Özge Gökdemir(Maastricht University): “Do All Women Shy Away from Competition? Competitive Preferences Among Dutch and Non-Western Females in the Netherlands."

Abstract:
This study focuses on the willingness to compete among the native population and non-Western migrants living in the Netherlands. Considering the literature on competitiveness and career preferences, it can be argued that non-Western migrants, especially non-Western migrant women, may exhibit different levels of competitiveness compared to the native Dutch population or native Dutch women. This is particularly important for women from non-Western backgrounds because the literature specifically highlights the challenges that non-Western immigrant women face in the job market and society as a whole. Evaluating data from two experiments within the LISS framework, our research provides a unique examination focusing on native Dutch individuals and non-Western women living in the Netherlands. Surprisingly, our findings challenge conventional assumptions, revealing that non-Western women demonstrate a greater inclination towards competition compared to Dutch counterparts. Notably, this pattern is not replicated among non-western male participants. These results are consistent with studies on gender equality and competitiveness at the country of origin. While in a country like the Netherlands, where gender equality is high, significant differences in competition preferences between native women and men are observed, this disparity is not evident among the first generation of non-Western migrant women coming from countries with lower gender equality. Moreover, there are also varying levels of competition preferences between native and non-Western migrant women living in the same country. This study sheds light on the multifaceted interplay between ethnicity, competitiveness, and gender dynamics in the context of Dutch society.