Masculinity Around the World

Pauline Grosjean and her co-authors examine the role of masculinity norms—the shared social expectations about how men should behave—in predicting economic, health, and political outcomes. They fielded the Global Masculinity Survey, integrating a short form of the Conformity to Masculinity Norms Inventory (CMNI) into nationally representative face-to-face interviews and online surveys of 125,000 individuals across 70 countries. Economically, men who score higher on the CMNI supply more labor, are more competitive, and sort into traditionally masculine occupations. In terms of health, men take greater risks and report poorer mental health.

Politically, men express stronger support for strongman authoritarianism and the military. Gender differences in CMNI scores are associated with 23–57% of the gender gaps in risk aversion, willingness to work longer hours, and support for illiberal values. Pauline and her co-authors find that exposure to militarized conflict and economic recession during impressionable years shapes adherence to masculinity norms.

Pauline Grosjean’s co-authors: Ralph De Haas (EBRD, KU Leuven and CEPR), Victoria Baranov ( University of Melbourne and CEPR), and Ieda Matavelli (UNSW)