A cross-cultural examination of gender role ideology and gender inequality in romantic relationships

Abstract

Gender inequality in societies and individuals’ traditional attitudes toward women, or gender role ideology, two closely related constructs, have implications for the lives of individuals all over the world, and one area where these can be clearly observed is in heterosexual romantic relationships. Exploring the influences, functions and impact of gender inequality at the country-level and gender role ideology at the individual-level on relationships across different cultural contexts allows us to gain a deeper understanding of these concepts, and whether relationships differ or are broadly similar around the world. The three studies described here aim to do this by examining the associations between gender inequality and gender role ideology, as well as other related factors, across the life course of relationships: from their formation, through maintenance, to dissolution. What are the antecedents of traditional gender role ideology in the early stages of relationships, and how does influence from parents, sexism and feelings of power feed into this? How do traditional gender role ideology and high gender inequality impact the division of household labour in established relationships, and what effect does this have on subsequent life outcomes? Finally, do reasons for breakups, influence from others, and perceptions of breakups differ between cultural groups, and is this related to gender role ideology? Study 1a found that, for US, UK, Indian and Brazilian groups, individuals’ internalized cultural values such as interdependence (a measure of connectedness with others in the same group or family) was related to traditional gender role ideology through parental influence on mate choice, benevolent sexism, and sense of power. Traditional gender role ideology and parental influence on mate choice were subsequently related to the increased likelihood that early-stage relationships would last in Study 1b. Study 2, using a large multinational dataset, found that higher levels of gender inequality and more traditional gender role ideology were related to traditional divisions of childcare, and this was mediated by traditional expectations about the division of childcare. The same pattern was observed for housework. Discrepancies between expectation and actual division of tasks were not related to subjective health, but those participants, especially women, who did more childcare and housework than expected reported higher subjective wellbeing. Study 3a asked Indian and Western (US and UK) participants about their most recent relationship breakup and found that both groups cited similar reasons for their breakups, although the Indian group cited more influence from parents and family members, and the Western group cited lifestyle reasons, such as moving away for work or university, more. In Study 3b a new sample of Indian and Western participants were asked about their perceptions of the breakups described in Study 3a, finding that traditional gender role ideology was related to lower beliefs that the reason for breaking up was sufficient, and Indian descriptions were rated as more gender role traditional and less balanced than Western descriptions. Together these findings suggest broad similarities between cultures across the course of relationships, from the impact of traditional gender role ideology and parental influence on mate choice on relationship longevity in Study 1, through the association between traditional ideology and traditional share of household work in Study 2, and finally similar reasons given for relationship breakups in Study 3. The General Discussion reviews these findings and their contribution to cross-cultural and relationship research and theory, as well as discussing the practical implications and directions for future research.