The Saint John's Experience Project: Challenging Men's Perceptions of Normative Gender Role Conflict

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between college males' self-reported gender role conflict (GRC) and their perceptions of their peers' GRC. A social norms intervention involving GRC was also tested. Ninety-seven college students completed the Gender Role Conflict Scale (GRCS), a self-report measure, and a modified GRCS that assessed perceptions of peer GRC. The men in the sample significantly overestimated normative GRC in three of the four factors and the GRCS as a whole. Additionally, participants in the intervention more accurately estimated peer GRC and reported lower restrictive emotionality at follow-up. These results support social norms theory and replicate earlier findings. Recommendations are offered for further investigation of the social norms method regarding gender roles.