The influence of gender threat on social distance toward minority groups

Abstract

Gender threat triggers compensatory mechanisms and motivation to restore and reaffirm gender identity. The aim of the present research is to verify whether gender threat will influence social distance toward homosexual people, refugees, and disabled people. It was predicted that men in gender threat conditions would manifest higher social distance toward groups when compared with the control condition. Due to the exploratory nature of the study, no hypotheses were formulated for women. Sixty-six individuals (30 men and 36 women) aged from 18 to 24 participated in the experiment. After completing the Masculinity and Femininity Scale, participants in the gender threat condition found out that they possess high levels of feminine attributes (men) or high levels of masculine traits (women). Participants in the control group did not receive feedback about the levels of their femininity and masculinity.The analyses showed that both men and women, after receiving the information that their psychological gender was incompatible with their biological sex, declared stronger social distance and colder feelings toward the majority of the groups, including people with disabilities. At the same time, women, regardless of the research condition, declared warmer feelings toward these groups than men. The results of the study indicate that gender threat may be a potential mechanism which explains prejudices toward other groups. However, the results obtained among females require replication in future studies.