Gender and the Dismal Science examines the role of women in the economics profession from the late nineteenth century to the postwar period. Drawing on material from the AEA archives and novel data sets, she exposes the challenges that women faced in the early years of the discipline -- revealing the historical roots of the homogeneity of economics and shedding light on why biases against women persist today.

Gender and the Dismal Science is a groundbreaking account of the role of women during the formative years of the economics profession, from the late nineteenth century into the postwar period. Blending rich historical detail with extensive empirical data, May examines the structural and institutional factors that excluded women, from graduate education to academic publishing to university hiring practices.

Revealing the historical roots of the homogeneity of economics, this book sheds new light on why biases against women persist today. As Justin Wolfers put it, "Gender and the Dismal Science combines careful archival research, innovative empirical work, and a compelling narrative to tell the story of the barriers that women economists have faced since the birth of the field. With an accessible and compelling voice, Ann Mari May ensures this history of the hidden half can now be seen."