Research

This study examines the impact of the 2020 racial protests on Black employment, using data from 2017 to 2022. It finds that counties with more protests saw a significant decrease in Black employment post-protests, unlike Asian and Hispanic/Latino employment, which remained stable, and White employment, which slightly increased. The results show that a 1 percentage point increase in a county's share in the national 2020 BLM uprisings led to a 3.5 percentage point decrease in the Black hiring rate and a loss of 582 jobs for Black individuals. The analysis reveals no significant differences in labor demand or supply between counties with varying protest intensities, suggesting that the decline in Black employment is likely due to increased implicit and explicit bias in the labor market following the protests. These findings highlight the complex consequences of social movements, where efforts to address racial injustice might inadvertently result in negative outcomes for the targeted communities. The study underscores the need for policies that mitigate these biases, ensuring that social justice initiatives do not unintentionally harm those they aim to help.

This paper explores how the successes of women's soccer teams might alter public perceptions of gender equality and challenge entrenched stereotypes, positioning the sport as a vehicle for societal change. By utilizing data from the Latinobarómetro surveys and matching the timing of these surveys to significant female competitions like the World Cup, Olympic Games, and Copa Libertadores, this research examines the correlation between women's soccer victories and public perceptions of gender equality in South America. The preliminary findings reveal an intriguing paradox: victories in women's soccer are associated with a more critical perception of gender equality, suggesting that such triumphs highlight existing inequalities and the urgency for reform. In contrast, defeats seem to foster a complacency towards gender equality, as they are linked with a perception that no further progress is needed. Draws, however, show no significant impact on these perceptions. The initial results underscore the pivotal role of women's soccer outcomes in shaping public attitudes towards gender equality. This indicates that women's soccer transcends the realm of sports, emerging as a critical arena for contesting and potentially reshaping societal norms and stereotypes related to gender.