Does culture affect jealousy among women?

Question

I've been reading this book entitled, "In the company of women" where the author speaks about how there are symbols of power that women use to evaluate each other. (See below)

- Executive Title / Large Office

- Graduate Degree

- Successful Partner

- Striking Figure / Youth

- Luxury Car / Large elegant home / Classy Neighborhood

- Attractive Partner

- Financial Freedom

- Special Talent/ability

- Extravagant Vacations

- Promotability / Attention of Boss

- Expensive Clothes /Jewelry

- Employees who report to you

Do you think jealousy among women is affected by culture? Would a woman in Europe have the same "symbols of power" as a woman in the United States?

Answer 1

No. Culture is the product of evolved human psychologies.

Do you not see normal human striving for status, resource and power in your list?

Answer 2

I'm guessing that like everything in human experience, it's both nature and nurture. Nature is something inherent to the human brain, and nurture is environment, which certainly includes culture. I would say in comparing Europe and the US, you would also have to compare across industrial societies and rural societies in both, and compare across affluent societies and non-affluent societies in both, etc. I don't think you can just compare "European women to US women". Certainly there will be differences, but there are too many variables besides culture for that to be a valid one-to-one comparison.

Answer 3

I don't see happiness on your list...oh, yeah, too busy being jealous for that. My 70 year old waitress was asked why she had a bandaid on her arm and she said it wasn't a bandaid but her birthcontrol patch. I was jealous of her quick wit.