This dimension focuses on how extent to which a society stress achievement or nurture.  Masculinity is seen to be the trait which emphasizes ambition, acquisition of wealth, and differentiated gender roles.  Femininity is seen to be the trait which stress caring and nurturing behaviors, sexuality equality, environmental awareness, and more fluid gender roles.

Hoftstede’s definitions:

“Masculinity stands for a society in which social gender roles are clearly distinct: Men are supposed to be assertive, tough, and focused on material success; women are supposed to be more modest, tender, and concerned with the quality of life.”

“Femininity stands for a society in which social gender roles overlap: Both men and women are supposed to be modest, tender, and concerned with the quality of life.”

From Hofstede (2001), Culture’s Consequences, 2nd ed.  p 297.

Traits of Masculinity / Femininity

	High Masculine	Low Masculine (Feminine)
social norms	ego oriented	relationship oriented
	money and things are important	quality of life and people are important
	live in order to work	work in order to live
politics and economics	economic growth high priority	environment protection high priority
	conflict solved through force	conflict solved through negotiation
religion	most important in life	less important in life
	only men can be priests	both men and women as priests
work	larger gender wage gap	smaller gender wage gap
	fewer women in management	more women in management
	preference for higher pay	preference for fewer working hours
family and school	traditional family structure	flexible family structure
	girls cry, boys don’t; boys fight, girls don’t	both boys and girls cry; neither fight
	failing is a disaster	failing a minor accident