Do Male Workers Prefer Male Leaders? An Analysis of Principals' Effects on Teacher Retention
Using a 40-year panel of all public school teachers and principals in New York State, we explore how female principals affect rates of teacher turnover—an important determinant of school quality. We find that male teachers are about 12% more likely to leave their schools when they work under female principals than under male principals. In contrast, we find no such effects for female teachers. Furthermore, when male teachers request transfers, they are more likely to be to schools with male principals. These results suggest that opposition from male subordinates could inhibit female progress in leadership.
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Copy CitationAliza N. Husain, David A. Matsa, and Amalia R. Miller, "Do Male Workers Prefer Male Leaders? An Analysis of Principals' Effects on Teacher Retention," NBER Working Paper 25263 (2018), https://doi.org/10.3386/w25263.Download Citation
Published Versions
Aliza N. Husain & David A. Matsa & Amalia R. Miller, 2023. "Do Male Workers Prefer Male Leaders? An Analysis of Principals’ Effects on Teacher Retention," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 58(5), pages 1480-1522. citation courtesy of 
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