Gender-specific effects at work: An empirical study of four countries

Abstract

Using a questionnaire based upon the work of Geert Hofstede, we examined the effects of gender on the following three work-related dimensions: the importance of work-related goals, the preference for performance rewards and the preference for management styles. The study was conducted for a multinational corporation headquartered in Germany with branches in China, Japan and the USA. Even though some inter-country differences in the importance of work-related matters are identified and intra-country gender differences exist in work goal evaluation, overall we find that men and women exhibit similar preferences concerning performance rewards and managerial styles. Finally, for the three dimensions studied, our data do not confirm the stereotypical work-related gender differences often reported in the literature and popular press. © 2007 The Author(s); Journal compilation © 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.