Differences in Attitudes Toward Homosexuals and Gender Role Violators: Testing the Social Status Hypothesis

• In Event: 30260 - Joint Roundtables: Section on Social Psychology and Section on Sociology of Emotions
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 5: Social Media and Attitudes

Abstract

There is plenty of research on attitudes toward homosexuals and their determinants. One hypothesis states that males hold more negative attitudes toward homosexuals, especially gay men because the male gender role is associated with generally greater status, which makes society respond to men’s and women’s gender role nonconformity differently. Though many studies are dedicated to the empirical investigation of differences in attitudes toward homosexuals, this hypothesis has not been tested yet. This paper utilizes the factorial survey experiment design and mixed linear modeling to evaluate the male social status superiority beliefs as a moderator in the relationship between the gender of a homosexual or gender role violator and attitudes toward them. Results yield that people who associate the male gender role with higher status hold especially hostile attitudes toward male gender role violators, but not male homosexuals.

Author

• Nikita Ivanenko, Higher School of Economics