Gender and highbrow cultural participation in the United States

Empirical analyses of cultural choice consistently report that gender is an essential determinant of cultural participation. In particular, women are significantly more likely than men to participate in high-status cultural activities. However, research on the determinants of the gender gap in high culture remains scarce. Using recent data on the United States (Survey of Public Participation in the Arts 2008), this research integrates several explanations of the gender gap in highbrow cultural participation. Specifically, the models explore the effect of (1) early socialization in the arts and socioeconomic status; (2) differential involvement by gender in the labor force; and (3) the influence of marriage on women's and men's cultural participation. A key result is that the gender gap in highbrow culture can be traced partly to differences in early socialization in the arts for women and men. Several employment-related variables also reinforce the gender gap in cultural participation.

► What are the determinants of women's higher participation in the arts? ► It can partly be traced to early socialization in the arts. ► In particular, girls are more likely than boys to take art lessons. ► Several employment-related variables modestly reinforce the gender gap. ► The other hypotheses are not supported.