Cross-cultural Gender Differences Research Articles

The Twenty Item Values Inventory (TwIVI) in Portuguese Adults: Factorial Structure, Internal Consistency, and Criterion-Related Validity

The Schwartz Model of Basic Values is an influential framework that describes what people find important and worth pursuing in life. The model proposes that ten human values are found cross-culturally, and so significant efforts have gone into empirically testing these claims. While instruments such as the Portrait Values Questionnaire-40 (PVQ-40) reliably discriminated the full set of theorized values, briefer versions have either suffered from a lack of construct validity (PVQ-21) or from not having been put through a rigorous statistical test of its underlying structure (Twenty Item Values Inventory [TwIVI]) via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The present study, using a Portuguese sample of adults (n = 524), is the first to examine the factorial structure of the TwIVI via CFA. We apply a magnifying glass approach by testing two separate models, each covering five values, which reflect the Growth and Self-protective dimensions. Moreover, we provide evidences that the TwIVI is reliable and capable of capturing the theorized quasi-circumplex structure, and the cross-cultural gender differences and relative hierarchical importance of values. Finally, we establish criterion-related validity, with values correlating with political identity and social and economic issues.

Cross-cultural gender differences in cruising risk perceptions: A study of young adults

The purpose of this study was to examine how gender and cultural values displayed by different nations play a role in determining differences in young adults' risk perceptions in the cruise ship context. The study employed the two-dimensional model of perceived risk, namely perceived outcome severity and perceived probability, to measure risk perception. The study conducted an online self-administered questionnaire surveying 527 respondents whose age ranged from 18 to 35 years. Guided by Cultural Theory of Risk and Hofstede's cultural dimensions, the findings indicated the significant interaction effects between gender, nationality and cultural values on cruising risk perceptions after controlling for age and past cruise experience. The findings provided important insights for cruise marketers and operators to target appropriate cruisers with suitable marketing campaigns and implement effective risk reduction measures to enhance cruise experiences.

International comparison of gender differences in the five-factor model of personality: An investigation across 105 countries

Researchers have been interested in cross-cultural gender differences in personality for decades. Early research on the five-factor (FFM) model of personality focused on estimating the difference between men and women on personality dimensions, however results have varied. Using a large cross-country sample of personality data and advanced analytic techniques, we uncover accurate estimates of cross-country gender differences in personality. Relatively small (δ¯¯̂ < |0.10|) cross-country gender differences emerged on most FFM dimensions, with the largest differences emerging for Emotional Stability (δ¯¯̂ = 0.38) and Agreeableness (δ¯¯̂ = −0.17). After controlling for socioeconomic indicators, gender indicators, and Type I error, only country-level Individualism accounted for unique variance in effect size differences for Emotional Stability. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Gender, Stereotypes, and Trust in Communication

Gender differences in dishonesty and mistrust have been reported across cultures and linked to stereotypes about females being more trustworthy and trusting. Here we focus on fundamental issues of trust-based communication that may be affected by gender: the decisions whether to honestly deliver private information and whether to trust that this delivered information is honest. Using laboratory experiments that model trust-based strategic communication and response, we examined the relationship between gender, gender stereotypes, and gender discriminative lies and challenges. Drawing from a student sample, we presented males and females (N = 80) with incentivized stereotype elicitation tasks that reveal their expectations of lies and challenges from each gender, followed by a series of strategic communication interactions within and between genders. Before interacting, both genders stereotyped females as more trustworthy (expected to send more honest messages) and more trusting (expected to accept and not challenge others' messages) than males, in accord with cross-cultural gender differences. In best response to these stereotypes, both genders discriminately accepted or challenged messages based on the sender's gender. However, we find no differences between males' and females' overall rates of lies and challenges. After learning the results of their strategic interactions, males and females revised their stereotypes about lies and challenges expected of each gender; these stereotype revisions resulted in greater predictive accuracy and less disparate gender discrimination. This suggests an important facultative feature of human trust-based communication and gender stereotyping: while the delivery and trust of private information is informed by gender stereotypes, these stereotypes are recalibrated with experience.

Gender and Dating Violence Perpetration and Victimization: A Comparison of American and Chinese College Students

Previous research has shown that violence in romantic relationships is a serious social and public health problem throughout the world among young adults. College students, as a vulnerable group, experience high rates of dating violence, irrespective of gender and nation. Yet, we still know relatively little about whether dating violence shows gender similarities or differences in different cultural settings. United States and China are both patriarchal societies but have diverse cultural background. There may be different gendered patterns of dating violence across these two countries. This study examined the gender differences in physical assault victimization and perpetration among college students in the United States and China, while controlling for dominance, jealousy, violence approval, and a number of demographic factors. Logistic regression analyses were conducted for a total of 5,631 individuals from the United States and China who participated in the International Dating Violence Study from 2001 to 2006. Results demonstrated that male and female college students in China were significantly less likely to be victims of minor physical assault compared with students in the United States. In addition, female students, both in the United States and China, were more likely to perpetrate minor and severe physical assault against their partners than male students in this sample. But Chinese females had a higher percentage of assault against their dating partners than females in the United States. This study contributes to the research on dating violence by exploring cross-cultural gender differences in both victimization and perpetration of physical violence among college students. The implications of findings and future research direction were discussed.

