How does a person’s gender and relation to social norms change their susceptibility to corrupt behaviors? A literature review on gender and corruption found pressure to adhere to gender norms makes both men and women more likely to engage in corrupt activities. Further, even when they use corrupt means to meet gender expectations, individuals face more consequences for not meeting gender expectations than they do for the corrupt actions. The literature review also found that women, when engaging in corrupt actions, are more likely to be covert.
This exploration of gender in corruption is the first of a MacArthur-supported series of blogs on Corruption in Fragile States, produced by Besa Global’s Corruption, Justice and Legitimacy Program in collaboration with Nigeria-based Policy Innovation Centre.
