Story perspectives

Cultural Hierarchies Keep Educated US Women Behind Pay Gap

7/6/2026

Summary

Study Links Hierarchy

Applied Economics Letters finds cultural hierarchy beliefs keep highly educated U.S. women from fully joining the workforce.
The study shows advanced education does not narrow the gender gap in strict-hierarchy societies.
U.S. women earn about 84 cents per dollar earned by men even with a bachelor’s degree.
Barclays reports a 48 percent gender pay gap, rising to 79 percent with bonuses, and 130 men advance for every 100 women promoted.

Summary

Researchers Challenge Norms

Researchers Muge Yayla (University of Texas at San Antonio) and A. Melih Kullu (Florida Southern College) argue family structures embed norms shaping hiring and limiting women’s ability to leverage education.
Education signals problem-solving ability, opening professional networks for women.
Academic credentials boost women’s confidence, helping them negotiate better positions and salaries.
The introduction calls education a primary tool for leveling the playing field, yet cultural factors may limit its impact.

Summary

Researchers Recommend Reform

Researchers chose 2017 as the reference year to avoid COVID-19 labor shocks that displaced women.
The analysis covered 144 nations, using employee survey scores on power-distance and masculinity (0-100) and controlling for GDP per capita.
Authors note the study is correlational, cannot prove causation, and the gender-gap index omits informal work.
They advise firms in high-power-distance, masculine societies to dismantle rigid hierarchies and adopt transparent promotion, mentorship, and flexible-work programs.

1 of 3

Study Links Hierarchy

Applied Economics Letters finds cultural hierarchy beliefs keep highly educated U.S. women from fully joining the workforce.
The study shows advanced education does not narrow the gender gap in strict-hierarchy societies.
U.S. women earn about 84 cents per dollar earned by men even with a bachelor’s degree.
Barclays reports a 48 percent gender pay gap, rising to 79 percent with bonuses, and 130 men advance for every 100 women promoted.

1 / 3