"If we can shape our own norms and institutions, we can limit the careless injustice in our profession." 

EPoD Co-Director Rohini Pande received the Carolyn Bell Shaw Award during the annual meeting of the American Economic Association (AEA) in Atlanta on January 4. The award is given annually by the AEA Committee on the Status of Women in the Economics Profession (CSWEP) to recognize and honor an individual who has furthered the status of women in the economics profession. 

In her acceptance speech, Pande presented statistics that expose the bias that female economists face at the four phases their careers, and she recommended specific actions groups like the AEA can take to remove barriers to women’s advancement. Her remarks were in the spirit of the argument made by fellow Harvard Economist Iris Bohnet in her book What Works: Gender Equality by Design: that “it is easier to de-bias institutions than it is to de-bias individuals.”

Watch Rohini Pande’s acceptance speech here:

Further reading:

• “This cannot just be the work of women.” The Economist quoted Pande in coverage of gender issues at the AEA annual meeting. 
• The New York Times also covered the discussion of women’s rights at the AEA meeting, in an article titled, “Female Economists Push Their Field Toward a #MeToo Reckoning.”
• “I’m interested in how giving women credit for their effort will change their ambitions and improve their status.” J-PAL’s featured Pande in its Affiliate Spotlight. 
• “Social science is about people, and economic research will often be put to work empowering one person over another. I try to remain vigilant that my research empowers the disadvantaged." India’s She the People website featured an interview with Pande.
• “I have witnessed Rohini’s deep dedication to the advancement of all women in the profession—not just the ones she personally works with or likes or knows.” The CSWEP press release announcement focused on Pande’s mentoring of young women in the profession.
• “It’s very hard to eliminate our biases, but we can design organizations to make it easier for our biased minds to get things right.” Iris Bohnet gave an interview on how to de-bias organizations to Harvard Business Review.