Why is the percentage of female engineers higher in Algeria than in Switzerland? The Gender Equality Paradox – Evidence and Explications

Abstract

The gender gap in the fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science) in richer and more egalitarian countries compared to poorer and less egalitarian countries is called the “Gender Equality Paradox” (GEP). We provide an overview of the evidence for the GEP and discuss criticism against the GEP and its explanations. We suggest a new framework to explain the GEP by combining identity economics with happiness economics. Applying this framework, we suggest, that in rich countries an increase in wealth tends to increase the contradiction between the female gender role and STEM-aspirations while the male gender role remains unaffected.