Gender Threat Research Articles

Resistance to a gender threat: a case-study analysis of Vietnamese viewers’ unfavourable reception of soft masculinities in romantic Korean television dramas

ABSTRACT Over the past two decades, global media audiences have witnessed the development of a phenomenon known as Pan-East Asian soft masculinities, present in Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese, and South Korean pop culture. This construction, characterised by male entertainers’ effeminate appearance and personality traits, has seen both celebration and backlash worldwide and attracted scholarly attention. Contributing to such literature, this article features case studies of three Vietnamese male and female research participants’ unfavourable reception of soft masculinities in romantic South Korean television dramas. Once fascinated with South Korean pop culture, which has established its presence in Vietnam over two decades, the adult informants now view Korean soft masculinities as inauthentic, immature, unpragmatic, and inappropriately feminine. Such views are intimately linked to their lived experiences, including disillusionment with life and romance. To shed light on the informants’ attitudes, the article uses R. W. Connell’s concept ‘hegemonic masculinity’ and Judith Butler’s theories of gender performativity and gender anxiety to reveal the influence of norms on the informants’ gender perceptions. It helps fill the gap in research on the resistance to Korean soft masculinities in Vietnam and contributes to the literature on Korean pop culture and non-fans as well as contemporary Vietnamese society.

Hate as Backlash: A County-Level Analysis of White Supremacist Mobilization in Response to Racial and Gender “Threats”

AbstractGiven the resurgence and mainstreaming of the American far-right in recent years, there is an urgent need to better understand the etiology of recent white supremacist mobilization. In the current study, we investigate white supremacist mobilization primarily as a backlash against two threats perceived by white supremacists: racial threat and gender threat. This study extends the defended neighborhoods and feminist perspectives – frameworks previously used to explain hate and extremist violence – to explain legal white supremacist mobilization. Using data from the Anti-Defamation League, we utilize a series of negative binomial regressions analyzing white supremacist mobilization – as measured by propaganda incidents – at the county level between 2017 and 2020. Findings indicate that white supremacist mobilization is a backlash response to 1) the influx of nonwhite, Black, and Hispanic residents into white areas; 2) the presence of Jewish visibility as a measure of ethnoreligious minority group threat; and 3) gender equality in income, occupational status, and the labor force. Gender equality in education however does appear to have an ameliorative effect on white supremacist mobilization. On balance, the current study finds support for backlash explanations of white supremacist mobilization and demonstrates the utility of applying perspectives used to explain violence, including hate and extremist violence, to explain white supremacist mobilization.

Risk taking in the context of financial advice: does gender interaction matter?

This study tests a gender threat hypothesis whereby having a financial advisor of the opposite gender results in gender stereotypical risk attitudes in portfolio choice. We employ a unique dataset of 1,621 advised UK investors, combined with information on the gender of their financial advisors. Confirming the hypothesis, our results show that men advised by a woman take more risk than when advised by a man. Women advised by a man adopt a more cautious approach than when advised by a woman. When the gender threat is alleviated, that is when women are advised by women, and men are advised by men, we found no gender gap in risk-taking.

Racial and Gender Threat and the Death Penalty: A County-Level Examination of Sociopolitical Factors Influencing Death Sentences

The death penalty is a local phenomenon with 15% of U.S. counties responsible for passing death sentences since 1976. Although state-level research has contributed a greater understanding of abolition and state-level factors surrounding the death penalty, it remains crucially important to understand the sociopolitical context of counties as key decision-makers in death penalty cases. Findings from our study suggest that both racial and gender threats are important predictors of death sentences within these communities. Specifically, counties with Black populations greater than the state median experience increases in all death sentences, while gender equality in education produces an ameliorative effect on death sentencing. The persistence of extralegal factors, especially racial bias, influencing death sentencing suggests that these relationships be carefully considered in the research and administration of capital sentencing.

