Who Approves of Gossip, Ostracism, and Confrontation Following Norm Violations? A Cross-Cultural Test of Gender Stereotypes

Abstract

Existing research and popular culture suggest that women are more approving of gossip. But are they? This research note uses two studies to ask whether gender stereotypes about gossip and other key responses to norm violations are wrong. The first study (N = 133) confirms that people stereotype women as more approving of gossip and that they hold gender stereotypes about other key responses to those who violate social norms, namely, ostracism and direct confrontation of norm violators. We then assess the accuracy of these stereotypes using a unique data set of 17,268 participants from 57 societies. In contrast to the stereotypes, these cross-cultural data show that men are more approving of gossip and ostracism in response to norm violations, and this holds across most societies. We also do not find any evidence for the stereotype that men are more approving of direct confrontation of norm violators.