Qin Xin, Chua Roy Y J, Tan Ling, Li Wanlu, Chen Chen
Sun Yat-sen Business School, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 135 Xinggang West Road, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
Lee Kong Chian School of Business, Singapore Management University, 50 Stamford Road #5064, Singapore, 178899, Singapore.
PNAS Nexus. 2023 Jul 20;2(8):pgad238. doi: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad238. eCollection 2023 Aug.
Cultural tightness theory, which holds that "tight" cultures have rigid norms and sanctions, provides unique insights into cultural variations. However, current theorizing has not analyzed gender differences in cultural tightness. Addressing this gap, this research shows that women are more constrained than men by norms within the same society. By recruiting 15,425 respondents, we mapped state-level gender bias in cultural tightness across the United States. Variability in gender bias in cultural tightness was associated with state-level sociopolitical factors (religion and political ideology) and gender-related threats. Gender bias in cultural tightness was positively associated with state-level gender inequality in (business and political) leadership and innovation, two major challenges faced by women professionals. Overall, this research advances cultural tightness theory and offers a cultural norms account on persistent gender inequalities in society.
文化紧密性理论认为，“紧密”文化具有严格的规范和制裁措施，该理论为文化差异提供了独特的见解。然而，目前的理论研究尚未分析文化紧密性方面的性别差异。为填补这一空白，本研究表明，在同一社会中，女性比男性受到规范的约束更大。通过招募15425名受访者，我们绘制了美国各州文化紧密性方面的性别偏见情况。文化紧密性方面的性别偏见差异与州级社会政治因素（宗教和政治意识形态）以及与性别相关的威胁有关。文化紧密性方面的性别偏见与（商业和政治）领导力及创新方面的州级性别不平等呈正相关，而这是女性专业人员面临的两大主要挑战。总体而言，本研究推进了文化紧密性理论，并为社会中持续存在的性别不平等提供了一种文化规范解释。
