Events at CERGE-EI

Ieda Matavelli, Ph.D.

University of New South Wales, Australia

Abstract: Masculinity norms are the beliefs about what men should or not do, such as that men should suppress their emotions or use violence. I measure masculinity norms among 2,608 adolescents in Rio de Janeiro and document large misperceptions about these norms: most boys and girls overestimate the share of peers that hold traditional views of masculinity. I examine whether a lack of horizontal communication (i.e., communication with peers) or biased communication (i.e., communication with a selected group) perpetuates misperceived norms through two field experiments in 25 schools. In a first experiment, I randomly assigned adolescents to a mediated discussion to learn peers’ opinions about masculinity or a placebo discussion about recycling. Masculinity discussions reduce misperceptions about classmates’ beliefs by about 50% immediately, with effects persisting three weeks later. Discussions in which people self-select into speaking or are randomly asked to speak reduce misperceptions equally. This suggests that misperceptions are due to a lack of broad communication with peers. In a second experiment in a similar setting, adolescents choose the peers with whom they want to discuss masculinity. Encouraging communication with chosen peers also reduces misperceptions, suggesting that adolescents do not talk about masculinity even with closer peers. Evidence from this experiment shows that underestimating interest and comfort in these discussions might explain the lack of communication.

Full Text: We Don’t Talk About Boys: Masculinity Norms Among Adolescents in Brazil