“Be a man”: male unemployment and rape in Mexico

Abstract Despite the pervasiveness and severity of sexual violence, the economic literature on its determinants remains limited. This study examines whether male unemployment contributes to sexual violence in Mexico. Using an ordinary least squares method with fixed effects, it juxtaposes male unemployment rates derived from the National Labor Survey with rape rates reported by the National Public Security System across states and quarters from 2015 to 2019. The analysis shows that a 1 percentage point rise in male unemployment corresponds to an 8.1 percent increase in rape rates. Robustness checks address concerns related to omitted variables, simultaneity, and changes in reporting rates, among others. Further analysis indicates that the association is concentrated among women aged 25 to 34. Additionally, there is suggestive evidence that the finding is not driven by changes in relationship dynamics or increased stress, but rather by a backlash against women with more progressive attitudes. This article is among the first to comprehensively identify a positive relationship between male unemployment and sexual violence, underscoring the need to address traditional gender norms to combat violence against women.