Cross Cultural Gender Differences in Social-emotional Competence of Young Children: Comparisons with Brazil, China, South Korea, and the United States

Background: The current study investigated differences in gender-based expectations across cultures by examining whether items in Ages & Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE), a social-emotional screening instrument, functioned differently for boys and girls 3 to 66 months old. A total of 74,776 ASQ:SE questionnaires were collected in Brazil, South Korea, China and the United States (U.S.). Methods: The analyses were conducted using differential item functioning (DIF) by country for each ASQ:SE age interval (i.e., 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 48, 60 months). Results: Results showed that eight items with gender DIF were present in two or three countries simultaneously, and 19 items with gender DIF were detected in a single country. Conclusions: With an equal level of social-emotional competence, girls had higher scores than boys, indicating more problem behaviors on items reflecting internalizing behaviors; and boys had higher scores on items measuring externalizing problem behaviors. Additionally, in all four countries, differences in item functioning associated with gender increased as children grew older. Interpretations of ASQ:SE results should consider that families’ cultural beliefs may have differing effects according to the child’s gender.

Cross-cultural gender differences in the adoption and usage of social media platforms – An exploratory study of Last.FM

This paper examines cross-cultural gender differences in the adoption and usage of the social media platform Last.FM. From a large-scale empirical study of 3748 Last.FM users from Australia, Finland, Germany, and the United States of America, we find: (1) men listen to more pieces of music on social media platforms than do women; (2) women focus their listening on fewer musical genres and fewer tracks than do men; (3) women register on Last.FM later than do “early adopting” men (absolutely and in comparison to their friends), but at a younger age; (4) women maintain more virtual friendships on Last.FM than do men; and (5) women, when choosing music to listen to on social media platforms, are more likely than are men to choose tracks that correspond to mainstream tastes.

Cross-Cultural Gender Differences in the Adoption and Usage of Social Media Platforms

This paper examines cross-cultural gender differences in the adoption and usage of the social media platform Last.FM. In a large-scale empirical study of 3,748 Last.FM users from Australia, Finland...

The Ranking Of Terminal And Instrumental Values By Working Professionals In Thailand, Singapore And The United States: What Is Important And How Do They Impact Decision-Making?

The purpose of this study is to explore gender and cross-cultural gender differences with respect to individual values. This study will fill a gap in the research literature as few studies have explored male and female value differences in Thailand and few have explored sex differences between eastern values as compared to western values in the United States and another eastern nation, Singapore. An understanding of the attitudes, cultures and values in other countries becomes particularly significant given current globalization trends. Furthermore, researchers also need to understand different demographics to better anticipate the impact of socio-demographic variation in cross-cultural investigations.

Gender differences in heart failure self-care: A multinational cross-sectional study

Background Despite a common view that women are better at self-care, there is very little evidence to support or challenge this perspective in the heart failure (HF) population. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine if there are cross-cultural gender differences in self-reported HF self-care and to describe gender differences in the determinants of HF self-care. Design, setting, and participants A secondary analysis was completed of cross-sectional study data collected on 2082 adults with chronic HF from the United States, Australia and Thailand. Methods Comparisons were made between men and women regarding self-care maintenance, management and confidence as assessed by the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index, as well as the proportion of subjects engaged in adequate self-care. Multivariate comparisons were made to determine if gender explained sufficient variance in HF self-care and the likelihood of reporting adequate self-care, controlling for nine model covariates. Results The sample was comprised of 1306 men and 776 women. Most (73.5%) had systolic or mixed systolic and diastolic HF and 45% had New York Heart Association class III or IV HF. Although small and clinically insignificant gender differences were found in self-care maintenance, gender was not a determinant of any aspect of HF self-care in multivariate models. Married women were 37% less likely to report adequate self-care maintenance than unmarried women. Comorbidities only influenced the HF self-care of men. Being newly diagnosed with HF also primarily affected men. Patients with diastolic HF (predominantly women) had poorer self-care maintenance and less confidence in self-care. Conclusion Differences in HF self-care are attributable to factors other than gender; however, there are several gender-specific determinants of HF self-care that help identify patients at risk for practicing poor self-care.

Chapter 6 Cross-cultural gender differences in mathematics education

The chapter examined data from the Second International Mathematics Study (SIMS), for Population A (range of age 12 to 13) and for Population B (range of age 17 to 19). Multivariate analyses of variance revealed that achievement differences among countries were much greater than gender differences. The findings are discussed in light of responses to questions about learning experiences, parental and teacher support, perception of the place of mathematics in the pursuit of higher education, and other factors that are considered influential in mathematics achievement.

Cross-Cultural Gender Differences in Preference for a Caring Morality

Abstract Several theorists have proposed that women prefer a more caring morality, one that is based on a high level of concern for interpersonal relationships and emotional sensitivity to the feelings of others. This study is an investigation of the prediction that (a) there are gender differences in a preference for a caring morality and (b) the differences exist across cultures. A scale was developed to empirically test these predictions. It was adapted from Interpersonal sensitivity scale that was derived from a factor analysis of the Bem Sex Role Inventory. The predictions were confirmed, with women in Korea, China, Thailand, and the United States preferring a more caring morality.