Book Review: Gender Threat: American Masculinity in the Face of Change by Dan Cassino and Yasemin Besen-Cassino

Book Review: <i>Gender Threat: American Masculinity in the Face of Change</i> by Dan Cassino and Yasemin Besen-Cassino

The effect of gender identity and gender threat on self-image

The present work examined whether men's and women's gender-identities and experiences of gender threats influenced their self-images. Findings across two studies (N = 567) revealed that masculinity in men appears to be more precarious than femininity is in women, but when similarly threatened in a given situation both men's and women's anger predicted their construction of gender compensatory self-images. Specifically, in Study 1, participants' definition of the self in terms of gender ingroup (vs. outgroup) traits (a) positively predicted the gender stereotypicality of men's and women's actual photographs and women's constructed self-images, but (b) negatively predicted the gender stereotypicality of men's self-images. Men whose self definitions least strongly prioritized gender ingroup (over outgroup) traits generated the most gender stereotypic self-images, as rated by independent judges. In addition, in Study 2, after being led to believe that they performed like average members of their gender outgroup (i.e., threat condition) on a gender knowledge test, men expressed more public discomfort and were angrier than women. Gender threat (vs. assurance) also indirectly predicted the generation of more gender stereotypic self-images for men, but not women; this effect was significant via serial mediation, through public discomfort and anger. However, extending prior findings, anger (but not public discomfort) was significantly associated with and predicted the construction of feedback contradicting self-images similarly. We discuss the implications of these findings for theory and research on gender-identity, self-image, and compensatory gender threat responses.

Measuring and predicting the radical-right gender gap

Studies of support for radical-right populist (RRP) parties find the parties generally receive more support from men than women. This note re-examines the persistent RRP gender gap and explains variation in the gap with country and party-level characteristics. It provides two measures of the gap at the party/country level, and offers hypotheses about where it may be higher or lower. These are tested with over 200 observations of support for 32 European RRP parties from surveys conducted between 2001 and 2019. The gender gap is expected to be lower where there is less gender equality as this may correspond with a reduced likelihood of men perceiving a gender threat. The gap is found to be lower in Western European countries with less gender equality, in countries where a larger proportion of the population are Catholic, and the gap is lower for larger RRP parties. Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at: https://doi.org/10.1080/01402382.2022.2034091 .

The affective consequences of threats to masculinity

Three experiments (N = 1083) explored whether masculinity threats (vs. assurances) led to emotions that have been linked to well-being, social connection, and the expression of aggression, including (a) increases in feelings of shame and guilt (Experiment 1) and (b) decreases in perspective-taking and empathy (Experiment 2). In addition, we explored whether masculinity assurances (vs. threats) had a positive effect on men's feelings of pride. To determine whether the affective responses to masculinity threats were unique to gender identity, we replicated the findings in comparison to a second social identity threat (Experiment 3). Consistent with predictions, and replicating prior work, men but not women expressed more public discomfort and anger following a gender threat (vs. assurance), as well as more shame and guilt when their masculinity was threatened than when their masculinity was assured (Experiment 2). Importantly, these affective responses were unique to men experiencing gender threats (Experiment 3). Interestingly, consistent with empathy avoidance predictions, when threatened, men reported lower dispositional levels of other focused empathy (Experiment 2), but these effects were not specific to gender threats (Experiment 3). Findings revealed empathy reductions, but not diminished reports of perspective taking, in threat conditions. No consistent evidence of effects of gender feedback on men's pride (authentic or hubristic) emerged. The implications of findings are discussed.

성평등과 노인 세대 위협 인식의 예측 요인 검증

본 연구는 성평등 인식과 노인세대 위협 인식의 인구사회학적 특성(성, 가구원수, 연령, 학력, 소득)에 따른 차이를 확인하고, 이를 예측하는 인구사회학적 특성과 개인특성(미래세대를 위한 친사회적 태도, 삶의 만족도)을 밝혀내는데 목적이 있다. 온라인 조사를 통합 수합된 1,000명의 자료를 활용하여 t-검정, ANOVA와 회귀분석을 통해 분석하였다. 연구 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 성평등 인식은 성별, 가구원수, 연령대, 학력, 소득에 따라 유의한 차이를 보였다. 노인세대 위협 인식은 성별, 가구원수, 연령대에 따라 유의한 차이가 있다. 둘째. 성별, 연령은 성평등 인식을 예측하였다. 셋째, 성별, 연령별, 삶의 만족도는 노인세대 위협 인식을 예측하였다. 이상의 결과를 바탕으로 앞으로 사회통합을 위한 논의를 제시하였다.

