Support for gender equality has increased globally, and studies of this trend usually examine individual- and/or country-level factors. However, this overlooks subnational variation. City-dwellers are more likely to support gender equality in education, employment, leadership, and leisure. This article investigates the causes of rural–urban differences through comparative, qualitative research in Cambodia. The emergence of rural garment factories presents a quasi-natural experiment to test the theory that female employment enhances support for gender equality. Rural female employment may diminish rural–urban differences in (...) gender inequalities or there may be other important aspects of city-living that amplify support for gender equality. Drawing on Cambodian fieldwork, I suggest that cities raise the opportunity costs of the male breadwinner model, increase exposure to women in socially valued roles, and provide more associational avenues to collectively contest established practices. Interests, exposure, and association reinforce a snowballing process of social change. By investigating the causes of subnational variation, I advance a new theory of growing support for gender equality. (shrink)

The case method approach, effective in disciplines from business to law, forms the backbone of this classroom-proven work. Designed specifically for undergraduate courses this latest revision includes six topical new cases on issues such as gene therapy, national security, and the death penalty. The remaining cases have all been updated to keep the book contemporary with "real life" issues, for productive discussion and fruitful learning. Book jacket.