The Persistent Effect of Gender Division of Labour: African American Women After Slavery

Abstract: This paper explores the role of historical gender division of labour in shaping gender norms. To answer this question, I analyse whether differences in the gender division of labour during slavery have a persistent effect on gender equality among African Americans after the end of slavery up to today. I use variation in the production of cotton and tobacco across counties during slavery as a proxy for gender division of labour: tobacco plantations were characterized by a more pronounced gender division of labour compared to cotton plantations. Using data from 1870 to 2010, I show that, after slavery, African Americans living in counties which historically had a higher production of cotton relative to tobacco experience higher gender equality, measured as female labour force participation, women in managerial occupations and time spent doing housework.