대학의 비대면 온라인 수업유형에 따른 수업만족도 분석

본 연구의 목적은 코로나19로 인해 2020학년도 대학에서 전면적으로 실시된 비대면 온라인 수업유형(동영상 강의형, 실시간 화상수업형, 혼합형)에 따른 학생들의 수업만족도를 분석하여 실제적인 비대면 온라인 강의 개선방안을 모색하는 것이다. 이를 위해 수도권 소재 A대학 재학생 1,884명의 설문 결과를 최종 분석에 사용하였으며, 결과분석을 위해 독립표본 t-검정과 일원변량분석을 활용하였다. 분석결과 첫째, 비대면 온라인 수업유형 중 동영상 강의형의 수업만족도가 가장 높은 것으로 나타났다. 둘째, 수업유형별로 소속계열, 학년, 교과목계열에 따른 만족도 차이가 통계적으로 유의미하게 나타났다. 이러한 연구결과를 바탕으로 학년과 전공계열에 따라 효율적인 비대면 온라인 수업이 지원될 필요성이 있음을 제언하였다. 본 연구에서는 단일 대학에 재학 중인 학생을 대상으로 분석이 이루어졌다는 점에서 한계를 지닌다.

Risk Taking in the Context of Financial Advice: The Issue of Gender Identity

We test a gender threat hypothesis whereby having a financial advisor of the opposite gender results in gender stereotypical risk attitudes. We employ a unique dataset of 1,621 advised UK investors, combined with information on the gender of their financial advisors. Confirming the hypothesis, our results show that men advised by a woman take more risk than when advised by a man. Women advised by a man adopt a more cautious approach than when advised by a woman. When the gender threat is alleviated, we found no gender gap in risk-taking.

The influence of gender threat on social distance toward minority groups

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.

The Role of Masculinity Threat in Homonegativity and Transphobia

ABSTRACT According to the precarious manhood perspective, masculinity threat triggers various compensatory mechanisms and heightens motivation to restore and reaffirm masculinity via typically masculine attitudes and behaviors. Four experiments aiming to examine the effect of masculinity threat on prejudices toward sexual and gender minorities were undertaken, controlling for adherence to sex role stereotypes. Our studies showed that Polish men representing university and high school students exposed to gender threat experienced increased negative affect (Experiment 1) and expressed higher prejudices toward gay people (Experiment 2) and transgender individuals (Experiments 3a and 3b). Furthermore, Experiment 2 revealed an effect of masculinity threat on modern prejudices predominantly toward gay people but not old-fashioned homonegativity. The results are discussed in terms of the role of masculinity threat as the mechanism responsible for gender differences in the attitudes toward sexual and gender minorities.

Gender Threat and Men in the Post-Trump World: The Effects of a Changing Economy on Men’s Housework

The article provides an overview of the effects of broader economic changes on the division of housework among dual earner heterosexual couples. It summarizes some of the broader methodological and theoretical trends in the field and calls for an interdisciplinary, intersectional approach in studying men today.

The Boys Club: Engineering a More Positive Environment for Women in Male-Dominated Majors

Sexual harassment has been widely studied in the workforce, but the factors that contribute to hostile educational environments for women have received less attention. The present study focuses on male dominance, gender harassment, gender threats, masculinity, and their influences on creating a hostile environment for women in academia. One hundred and forty-two male participants from a private university in the Southwestern United States self-reported their masculinity, completed a group task with a female confederate leader serving as a gender threat in half the conditions, and had their subsequent affect, perceptions of leadership effectiveness, and behavioral aggression measured. Men from male-dominated majors and men who had received a gender threat did not differ from men from gender-equivalent majors and men who had not received a gender threat on affect, perceptions of leadership effectiveness, or behavioral aggression (ps &gt; 0.201, ηp2s ≤ 0.007). However, post-hoc analyses revealed that as masculinity increased among men from male-dominated majors under gender threat, they became significantly more behaviorally aggressive (b = 5.92, p = 0.003) and perceived their female leader as less effective (b = −0.83, p = 0.076). Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Gender-Atypical Mental Illness as Male Gender Threat.

