This study examines the impact of women CEOs on the level of earnings management. Building on gender socialization theory (Gilligan, In a different voice. Harvard University Press, 1982), which predicts a stricter women’s ethical judgment, we hypothesize and find a negative relationship between the presence of women CEOs and the level of earnings management. Our findings support the view that the female presence in the corporate governance structure may improve corporate accountability, thanks to the provision of female-specific traits and characteristics, such as a stricter ethical judgment and a lower attitude toward opportunistic behaviors.