Women Lead Cultural Engagement in Spain as Gender Entertainment Gap Widens

Cultural consumption in Spain is increasingly shaped by gender differences, with women taking a leading role in various cultural activities traditionally dominated by men. According to the 2024-2025 Cultural Habits Survey by the Ministry of Culture, 71.7% of women engage in reading compared to 59% of men. Additionally, women demonstrate stronger participation in the arts, including museum visits, theater, and dance, while also spending more on cultural activities—averaging €312 in households with a female primary earner versus €289.1 where men are the main earners.

Experts attribute this shift to factors such as educational attainment and socialization, with women representing 56.5% of university students, particularly excelling in humanities and social sciences, which reinforces cultural habits. Social upbringing also plays a role, as women are often encouraged to engage with the arts, while men tend to gravitate towards physical activities and technology-based entertainment like gym attendance and video gaming. This divergence extends into literary preferences, with men favoring male authors and genres such as adventure and science fiction, while women display broader genre interests.

This evolving cultural landscape reflects not only historical patterns but also contemporary social changes that continue to redefine gender roles in Spain’s entertainment and cultural sectors. The findings suggest the need for broader definitions of cultural engagement that encompass digital and non-traditional forms favored by different demographic groups.