Brothers Increase Women's Gender Conformity
I examine how one central aspect of the childhood family environment - sibling sex composition - affects women's gender conformity, as measured through their choice of occupation and partner. Using Danish administrative data, I causally estimate the effect of having a second-born brother relative to a sister for first-born women. The results show that first-born women with a second-born brother acquire more traditional gender roles resulting in a stronger response to motherhood in terms of labor supply and earnings. I provide evidence of increased gender-specialized parenting in families with mixed-sex children, suggesting a stronger transmission of traditional gender norms. Finally, I find indications of persistent effects to the next generation of girls.