Gender Bias in University Evaluations

This paper shows how university instructor gender affects achievements, consecutive performance, major choices and labor market outcomes. Identification is based on random assignment of staff and students to teaching sections. Female instructors raise females' performance and leave male students largely unaffected. A higher proportion of female instructors in compulsory first year courses affects students' raise females' consecutive grades, but also 'pushes' them towards choosing courses and majors demanding less math skills and more towards subjects with a higher fraction of female students and instructors. Looking at longer-run effects a higher share of female instructors reduces study delay of both female and male students and increases female’s probability to enroll in a PhD program.