Financial Analysts Journal 19 March 2018 Volume 74 Issue 2
STEM Parents and Women in Finance
Overview
“STEM parents” refers to parents who work in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics field. Using survey data from CFA Institute members, we show that parental careers differentially affect the future career choices of girls and boys. 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 a finance career.
About the Author(s)
Renée Adams is a Professor of Finance at the University of New South Wales
Brad M. Barber is Gallagher Professor of Finance at the University of California, Davis, Graduate School of Management.
Terrance Odean is Rudd Family Foundation Professor of finance at the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business.