Gender bias in cultural tightness across the 50 US states, its correlates, and links to gender inequality in leadership and innovation

Xin Qin; Roy Y J Chua; Ling Tan; Wanlu Li; Chen Chen

doi:10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad238

Gender bias in cultural tightness across the 50 US states, its correlates, and links to gender inequality in leadership and innovation

PNAS Nexus. 2023 Jul 20;2(8):pgad238. doi: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad238. eCollection 2023 Aug.

Authors

Xin Qin¹, Roy Y J Chua², Ling Tan³, Wanlu Li¹, Chen Chen¹

Affiliations

¹ Sun Yat-sen Business School, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 135 Xinggang West Road, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
² Lee Kong Chian School of Business, Singapore Management University, 50 Stamford Road #5064, Singapore, 178899, Singapore.
³ School of Management, Guangdong University of Technology, No. 161 Yinglong Road, Guangzhou, 510520, China.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: United States; cultural tightness–looseness; gender bias; gender inequality; innovation; leadership.