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(E)Quality of Life: A Cross-National Analysis of the Effect of Gender Equality on Life Satisfaction

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Journal of Happiness Studies
Authors:
Andre P. Audette
Andre P. Audette
Andre P. Audette
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Sean Lam
Sean Lam
Sean Lam
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Haley O’Connor
Haley O’Connor
Haley O’Connor
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Benjamin Radcliff at University of Notre Dame
Benjamin Radcliff
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Abstract

Several international organizations have recently prioritized promoting equal rights for men and women. Reflecting these priorities, many view gender equality as a means to promote societal well-being; yet still others suggest that it has deleterious effects on the enacting state. To test these pro-equality arguments, we examine the effect of four major indicators of gender (in)equality on life satisfaction: the Gender Empowerment Measure, Gender Development Index, Gender Inequality Index, and the Gender Gap Index (or Global Gender Gap). Utilizing survey data from the World Values Survey and Eurobarometer, we find strong and consistent evidence that promoting gender equality leads to greater subjective well-being. Furthermore, we demonstrate that policies promoting gender equality tend to improve the quality of life for everyone, not just direct beneficiaries of the policies (women). Indeed, men also see strong and significant gains in life satisfaction when the sexes are more equal. As a result, we suggest that scholars of subjective well-being expand research into determinants of quality of life to include equality and other social factors. We also suggest that the findings presented here have tangible implications for governments and policy workers who are tasked with promoting equality and well-being.
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Vol.:(0123456789)
Journal of Happiness Studies (2019) 20:2173–2188
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-0042-8
1 3
RESEARCH PAPER
(E)Quality ofLife: ACross‑National Analysis oftheEect
ofGender Equality onLife Satisfaction
AndreP.Audette1 · SeanLam2· HaleyO’Connor2· BenjaminRadcli2
Published online: 11 October 2018
© Springer Nature B.V. 2018
Abstract
Several international organizations have recently prioritized promoting equal rights for
men and women. Reflecting these priorities, many view gender equality as a means to pro-
mote societal well-being; yet still others suggest that it has deleterious effects on the enact-
ing state. To test these pro-equality arguments, we examine the effect of four major indica-
tors of gender (in)equality on life satisfaction: the Gender Empowerment Measure, Gender
Development Index, Gender Inequality Index, and the Gender Gap Index (or Global Gen-
der Gap). Utilizing survey data from the World Values Survey and Eurobarometer, we
find strong and consistent evidence that promoting gender equality leads to greater sub-
jective well-being. Furthermore, we demonstrate that policies promoting gender equality
tend to improve the quality of life for everyone, not just direct beneficiaries of the policies
(women). Indeed, men also see strong and significant gains in life satisfaction when the
sexes are more equal. As a result, we suggest that scholars of subjective well-being expand
research into determinants of quality of life to include equality and other social factors. We
also suggest that the findings presented here have tangible implications for governments
and policy workers who are tasked with promoting equality and well-being.
Keywords Gender· Equality· Subjective well-being· Happiness
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https ://doi.org/10.1007/s1090
2-018-0042-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
* Andre P. Audette
aaudette@monmouthcollege.edu
Sean Lam
sean.p.lam.32@nd.edu
Haley O’Connor
hoconnor@nd.edu
Benjamin Radcliff
radcliff.1@nd.edu
1 Department ofPolitical Science, Monmouth College, 700 E. Broadway, Monmouth, IL61462,
USA
2 Department ofPolitical Science, University ofNotre Dame, 2060 Jenkins Nanovic Halls,
NotreDame, IN46556, USA
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
... Previous research has shown that gender equality may positively affect life satisfaction, but the results were not robust and dependent on the type of control variables included in the regression analysis (e.g., Schyns, 1998;Tesch-Römer et al., 2008), or were only applicable to certain subgroups (Bjørnskov et al., 2008). More recently, more robust findings were found by Audette et al. (2019). Using data from the World Values Survey, they estimated that gender equality improves life satisfaction for both men and women. ...
... Using data from the World Values Survey, they estimated that gender equality improves life satisfaction for both men and women. Audette et al. (2019) suggest that the positive relationship between gender equality and life satisfaction may be driven by various channels. However, they do not test which of these channels actually explains this positive relationship. ...
