The　government　continues　to　face　multiple　challenges　in　increasing　female　labor　force　participation　(FLFP)　among　ethnic　minorities.　While　culture　is　considered　a　key　factor,　distinguishing　it　from　other　factors　like　institutions　remains　difficult.　This　study　uses　a　spatial　regression　discontinuity　design　to　address　this　challenge　and　analyze　the　differential　impact　of　culture　on　FLFP　on　both　sides　of　the　ethnic　boundary.　The　results　reveal　that　the　probability　of　FLFP　among　ethnic　minority　women　is　33.4　percentage　points　lower　than　that　of　Han　women　on　both　sides　of　the　ethnic　boundary.　This　finding　remains　robust　across　different　bandwidths　and　model　specifications,　ruling　out　the　influence　of　factors　such　as　institutional　differences,　non-random　migration,　and　“sorting　behavior”.　Mechanism　analysis　suggests　that　culture　exerts　its　effect　on　both　sides　of　the　ethnic　Boundary　through　both　labor　demand　and　supply　dimensions.　The　impact　is　particularly　pronounced　among　women　aged　18–29　or　over　40,　those　who　are　unmarried　or　married　with　a　spouse,　and　those　in　families　with　two　or　fewer　children.　This　study　holds　significant　theoretical　and　practical　implications　for　optimizing　employment　policies　for　women　in　ethnic　minority　regions　from　a　cultural　perspective.　©　The　Author(s)　2025.