Emotional Labor in Parliament: A Comparative Study of the Gender Gap in Emotional Displays

Several empirical studies have supported that male and female politicians are distinct in emotional displays, with female politicians expressing more positive emotions than male politicians. At the same time, comparative studies have argued that different cultures have different norms of emotional displays. This study addresses the questions of whether the gender gap in positive emotional displays among politicians is universal or depends on the regime type and culture. The analysis is based on the comparative investigation of MPs’ emotional displays in parliament across six nations – South Korea, Sweden, the USA, Australia, Russia, and Kazakhstan. The results support a striking consistency in the gender gap among MPs across the different nations, despite some meaningful cultural differences in emotional expressions. This study also examines whether the gender gap in emotional displays remains after controlling for MPs’ other individual traits.