... First, equality in social and political relations comes with more opportunities for reaching higher levels of educational attainment (Audette et al., 2019;World Bank, 2011). This provides women with more opportunities to advance their own interests. ...
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... In exploring this trend, much research has focused on physical health and psychological well-being as key outcomes (Backhans et al., 2007;King et al., 2020;Sandager, 2021). Crossnational evidence suggests that both women and men tend to experience better health outcomes and higher well-being in gender-egalitarian societies (Audette et al., 2019;Holter, 2014;Schyns, 1998). In contrast, longitudinal studies show that women's well-being has declined despite their socio-economic empowerment due to exacerbated burdens and persistently gendered treatment in the workplace and home along with their shifting aspirations and references (Stevenson & Wolfers, 2009). ...
... They showed, while women's status measured by objective indicators (e.g., employment) had notably improved from the 1970s to the 2000s, their SWB had deteriorated arguably because of the following factors: (a) the significantly negative impact of lesser social cohesion as well as increased anxiety and household risk; (b) the diversified domains of life evaluation (e.g., not only home but also work) that made it difficult for women to be satisfied with their life as a whole; (c) more honest attitudes expressed by women in accordance with their improved quality of life that devalued their inflated responses in the past; and (d) increased aspirations and references that women could not always achieve. This suggests that simply promoting gender parity does not guarantee higher well-being levels among women, given the societal-level gender parity is positively linked to life satisfaction (Audette et al., 2019); and the degree of gender equality is substantially associated with that of happiness across societies (Veenhoven, 2015). One theoretical explanation of the country-level gender inequality effect is proposed by the gender stratification hypothesis (Baker & Jones, 1993;Else-Quest et al., 2010). ...
... Importantly, scholars have found the positive effect of gender-egalitarian environments not merely for women but for both gender groups. This includes the evidence showing that (a) both women and men in less gendered societies are more likely to report a low depression risk (Holter, 2014); life satisfaction among men, as well as women, are positively associated with more gender egalitarian settings (Audette et al., 2019); women do not necessarily benefit more from stronger gender parity than men do (Meisenberg & Woodley, 2015). A similar structure is observed among adolescents, such that both boys and girls in countries with higher degrees of gender equality are more satisfied with their life as compared to their counterparts in gendered societies (de Looze et al., 2018). ...
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... Societies that promote gender equality show greater subjective well-being for both men and women (Audette et al., 2019). However, the extensive literature on gendered differences in subjective well-being across the globe yields inconsistent findings (Batz & Tay, 2018). ...
... This would happen as a function of increased negative well-being and decreased positive wellbeing in women commensurate with increases in gender equality, with a more muted effect among men. On the other hand, socio-cultural theories of gender expect decreases in gender differences in negative and positive well-being to accompany increases in gender equality (Audette et al., 2019;Costa et al., 2001). Finally, it is possible that societal gender egalitarianism does not moderate gender differences as these cultures have more clearly differentiated emotional display rules between genders. ...
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... Our decision to use this index was inspired by previous studies related to the interplay between gender, well-being and the ICT field (e. g. Mouronte-López & Ceres, 2021; Audette et al., 2019;Batz-Barbarich et al., 2018;Gray et al., 2017). Table 2 presents our extensive international sample of countries over a broad time span, showcasing a multivariate non-graphical exploratory data analysis of the variables used in this study. ...
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... It not only imparts knowledge and skills but also empowers individuals to actively participate in societal processes and pursue better livelihoods. Access to quality education is fundamental to improving life outcomes, providing equal opportunities, and addressing disparities across various socio-economic groups (Audette et al., 2019). However, ensuring that all students fully engage in the education system remains a challenge in many contexts, particularly for marginalized or underserved populations (Seibert et al., 2016). ...
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... These factors are crucial to consider. Physical custody arrangements can embody expectations about equality in mothers' and fathers' care roles, and gender equality on an institutional scale can, in turn, positively affect life satisfaction -particularly for women (Audette et al., 2018;Tesch-Römer et al., 2008). As such, the societal and political climate surrounding the division of childcare provides an important backdrop to understanding how JPC affects mothers' life satisfaction. ...
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