Values and attitudes towards women in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico Miguel R. Olivas-Luja ´n Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Clarion, Pennsylvania, USA Silvia Ine ´s Monserrat Universidad del Centro, Tandil, Argentina Jaime A. Ruiz-Gutierrez School of Management, University of Los Andes, Bogota ´, Colombia Regina A. Greenwood Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale-Davie, Florida, USA Sergio Madero Go ´mez Departamento Acade ´mico de Administracio ´n, Tec de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico Edward F. Murphy Jr Travis AFB Academic Center, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Travis, California, USA, and Neusa Maria Bastos F. Santos Pontifı ´cia Universidade Cato ´lica de Sa ˜ o Paulo, Sa ˜ o Paulo, Brazil Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report results from an exploratory, empirical research study that describes personal values and attitudes toward women, two themes that strongly impact employment relations and a wide variety of management issues. Design/methodology/approach – Well-established measures for the major themes for this paper were used in constructing a questionnaire. Data collection instruments were vetted for content, translated and back-translated, and applied by native researchers, who also contributed local expertise to the paper. Findings – Female respondents across all four countries were more egalitarian in their attitudes towards women in the workforce than were men. Additionally, Colombian respondents had more egalitarian attitudes towards women scores, followed by Brazilians and Argentineans; Mexicans exhibited the least egalitarian attitudes toward women. Originality/value – This is the first empirical study that links two well-validated constructs (personal values and attitudes toward women) in samples from the largest Latin American countries. Keywords Women, Individual psychology, Attitudes, Management attitudes, South America Paper type Research paper 1. Introduction A well accepted socio-cultural science model explains that males and females are born neutral and individuals are socialized early in life with respect to gender roles The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at www.emeraldinsight.com/0142-5455.htm Values and attitudes towards women 227 Received 28 July 2008 Revised 29 October 2008 Accepted 3 November 2008 Employee Relations Vol. 31 No. 3, 2009 pp. 227-244 q Emerald Group Publishing Limited 0142-5455 DOI 10.1108/01425450910946442