Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Neuroscience
  • About
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Social Psychology Business

Religion is a driving force behind the gender wage gap, study finds

by Eric W. Dolan
April 3, 2021
in Business, Psychology of Religion
(Image by StockSnap from Pixabay)

(Image by StockSnap from Pixabay)

Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
Stay informed on the latest psychology and neuroscience research—follow PsyPost on LinkedIn for daily updates and insights.

New research published in the Academy of Management Journal indicates that religion perpetuates the gender wage gap. The findings provide evidence that men tend to earn significantly more than women in societies with heightened religiosity.

“Management researchers have called religion ‘a benign and positive force in business.’ Because of that, we are seeing these policies that let religion in, but when you look at the management literature with a fine-tooth comb, there has been no scrutiny of religion and gender attitudes,” said Traci Sitzmann, an associate professor of management at the University of Colorado Denver and the corresponding author of the new study.

“I think it’s a little ironic that we haven’t questioned if there could be some negative implications for letting religion into the workplace.”

For their research, Sitzmann and her colleague, Elizabeth M. Campbell, examined data from the Human Development Report, Gallup Incorporated, and other sources. This allowed them to analyze not only the relationship between the gender wage gap and religiosity in 140 countries, but also test for potential mechanisms behind the relationship.

The researchers also specifically examined the situation in the United States using data from Gallup and the Status of Women in the States report. They found that the gender wage gap tended to be greater in more religious countries and in more religious states within the United States. The collective mentality toward sexuality, the ability of women to attain power, and the differentiation of social roles for men and women helped to explain the relationship.

“In nations where more than 95% or more people said religion was important in their daily lives, such as Pakistan and the Philippines, women earned around 46% as much as men. In countries where fewer than 20% of people said religion was important to them in daily life, such as Sweden and Estonia, women averaged around 75% of men’s wages,” Sitzmann told PsyPost.

“The effect held true for all major world religions. It didn’t matter if most believers in a country were Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu or adherents to a folk religion. The wage gap was still greater in countries where religion played a major role in daily life.”

“The gender gap is projected to vanish in 28 years in the most secular states, compared with a stunning 109 years in the most religious states in the United States,” Sitzmann added.

The research, however, was limited by the fact that it only examined correlational data. So Sitzmann and her colleague conducted two experiments see whether link between religiosity and the gender wage gap was a causal relationship.

The studies, which included 234 individuals, provided evidence that religion is a driving force behind the wage gap. Participants were more likely to endorse gender wage gaps after being exposed to corporate language that glorified belief in god and adherence to faith-based principles.

“Our research is instrumental for documenting that religiosity has a systematic effect on women’s wages, suggesting that businesses should toe a fine line between permitting religious freedom and ensuring that freedom does not infringe upon the rights of others,” Sitzmann said.

The study, “The Hidden Cost of Prayer: Religiosity and the Gender Wage Gap“, was published October 27, 2020.

TweetSendScanShareSendPin11ShareShareShareShareShare

RELATED

New psychology study sheds light on mysterious “feelings of presence” during isolation
Evolutionary Psychology

New psychology study sheds light on mysterious “feelings of presence” during isolation

July 1, 2025

New research suggests our brains may be wired to expect danger in the dark. The study found that sensory deprivation and uncertainty often trigger a disturbing feeling of presence—perhaps an ancient survival response to unseen threats in our environment.

Read moreDetails
Religion did not protect against racism’s harmful psychological impact on Asian Americans amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Mental Health

Religious attendance may not boost mental health, long-term study finds

June 19, 2025

A new study analyzing 18 years of UK survey data found that attending religious services doesn't consistently improve mental health. While previous research suggested benefits, this large-scale analysis found mostly no effect—and sometimes even slightly worse mental health symptoms.

Read moreDetails
New study identifies another key difference between religious “nones” and religious “dones”
Psychology of Religion

Millennials are abandoning organized religion. A new study provides insight into why

June 16, 2025

A new study finds that many young Americans are walking away from organized religion—not because they’ve lost belief, but because their values around authenticity, justice, and individual autonomy conflict with the teachings and politics of religious institutions.

Read moreDetails
Poor sleep may shrink brain regions vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease, study suggests
Political Psychology

Christian nationalists tend to imagine God as benevolent, angry over sins, and engaged

June 14, 2025

Christians who believe God is benevolent, engaged, and angered by sin are more likely to support religious nationalism, according to a new study. This worldview was also associated with conspiracy mentality and xenophobic attitudes.

Read moreDetails
The dark psychology of how people get drawn into cults
Psychology of Religion

The dark psychology of how people get drawn into cults

June 12, 2025

The series Sirens plays cult life for laughs—but beneath the humor lies a disturbing truth. A psychologist explores how real-world manipulation tactics, from isolation to dependency, mirror the show's plot and reveal why leaving a cult is anything but simple.

Read moreDetails
Brain connectivity maps shed light on the synergistic effects of meditation and psilocybin
Psychedelic Drugs

Psychedelic experiences can both cause and resolve spiritual struggles, study suggests

June 12, 2025

A new study has found that people frequently described both relief from spiritual tension and the emergence of new spiritual struggles following psychedelic use.

Read moreDetails
Ayahuasca entity encounters linked to lasting religious belief changes, especially in men
Ayahuasca

Ayahuasca entity encounters linked to lasting religious belief changes, especially in men

June 8, 2025

A new study suggests that vivid encounters with perceived entities during ayahuasca experiences are associated with reduced atheism and increased spirituality, particularly among men. Before the experience, men were less religious—but gender differences disappeared afterward.

Read moreDetails
Individuals with bipolar disorder face increased cardiovascular risk, study finds
Psychology of Religion

Sex after faith: Study reveals how ultra-Orthodox disaffiliates struggle with sexuality

June 6, 2025

A new study sheds light on how ultra-Orthodox Jews who leave their religious communities face confusion, trauma, and vulnerability when navigating sexuality in secular society, often lacking the cultural knowledge needed for healthy relationships and sexual well-being.

Read moreDetails

SUBSCRIBE

Go Ad-Free! Click here to subscribe to PsyPost and support independent science journalism!

STAY CONNECTED

LATEST

Understanding “neuronal ensembles” could revolutionize addiction treatment

Not bothered by celebrity infidelity? This psychological trait might be why

Genetic factors may influence how well exercise buffers against childhood trauma

Tips for parents in talking with your kids about your partner’s mental illness

Subjective cognitive struggles strongly linked to social recovery in depression

New research suggests the conservative mental health advantage is a myth

FACT CHECK: Does cheese cause nightmares? Here’s what the science actually says

Scientists just uncovered a surprising illusion in how we remember time

         
       
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms and Conditions
[Do not sell my information]

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • Drug Research
  • Relationship Research
  • About PsyPost
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy