Gender Differences in Russians’ Perceptions of Valued Personality Traits in Men and Women

Bibliographic Data

ID24217009
AuthorsLidia Okolskaya (0000-0001-5142-4215, Institute of Sociology of FCTAS RAS, Moscow, Russia)
Year2026
Volume32
Issue3
Pages147-163
Publication date2026-09-29
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociological Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1562-2495 • E-ISSN: 1684-1581
PublisherFederal Center of Theoretical and Applied Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FCTAS RAS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.19181/socjour.2026.32.3.7
OpenAlexW7214784062
LanguageRU
References cited23

This article analyzes normative perceptions of Russian people regarding the valued personality traits of men and women and the extent to which these perceptions are shaped by gender. The study is grounded in the fields of gender studies and friendship research. These normative perceptions are interpreted through the lenses of the evolutionary approach, social learning theory and social role theory. The agency-communality typology is used to classify personal qualities. The empirical basis of the study consists of data from a 2025 nationwide VCIOM survey (N = 1,600), which asked respondents about the valued traits of men and women, offering a list of 12 options to choose from. A comparative analysis of the hierarchies of male and female traits — constructed separately for each gender — is combined with regression analysis. The results indicate the coexistence of traditional and new gender norms within Russian society, as well as the presence of areas of public consensus and mutual misunderstanding. On the one hand, public opinion is dominated by universal norms of decency and intelligence that apply to both genders. At the same time, traditional male views persist — specifically, the expectation that women should take upon themselves care-giving roles, manage the household and remain faithful. They are generally shared by women themselves. Men primarily define their own roles through qualities of agency and mastery; they mention their own fidelity significantly less often than that of women. Conversely, women emphasize the importance of their own agency and autonomy; they expect care-giving qualities — along with other traits associated with communal connection and warmth — from men, thereby creating a demand for a “new masculinity”. The question of mutual exchange of care as a new “currency” of relationships represents a significant divergence in the expectations and self-perceptions of the sexes.

evolutionary perspective · Fidelity · gender differences · gender norms · gender stereotypes · new masculinities · Russian public opinion · Social learning theory · social role theory · traditional gender roles · Gender and Feminist Studies · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Media, Gender, and Advertising

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