The present study examined whether men view gender-atypical (i.e., feminine) psychological disorders as threats to their gender status. Men and women (N = 355) rated their expectations of gender status loss, feelings of distress, and help-seeking intentions in response to 10 different stereotypically masculine and feminine psychological disorders. Men as compared to women expected greater gender status loss for, and reported more distress to, gender-atypical versus gender-typical disorders. Expectations of gender status loss partially mediated the link between participant gender and distress at the thought of gender-atypical disorders. These findings suggest that feminine disorders pose more powerful gender status threats for men than masculine disorders do and that men's expectations of gender status loss for feminine disorders drive their negative reactions to these mental illnesses. The discussion emphasizes the importance of considering the gender-typicality of disorders, and the implications of these findings for clinical interventions.

Intrepid, imprudent, or impetuous? The effects of gender threats on men's financial decisions.

Among the conjectured causes of the recent U.S. financial crisis is the hyper-masculine culture of Wall Street that promotes extreme risk-taking. In two experiments, we found that threats to their manhood motivated men to take greater financial risks and favor immediate (vs. delayed) fiscal rewards. In Experiment 1, men placed larger bets during a gambling game after a gender threat as compared to men in an affirmation condition. In Experiment 2, after a gender threat, men pursued an immediate financial payoff rather than waiting for interest to accrue, but only if they believed their decision was public. When the decision was private, gender-threatened men did not show the same desire for immediate reward. These results suggest that gender threats may shift men’s financial decisions toward more risky and short-sighted public choices.

Gender threats and men’s antigay behaviors: The harmful effects of asserting heterosexuality

Whereas recent work on gender role violations suggests that asserting their heterosexuality may diminish the harmful effects of gender threats (versus gender affirmations) on men’s antigay reactions, predictions derived from social identity theory suggest that asserting heterosexuality can exacerbate the negative effects of a gender threat on antigay reactions. Two studies tested these competing hypotheses. In Study 1, gender threatened versus affirmed men sent more intense noise blasts at a gay partner, but only if they asserted their heterosexuality. In Study 2, men high in sexual prejudice who underwent a gender threat sat farther from a gay confederate than gender affirmed men, but only if they asserted heterosexuality. Discussion considers the theoretical and practical implications of these findings, and highlights directions for future research.

Precarious Manhood and Displays of Physical Aggression

The results of three experiments demonstrate that physically aggressive displays are part of men's cultural script for restoring threatened gender status. In Studies 1 and 2, challenges to men's gender status elicited heightened physically aggressive displays, including punching a pad with greater force and selecting an aggressive boxing activity over a nonaggressive puzzle activity. Study 3 established that a public display of aggressive readiness reduced men's anxiety-related cognitions in the wake of a gender threat. This suggests that aggressive displays may function to downregulate negative affect when manhood has been threatened. The discussion considers past research on gender and physical aggression in light of the authors' thesis that manhood, relative to womanhood, is culturally defined as a precarious status that must be actively, even aggressively, defended.

The Family as the Locus of Gender, Class, and Political Struggle: The Example of Housework

Although the last decade of research on families has contributed enormously to our understanding of diversity in family structures and the relationship of family units to various other aspects of social life, it has, it seems to me, generally failed to identify and address sources of conflict within family life. Thus, the usefulness of this research for understanding women's situation has been particularly limited. The persistence and resilience of family forms in the midst of general social change, often forcefully documented in this research, have certainly helped to goad us, as feminists, to consider what women's interests may be in the mainte-