Do Gender Differences Still Exist? The Effect of Gender Equality on Happiness in Cross-National Perspective

• In Event: 606 - Section on Social Psychology Roundtable Session (co-sponsored with Section on Sociology of Emotions)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 10. Gender

Abstract

Social expectations regarding our behaviors are still based on gender in many societies. On the other hand, the world has been shifting toward more equal gender relations between individuals and a greater degree of gender equality at the societal level. Some countries have accomplished more progresses in this area than others, and the differences in this progress may affect people’s perceptions on gender roles and gender relations, and eventually their psychological outcomes. Based on the social role explanations, the current study examines whether there still are gender differences in factors affecting their subjective well-being in 35 countries. Previous research has documented that female vulnerability in mental health is largely due to gendered socialization and social roles assigned based on gender. Hence, we assume that gender differences in mental health may disappear or at least weaken if the differences in socialization and social roles between genders disappear. Utilizing data from the International Social Survey Programme (2012) and a multi-level modeling, we investigate whether the societal-level gender climate conditions the effects of gender-related factors including employment, parenthood, gender role attitude, and marital status on happiness of men and women. We find that there still are gender differences in the effects of employment and parenthood. The cross-level interaction effect between egalitarian attitudes and gender equality on women’s happiness and the interaction between employment and gender climate on men’s happiness are also observed.

Authors

• Makiko Hori, University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

• Yoshinori Kamo, Louisiana State University