To explain persistent gender gaps in market outcomes, a lab experimental literature
explores whether women and men have innate differences in ability (or attitudes or
preferences), and a separate field-based literature studies discrimination against women in
market settings. We posit that even if women have innate ability that is comparable to that
of men, their relative performance may suffer in the market if the task requires them to
interact with others in society, and they are subject to discrimination in those interactions.
We test these ideas using a large-scale field experiment in 142 Malawian villages where
men or women were randomly assigned the task of learning about a new agricultural
technology, and then communicating it to others to convince them to adopt. Even though
female communicators learn and retain the new information better, and those taught by
women experience higher farm yields, the women are not as successful at teaching or
convincing others to adopt. Micro-data on individual interactions from 4000 farmers in
these villages suggest that other farmers perceive female communicators to be less able,
and pay less attention to the women’s messages.