Poster #68 - Taking Action Against Sexism: Predictors of Young Women’s Gender-Based Activism

• In Event: 1-061 - Poster Session 02
  In Poster Session: PS 02 Section - Diversity, Equity & Social Justice

Integrative Statement

In the face of sexist oppression, why do some young women choose to take action to lessen gender inequality while others do not? Critical consciousness provides a developmental framework for answering this question (Freire, 2000). Specifically, critical reflection (CR) will lead to critical action/activism (CA) through critical motivation/efficacy (CE; Diemer, Rapa, Voight, & McWhirter, 2016).

Not all women who critically reflect on sexism and have CE participate in CA. Embracing a feminist identity may spark the CE necessary for CA. Indeed, identifying with a disadvantaged group spurs CA (van Zomeren, Postmes, & Spears, 2008). And those who are more educated about feminism also engage in greater gender-based activism (Liss, Crawford, & Popp, 2004). Furthermore, feminism is embedded within a socio-political context that promotes individuals to be agents of change (Hooks, 2000).

Identifying as a feminist may be particularly important for understanding why emerging adult women engage in gender-based CA. Identity development and commitment are key developmental tasks for emerging adults (Crocetti, 2017). And committing to an identity involves engaging in activities that demonstrate the chosen identity.

The purpose was to better understand factors associated with young women’s gender-based activism. We hypothesized CR would predict greater CA for young women who more strongly endorsed a feminist identity and reported greater CE. Specifically, a serial mediation model was proposed in which CR leads to CA through feminist identity and then through either internal or external gender efficacy (see Figure 1).

Emerging adult women (n=420; 75% European American; 90% heterosexual; age M=18.74 years-old, SD=1.01 years-old, range 17-25 years-old) were recruited from introductory psychology classes. The Discrimination and Subordination subscale of the Liberal Feminist Attitude and Ideology Scale (Morgan, 1996; a=.87) assessed CR. Items reflect beliefs that women have been and are still treated unjustly. Internal and External Gender Efficacy scales (Thomas, 2016; a’s=.88 and .75) measured CE. A composite of items from the Involvement in Feminist Activities (Syzmanski, 2004) and Collective Behavior for Women scales (Foster & Matheson, 1995; a=.91) captured gender-based CA. Self-Identification as a Feminist Scale captured feminist identity (Syzmanski, 2004; a=.94).

To evaluate the hypothesis, PROCESS serial mediation (Model 81; Hayes, 2017) was utilized. Direct and indirect effects were examined utilizing biased-corrected 95% confidence intervals based on 10,000 bootstrapped samples.

A significant indirect effect is indicated by a confidence interval that does not include zero.
Partial support for the hypothesis was found. As expected, the indirect effect of CR through feminist identity through internal efficacy positively predicted CA (see Table 1, indirect effect 4). Notably, the indirect effect of CR through feminist identity through external efficacy was not significant (see Table 1, indirect effect 5). CR was positively associated with greater gender-based CA for young women who more strongly endorsed a feminist identity and had greater internal gender efficacy.

Findings build on CC framework. In addition to CR and CE, feminist identification may be necessary for young women’s gender-based CA. Internal but not external gender efficacy were positively related to CA. Explanations for this finding will be discussed.

Authors

• Jennifer J Thomas, Wilkes University
  Presenting Author

• Ellen E Newell, Wilkes University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Keira D'Agostino, Wilkes University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Olivia Perez, Wilkes University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Janelle Sherman, Wilkes University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Jessica Snyder, Wilkes University
  Non-Presenting Author