Citation

Roberts SC. Alcohol Alcohol. 2011; 46(2): 95-104.

Affiliation

Alcohol Research Group, 6475 Christie Ave, Suite 400, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/alcalc/agq093

PMID

21239417

PMCID

PMC3104612

Abstract

Aims: This systematic review focuses on research about macro-level gender equality and violence against women (VAW) and identifies conceptually and theoretically driven hypotheses as well as lessons relevant for alcohol research. Hypotheses include: amelioration-increased equality decreases VAW; backlash-increased equality increases VAW; and convergence-increased equality reduces the gender gap; and hypotheses that distinguish between relative and absolute status, with relative status comparing men's and women's status and absolute status measuring women's status without regard to men. METHODS: Systematic review of studies published through June 2009 identified through PubMed and Web of Science, as well as citing and cited articles. RESULTS: A total of 30 studies are included. Of 85 findings examining amelioration/backlash, 25% support amelioration, 22% backlash; and 53% are null. Of 13 findings examining convergence, 31% support and 23% are inconsistent with convergence; 46% are null. CONCLUSION: Neither the existence nor the direction of the equality and VAW relationship can be assumed. This suggests that the relationship between macro-level gender equality and alcohol should also not be assumed, but rather investigated through research.

Language: en