Gendered Places: The Dimensions of Local Gender Norms Across the United States

Abstract

In this study, we explore the dimensions of local gender norms across U.S. commuting zones. Applying hierarchical cluster analysis with four established indicators of gender norms, we find that these local cultural environments are best conceptualized with a multilevel framework describing gender norms across varying levels of detail. Broadly, commuting zones can be differentiated between those that are egalitarian and those that are traditional. Within these general categories, however, exist more complex dimensions. Gender traditional areas may be distinguished between traditional-breadwinning and traditional-essentialist, while egalitarian areas are separated into those that are liberal-egalitarian and egalitarian-essentialist. Examining the factors sustaining this spatial variation, we test the role of compositional and contextual effects. We find limited support for compositional effects, as commuting zone demographic makeup explains little variation in gender norm indicators. Instead, we find evidence that local gender norms are sustained through contextual effects where the experience of living in a particular environment shapes residents’ attitudes and behaviors. Contextual effects are exceptionally strong in areas with traditional gender norms, where residents who would otherwise hold gender egalitarian perspectives (e.g. the highly educated) have more traditional outlooks than those who share the same characteristics, but reside in places with egalitarian gender norms.

How do Gender Norms and Childcare Costs Affect Maternal Employment Across US States?

“…Instead, gender norms are features of specific environments and vary across contexts (Pearse and Connell 2016). The experience of residing in a place with a particular set of gender norms can influence individuals to align their attitudes and behaviors with the cultural environment (Scarborough and Sin 2020).…”

“…Instead, gender norms are features of specific environments and vary across contexts (Pearse and Connell 2016). The experience of residing in a place with a particular set of gender norms can influence individuals to align their attitudes and behaviors with the cultural environment (Scarborough and Sin 2020). This has implications for parenting and employment, because norms conveying women as primarily responsible for childcare have persisted in the form of intensive mothering ideologies that emphasize "good mothering" as parent-provided and time-intensive.…”

“…Even as support for women's employment has increased steadily, traditional cultural beliefs persist about mothers' primary responsibility for childrearing (Dernberger and Pepin 2020;Scarborough, Sin, and Risman 2019), leading u.S. working mothers to report substantial guilt and work-family conflict (C. Collins 2020). In the united States, cultural norms about the gendered division of household labor vary across regions and states, meaning that mothers face different normative pressures based on their place of residence (Charles, Guryan, and Pan 2018;Ruppanner and Maume 2016;Scarborough and Sin 2020).…”

“…Collins 2020). In the United States, cultural norms about the gendered division of household labor vary across regions and states, meaning that mothers face different normative pressures based on their place of residence (Charles, Guryan, and Pan 2018; Ruppanner and Maume 2016; Scarborough and Sin 2020).…”

The persistence of gendered dating

“…But often young adults actually articulate a mix of egalitarian and traditional beliefs about gender, more supportive of gender equality in the public sphere than in the home (Pepin & Cotter, 2018;Scarborough et al, 2019). This variation in beliefs reflects differences across social class, region, and religion, which shape the expectations for appropriate performances of gender (Gallagher & Smith, 1999;Hamilton, 2014;Scarborough & Sin, 2020;Scarborough et al, 2019).…”