Determinants of Gender-Equitable Attitudes (GEA) in Zimbabwe: A Machine Learning Approach

This study seeks to identify the determinants of GEA among Zimbabweans using the World Values Survey dataset wave 7 (2017-2022) and a machine learning approach. Except for tangential references, there has not been an outstanding empirical work that took Zimbabwe into account on this matter. Our findings indicate that secondary and tertiary education, income equality, and urban residency contribute decisively to GEA. On the other hand, masculinity, political interest, freedom, trust, and having children inhibit GEA. Age, marital status, employment status, religion, and household financial situation do not predict GEA in Zimbabwe. These findings suggest that education remains critical for women and youth empowerment in the political, economic, and social spheres. However, they face access constraints to the empowerment benefits. These access issues stem primarily from the country's human rights-infringing-conservative political ideology. This ideology not only promotes masculine behaviour but also obstructs the transfer of empowerment benefits to future generations.