Cultural values and gender gap: a cross-national analysis Hamid Yeganeh and Diane May College of Business, Winona State University, Winona, Minnesota, USA Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the effects of cultural values on gender gap. Design/methodology/approach – First, by relying on the extant literature, the concepts of cultural values and gender gap are framed and variables are defined. Then, the relationships among variables are hypothesized and the theoretical model is constructed. Finally, empirical tests are conducted, the results are analyzed, and theoretical/practical implications are discussed. Findings – The results show that controlling for the effects of socio-economic variables, culture still has important implications for gender gap. More specifically, it is found that conservatism value dimension is associated with higher levels of gender gap, but autonomy cultural dimension may lead to gender equality. Research limitations/implications – This study is limited to three pairs of cultural values as proposed by Schwartz. Another major limitation of this study resides in the theoretical model and linear data analysis techniques used to investigate the relationship between culture and gender gap. Practical implications – The findings of this study could have important practical implications in many areas of social sciences such as political science, management and organizational studies, education, international law, and human resource management. Social implications – By considering the implications of cultural values, policy makers and business leaders may adopt effective strategies to promote gender equalities at the societal and organizational levels. Originality/value – While many studies have focused on some narrow aspects such as gender-based differences in labour, employment, remuneration, political representation, education, and leadership, in this study, the authors relied on a comprehensive conceptualization of the gender gap. Considering the reliability of data and the variety of countries/cultures included, the results seem very significant. Keywords Cross-cultural studies, Gender, Equal opportunities, Social values Paper type Research paper Introduction As we start the second decade of twenty-first century, gender-based inequality continues to be a major preoccupation around the globe. Men and women are treated unequally in politics, business, organization, and education. Not only in poor, but also in rich countries, we find ample evidence of a systematic gender gap. Faced with this phenomenon, many scholars have tried to investigate the factors that affect the gender-based inequality. Socio-economic development, modernity, historical/political legacies, and institutional factors have been recognized as the most important factors affecting gender-based inequality (Bolzendalh and Myers, 2004; Hardford, 2005; Norris and Inglehart, 2001; Inglehart and Norris, 2003; Inglehart et al., 2002; Inglehart and Welzel, 2005). While all these factors may explain some aspects of gender-based inequality, an important question is posed: Do cultural values affect gender-based inequality? Since it is through culture that societies maintain regularity and order, it would be plausible to suggest that cultural values might have important implications for gender-based inequality. Some scholars The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at www.emeraldinsight.com/1754-2413.htm GM 26,2 106 Gender in Management: An International Journal Vol. 26 No. 2, 2011 pp. 106-121 q Emerald Group Publishing Limited 1754-2413 DOI 10.1108/17542411111116536