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Abstract
Despite a vast literature surrounding the topic, little consensus exists explaining the main cause of the gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Even less research looks at households as sources of variation in labor market decision-making as they pertain to STEM. Using the General Social Survey, I analyze the transmission of occupational preferences from parents to children in the Baby Boomer generation, Generation-X, and the Millennial generation. I consider this effect for both children's choice in jobs and choice in college major. I then test for differential effects among distinct household structures. In general, I find that parents significantly and consistently impact their children's propensity to enter STEM, but a positive effect is concentrated on sons.