Gender and Political Corruption: Women More Likely to Disapprove of Illegal Activity

Is it really any shock that women might be less corrupt than men? Just look through the history books people. And whether you can blame it on high amounts of testosterone or a higher rate in positions of power, new political science research from Rice University shows that women are more likely than men to disapprove of or participate in political corruption. (As if we had any doubts!)

In fact, study findings shows that women are less tolerant of corrupt behavior. However, researchers note that this was only primarily seen in democratic governments.

"The relationship between gender and corruption appears to depend on context," Justin Esarey said via a press release, an assistant professor of political science at Rice and the study's lead author. "When corruption is stigmatized, as in most democracies, women will be less tolerant and less likely to engage in it compared with men. But if 'corrupt' behaviors are an ordinary part of governance supported by political institutions, there will be no corruption gender gap."

Esarey notes that previous research has shown how greater female participation in government is associated with lower levels of perceived corruption. In fact, he does not notice this relationship in autocracies where women might be less likely to challenge the system.

"States that have more corruption tend to be less democratic," Esarey added, via the release. "In autocracies, bribery, favoritism and personal loyalty are often characteristic of normal government operations and are not labeled as corruption."

However, he also suggests that women often feel bound by political norms in the societies in which they live.

Researchers grouped the study into two parts-first evaluating the corruption at the national level in data from three organizations that monitor and measure corruption, via the release: Transparency International, the World Bank Governance Indicators and the International Crisis Risk Group, which encompassed data from 157 countries between 1998 and 2007.

The second part of the study looked at the attitudes regarding corruption on an individual status in 68 different countries from data of the World Values Surveys (WVS) that was collected between 1999 and 2002.

The study authors note that they hope this research will encourage others to more closely monitor corruption and gender discrimination worldwide.

More information regarding the study will appear in the upcoming edition of Politics and Gender.