The Great Gender Divergence

The Great Gender Divergence Substack explores factors influencing global gender equality and disparities, examining ideological polarization, cultural and economic developments, fertility trends, the impacts of religion and social media, and systemic issues like patriarchy and sexism. It delves into how these elements interact within various societal contexts to shape gender dynamics.

Gender Equality Cultural and Economic Development Fertility Trends Religion and Gender Social Media and Ideology Patriarchy and Sexism Labor Markets and Employment Education and Social Mobility Cultural Liberalism Marriage and Kinship

The hottest Substack posts of The Great Gender Divergence

And their main takeaways

What Prevents & What Drives Gendered Ideological Polarisation?

2751 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Gender Issues Social media
  1. Men and women tend to think alike in close-knit, interdependent, religious communities where conformity is encouraged.
  2. Economic frustration, social media filter bubbles, and cultural entrepreneurs are driving gendered ideological polarisation in economically developed and culturally liberal societies.
  3. Shared cultural production and mixed-gender friendships can help suppress the gender divide.
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Why has fertility plummeted across East Asia?

412 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Education Gender Equality Cultural Evolution Economic Development
  1. Meritocratic civil service exams in East Asia led to heavy investment in education for social mobility.
  2. Education fever in East Asia sparked an arms race of intensive parenting, seen as costly and labor-intensive.
  3. Cultural liberalization and economic development in East Asia have weakened the pressure to bear multiple sons, leading to plummeting fertility rates.

Patriarchal Backlash

275 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Gender Issues India
  1. Indian women with higher education or earnings than their husbands are more likely to face severe violence
  2. In endogamous societies, female employment may not lead to marital equality if women cannot leave abusive marriages
  3. Intensive kinship systems may entrench intimate partner violence through gender status beliefs and caste networks

Was 8th Century China Meritocratic?

157 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
💾 History Ancient Social Empires Scholarship Research
  1. In 8th Century China, there was a widespread belief in meritocracy and social mobility, which were endorsed by Confucius and Empress Wu Zetian.
  2. Elites might have had advantages like better education for their sons and using nepotism for promotions, which could challenge the true meritocratic nature of the system.
  3. Recent research on social mobility during the Tang Dynasty provides insights into the career paths, imperial exam pass rates, and ancestral backgrounds of individuals through tomb epitaphs.

How Does Religion affect Gender Relations across South Asia?

235 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Scripture
  1. Female employment and divorce rates are low in South Asia due to different religious majorities in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
  2. Religion can reinforce patriarchy in four ways, like close-knit communities unquestioningly following teachings and members conforming to gain respect.
  3. Scripture can be used to justify the Patrilocal Trap, religious violence and discrimination may exacerbate gender inequalities.

Materialism

216 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Materialism Gender Equality
  1. Study in Singapore teaches the Five Cs: cash, car, credit card, condominium, country club.
  2. Materialism can be a tool for promoting gender equality.
  3. Empirical testing can validate unusual ideas for societal change.

Is there a Crisis of Masculinity?

373 implied HN points • 15 May 23
🎭️ Culture Masculinity Gender Equality Media influence Gender Dynamics Social Issues
  1. Misogyny is declining, and there is increased support for gender equality among young people worldwide.
  2. Modernization in patrilineal societies like China, Korea, and India has led to a crisis of incels due to imbalanced sex ratios.
  3. China's government is repressing female freedoms to address the issue of frustrated incels and social instability.

Why has Latin American female employment risen in the absence of growth?

176 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics Employment Social Change Media influence
  1. Latin American female employment has increased despite economic stagnation, challenging conventional wisdom.
  2. Latin America's unique situation suggests that women's desire to work may increase with rising opportunity costs.
  3. Social and economic factors like hyper-inflation and individualism may play a significant role in driving female employment in Latin America.

What is Patriarchy?

196 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Gender Studies Feminism Activism Social norms
  1. In patriarchal societies, prestigious positions are dominated by men, reinforcing beliefs of male competence and authority.
  2. Material and cultural dimensions of patriarchy are mutually reinforcing.
  3. Patriarchal backlash can occur when gender norms are challenged.

Reverse Dominance Coalitions

176 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Gender Equality Social Change Activism Feminism
  1. Inequalities persist when normalized and celebrated, culture changes when people speak out together for equality.
  2. Reverse Dominance Coalitions reject patriarchy, promote equality, and challenge cultural norms.
  3. RDCs foster critical reflection, encourage resistance, build solidarity, and shift social expectations toward gender equality.

Why do some women hate feminism?

196 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gender Equality Media Consumption
  1. American women overwhelmingly support gender equality, but not all identify as feminists.
  2. Conservatives and feminists have deeply opposing ideologies, perpetuating social segregation and misconceptions.
  3. Media portrayal and political polarization contribute to the misunderstanding and animosity toward feminists.

The Motherhood Penalty

176 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
  1. Mothers face a penalty in academia due to the burden of childcare
  2. After childbirth, mothers' productivity decreases in the academic field compared to fathers
  3. Motherhood hinders career progression for educated mothers, impacting their earnings and opportunities

Is joblessness fuelling hostile sexism worldwide?

176 implied HN points • 05 Feb 23
  1. Economic development can promote gender equality by empowering women and supporting men's egalitarianism.
  2. Male job loss can contribute to increased hostility towards women, including supporting abusive behaviors and rejecting women's rights.
  3. Economic insecurity does not necessarily hinder feminist progress and in some cases, like in Latin America, can even lead to advancements in gender equality.

Sexual Competition, Social Media & Algorithms

137 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Social media Psychology Beauty Inequality Algorithm
  1. Female beautification is inevitable, especially under intense sexual competition
  2. Sexual competition heightens beautification, with greater competition leading to more focus on appearance
  3. Algorithms on social media platforms like Instagram manufacture an inequality of adoration by showcasing the most popular posts, distorting girls' perception of peer competition

REVIEW: "Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: How Tight and Loose Cultures Wire Our Worlds" by Michele Gelfand

2 HN points • 09 Feb 23
  1. Existential threats can trigger cultural tightness with strict norms and authoritarianism, while security and diversity can lead to more liberal communities.
  2. Global cultural heterogeneity reveals a spectrum of 'tight and loose cultures' with societal traits like self-control, creativity, and prejudice varying between them.
  3. Institutions and rituals can reinforce cultural tightness, with tight cultures having more security measures and promoting pro-social behaviors through group rituals.