Gender, Gender Norms, and Corruption: Refuting the Myth of the Fairer Sex with Evidence from Kazakhstan

초록

Numerous studies on corruption have demonstrated that women appear less corrupt than men. However, recent debates indicate that the perceived gender disparity in corruption is context-dependent and also bring into question whether women would be less corrupt than men if they had the same opportunities and networks. Drawing on the feminist perspective, which contends the importance of considering patriarchal power structures in understanding corruption dynamics, this study investigates the micro-level link between patriarchy and corruption. Analyzing survey data from college students in Kazakhstan, a country characterized by both entrenched patriarchy and pervasive corruption, the results highlight the role of individual gender role beliefs and networks through which corrupt exchanges can occur, rather than gender itself, as determinants of corruption tolerance. These findings refute the myth of the fairer sex and suggest the importance of addressing patriarchal norms in anti-corruption strategies.