Open AccessIt’s a man’s world; right? How women’s opinions about gender inequality affect physiological responses in men
Author(s) -
Ilona Domen,
Daan Scheepers,
Belle Derks,
Ruth van Veelen
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
group processes and intergroup relations/group processes and intergroup relations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1461-7188
pISSN - 1368-4302
DOI - 10.1177/13684302211042669
Subject(s) - psychology , affect (linguistics) , hierarchy , social psychology , social hierarchy , distancing , gender inequality , inequality , gender identity , social identity theory , system justification , identification (biology) , identity (music) , social group , covid-19 , politics , disease , mathematics , law , mathematical analysis , pathology , biology , communication , political science , market economy , medicine , botany , ideology , economics , acoustics , physics , infectious disease (medical specialty)
In two experiments, we examined how men respond to women who either challenge or legitimize societal gender inequality, and how gender identification moderates these responses. We hypothesized that men feel less threatened by women who legitimize (vs. challenge) the gender hierarchy, and evaluate these women more positively. To investigate these expectations, we assessed self-reports (Studies 1 and 2) and cardiovascular threat/challenge responses (Study 2). Both studies showed that men experience less negative emotions when presented with a woman who legitimized (vs. challenged) the gender hierarchy. Moreover, among men with a relatively high gender identification, a woman who challenged the gender hierarchy elicited a physiological response pattern indicative of threat, whereas a woman who legitimized the gender hierarchy elicited a pattern indicative of challenge. Results are discussed in terms of social identity theory, status threat, and self-distancing behavior.