| By: |
De Paola, Maria (University of Calabria);
Lombardo, Rosetta (University of Calabria);
Pupo, Valeria (University of Calabria);
Scoppa, Vincenzo (University of Calabria) |
| Abstract: |
Public speaking is an important skill for career prospects and for leadership
positions, but many people tend to avoid it because it generates anxiety. We
run a field experiment to analyze whether in an incentivized setting men and
women show differences in their willingness to speak in public. The experiment
involved more than 500 undergraduate students who could gain two points to add
to the final grade of their exam by orally presenting solutions to a problem
set. Students were randomly assigned to present only to the instructor or in
front of a large audience (a class of 100 or more). We find that while women
are more willing to present face-to-face, they are considerably less likely to
give a public presentation. Female aversion to public speaking does not depend
on differences in ability, risk aversion, self-confidence and self-esteem. The
aversion to public speaking greatly reduces for daughters of working women.
From data obtained through an on-line Survey we also show that neither
increasing the gains deriving from public speaking nor allowing participants
more time to prepare enable to close the gender gap. |
| Keywords: |
public speaking, psychological gender differences, gender, leadership, glass ceiling, field experiment |
| JEL: |
D91 C93 M50 |
| Date: |
2020–02 |
| URL: |
http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp12959&r=all |