Bridging the Gender Well-being Gap: The influence of societal and inherent factors

This study explores pervasive gender disparities in subjective well-being (SWB) by analyzing over 2.5 million responses collected from 168 countries between 2004 and 2022. This study uses an exogenous switching treatment effect model (ESTEM) and machine learning techniques to examine both inherent and societal factors that contribute to the gender disparity in SWB. The findings reveal that while men are naturally inclined to report higher well-being, external societal pressures significantly lower their SWB, leading to a paradox: women, despite facing more societal obstacles, often report higher SWB. In addition, the gender gap in societal treatment has widened over time, exacerbating disparities in well-being. This widening gap is primarily fueled by rigid societal norms and unequal treatment of genders across various contexts. This study underscores the urgent need for policy interventions aimed at dismantling these societal norms and promoting inclusive environments where all genders can thrive equally. By addressing both inherent and external factors, such policies can reduce the gap in well-being and foster a more equitable and supportive social framework.