This paper investigates the historical origins of gender roles, focusing on the role of traditional plough agriculture in shaping gender norms. The authors test the hypothesis that societies that historically practiced plough agriculture developed gender roles that favored men in labor and women in domestic roles. They find that descendants of societies that traditionally used plough agriculture today have lower rates of female participation in the workforce, politics, and entrepreneurship, as well as more prevalent attitudes favoring gender inequality. Using historical geo-climatic data, they identify the causal impact of traditional plough use and find that it is associated with gender inequality and lower female participation in various activities. They also examine second-generation immigrants in the US to isolate the role of cultural transmission. The results support the hypothesis that traditional plough use has a lasting impact on gender norms, even as economies move away from agriculture. The study highlights the importance of historical factors in shaping current gender roles and attitudes.This paper investigates the historical origins of gender roles, focusing on the role of traditional plough agriculture in shaping gender norms. The authors test the hypothesis that societies that historically practiced plough agriculture developed gender roles that favored men in labor and women in domestic roles. They find that descendants of societies that traditionally used plough agriculture today have lower rates of female participation in the workforce, politics, and entrepreneurship, as well as more prevalent attitudes favoring gender inequality. Using historical geo-climatic data, they identify the causal impact of traditional plough use and find that it is associated with gender inequality and lower female participation in various activities. They also examine second-generation immigrants in the US to isolate the role of cultural transmission. The results support the hypothesis that traditional plough use has a lasting impact on gender norms, even as economies move away from agriculture. The study highlights the importance of historical factors in shaping current gender roles and attitudes.