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The Underrepresentation of Women in Leadership Positions in Rural R ussia
Author(s) -
O'Brien David J.,
Wegren Stephen K.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
rural sociology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.083
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1549-0831
pISSN - 0036-0112
DOI - 10.1111/ruso.12053
Subject(s) - masculinity , inequality , gender inequality , psychology , division of labour , demographic economics , gender studies , persistence (discontinuity) , social psychology , sociology , political science , economics , mathematical analysis , mathematics , geotechnical engineering , law , engineering
Numerous studies have documented the persistence of gender inequality in rural R ussia, including the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions. A survey ( N = 169) conducted in two rural R ussian regions examined residents' explanations of gender inequality and their support for various remedies to ameliorate this situation. Both male and female respondents downplay outright discrimination in accounting for gender‐based occupational inequalities. Instead, respondents are more likely to agree with explanations that are embedded in cultural notions of a traditional gender‐based division of labor, in which the home responsibilities for women and a “natural” advantage of masculinity make it less likely that women become leaders. With respect to strategies for encouraging women to be leaders, both men and women support “more training” and “more husband help at home,” with women being slightly more positive on the latter item.