Below we present the summary results of the research on the topic of social comparison among Polish/Dutch people with other Poles in the Netherlands by Silke van Herk as part of her MA thesis at Tilburg University. The goal was to find the differences between the social comparison of men and women. For this study Silke van Herk interviewed nineteen Polish Dutch biculturals, of which thirteen woman and six men. Being bicultural means that a person has integrated two cultures into one’s identity.

Biculturals’ orientation in Social Comparison: Do Polish Dutch women and men have different or similar orientations when comparing themselves?

The study was about the processes of social comparison, and the influence of gender on these processes. In the following table, the similarities and differences among women and men in their social comparison orientation are presented:                                      

Similarities

Comparison degree (high, low, none)

Satisfaction within dimensions

No distinguishment between gender: – Women see men as inspiring, equal- Men see women as example in some fields

Masculine expectations

Through instinct comparing with same gender

Differences

Distinguishment between gender by men

Women seem to be more ambitious

Social roles: – Women are caretakers of children, housekeeping – Men are head of household, generates income

Women communicate more with others about comparison

Women are underestimated, are feeling inferior

Focusing on the three main differences, (1) some men seem to focus solely on other men in their general and accomplishment comparisons. Even though the society has improved much over the years in the context of gender equality, some Polish Dutch men remain to see women as inferior, following the patriarchal ideology, as women are not a self-relevant target to compare with because it will not help forming their identity. Although, some men show to discard the conventional gender roles and compare with women as they recognise the knowledge and skills some women have.

(2) The women in this study show more ambition and self-improvement comparison orientation than men to grow out of the (3) stereotyping role (of caretakers), providing a resistance towards the patriarchist ideology they endured in Poland. For a long time, manipulated data aimed at disproving gender-related conflicts that were carefully censored by the socialist state and many women rejected the idea of gender inequality, indicating that personal identity was not defined in terms of gender as a social category.

The comparison of women to men may provide important information about their potential to success in a male-dominated society, by women pushing themselves up with their endless ambitions, potentially inspired by men and other women. Even though, they maintain the social identity of being female (Abrams & Hogg, 1988), the meaning of this will change towards a more modern role, leaving the conventional role behind. 

The similarities among women and men are found in the degree of comparison, as both indicate to indulge in a high and low degree and/or having no comparison orientation at all. Moreover, all respondents were found to be happy in at least one of the comparison categories; general comparison, accomplishments, social life, actions regarding learning or doing something (new), and family. Additionally, respondents did not see a difference between women and men in their comparison. Women reasoned for this that they see both women and men as inspiring for their own ambitions, and mostly that men and women are equal in skills and knowledge, which should be independent of the gender.

Men reasoned that women could provide an example just as men, and that knowledge is the most important factor for providing the function of an example. Though, both women and men mentioned to instinctively compare with the same-gender targets. When comparisons with the same-gender were made by choice, this is possibly because of the high relevance in defining one’s identity being it most informative to compare with someone of the same gender. Lastly, both women and men indicated that masculine expectations are placed on both men and women, but women may have a more difficult experience with this due to their remaining conventional roles of caretakers of the children and the housekeeping.

Fortunately, almost all respondents compared with others and found the positives in this comparison, regardless of this person performing better or worse than they themselves were. When someone was performing better, it was an inspiration to improve and perform better as well. When someone was performing worse, it was an inspiration to keep striving to perform better and to not stand still.

To achieve an equal, perhaps more similar, social comparison orientation among men and women, in which both genders are recognised for their actions and not necessarily for their gender, it is essential to acknowledge this remaining inequality is caused by unnecessary expectations.