Abstract
This article examines the first gender reckoning in economics, focusing on the establishment and early activities of the Committee on the Status of Women in the Economics Profession (CSWEP). Drawing on materials in the hitherto closed archives of the AEA, we explore how CSWEP's mission to improve the representation and status of women in economics was linked to how economists understood women's role in the economy. The article concludes by reflecting on the fragmentation of reform efforts and CSWEP's legacy in legitimizing gender-focused research and raising professional standards.
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