at which girls and boys become CFA Institute members, STEM mothers increase the girls’ rate by 48% more than the boys’ rate; STEM fathers increase the girls’ rate 29% more than the boys’ rate. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that early role models, particularly female role models, influence women’s choice of finance careers.

Keywords: Women, Gender, Finance, CFA, Investment Industry

JEL Classification: J16, J22, G00, G20

Suggested Citation

Adams, Renée B. and Barber, Brad M. and Odean, Terrance, STEM Parents and Women in Finance (December 22, 2017). Financial Analysts Journal, 2018 (vol. 74, no.2), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2975898 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2975898

Renée B. Adams

University of Oxford ( email )

Park End Street
Oxford, OX1 1HP
Great Britain

Brad M. Barber (Contact Author)

University of California, Davis ( email )

Graduate School of Management
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616
United States
530-752-0512 (Phone)
530-752-2924 (Fax)

Terrance Odean

University of California, Berkeley - Haas School of Business ( email )

545 Student Services Building, #1900
2220 Piedmont Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94720
United States
510-642-6767 (Phone)
510-666-2561 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/faculty/odean.html

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