Beyond Self-Perception : Unpacking Gender Differences in Socio-Emotional Skills

Overview & Synopsis

Socio-emotional skills (SES) - such as emotional regulation, problem-solving, and collaboration - are increasingly critical for educational achievement, mental well-being, and labor market success, particularly in the face of global trends toward more automation-resistant jobs. This policy brief presents findings from a study conducted by the Africa Gender Innovation Lab (GIL) in Tanzania, which compared self-reported and behaviorally assessed SES among out-of-school, out-of-work youth. The results challenge the assumption that men possess stronger SES than women. While men consistently rated themselves higher across most self-assessed SES measures, these gender gaps disappeared when skills were evaluated through objective behavioral assessments. Further analysis suggests that men are more likely to overstate their abilities - driven by social desirability and gendered beliefs - whereas women’s self-perceptions align more closely with observed performance. These findings have significant implications for labor market programs: rather than focusing exclusively on training women to close perceived SES gaps, policy interventions should also address misperceptions of competence and incorporate behavioral assessments into hiring and training design for a more accurate evaluation of skills across genders.