Abstract
Men can play an important role in supporting gender equality. In the present research, we draw on Intergroup Contact Theory to examine positive intergroup contact with feminist women as one factor that can encourage men to support gender equality. In one cross-sectional study (N = 170) and one half-longitudinal panel study (N = 240), we found that straight men who reported more positive contact with feminist women also reported greater feminist solidarity. Cross-sectional results indicated that straight men’s solidarity with feminists, in turn, predicted more support for gender equality in public and domestic spheres and greater awareness of their gender privilege. The longitudinal results also supported the association between solidarity with feminists and gender privilege awareness, but not public and domestic support for gender equality. Decades of research has shown that positive intergroup contact can change attitudes. Our research suggests that, when it comes to gender equality, positive contact with feminist women may also encourage men to identify with feminists and raise their gender consciousness.
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Data Availability
Data and materials are available from the corresponding author upon request.
Code Availability
Code for statistical analyses is available from the corresponding author upon request.
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We would like to thank Nida Bikman, Kay Deaux, members of the Social Change and Collective Identity Lab at The College of New Jersey, and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions.
Appendices
Appendix A
Information on Scale Items for Studies 1 and 2
Note. Values in parentheses following each item represent standardized factor loadings for Study 1/Study 2 (Cross-sectional model)/Study 2 (Half-longitudinal mediation model, Time 1)/ Study 2 (Half-longitudinal mediation model, Time 2).
Positive contact with feminist women
(Items adapted from Reimer et al., 2017.)
Think about interactions you have had with feminist women. Considering these interactions, how often have you been made to feel…
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1.
…supported. (0.84/0.87/0.87/Not applicable)
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2.
…accepted. (0.92/0.93/0.93/Not applicable)
-
3.
…welcomed. (0.93/0.90/0.90/Not applicable)
Scale from 1 = Never to 5 = Always.
Solidarity with feminists
(Items 1–3 adapted from Neufeld et al., 2019. Item 4 adapted from Postmes et al., 2013. Item 6 adapted from Szymanski, 2004. Item 7 adapted from Leach et al., 2008.)
-
1.
I feel a sense of solidarity with feminists. (0.90/0.91/0.92/0.93)
-
2.
I stand united with feminists. (0.88/0.90/0.91/0.91)
-
3.
In some ways, I view the issue of feminism as my cause, too. (0.78/0.89/0.91/0.90)
-
4.
I identify with feminists. (0.76/0.89/0.90/0.88)
-
5.
I feel a sense of connection with feminists. (0.84/0.91/0.92/0.91)
-
6.
I see myself as a feminist. (Not applicable/0.90/0.91/0.89)
-
7.
I feel committed to feminism (Not applicable/0.89/0.90/0.95)
Scale from 1 = Strongly Disagree to 7 = Strongly Agree.
Public support for gender equality
(Items adapted from Sudkämper et al., 2020.)
-
1.
Political activism for gender equality is important to me. (0.82/0.84/0.86/0.88)
-
2.
When I get the chance, I engage in political activism for gender equality (e.g., petitions, protests, debates). (0.79/0.74/0.78/0.77)
-
3.
I engage with media that report on topics related to gender equality. (0.77/0.74/0.75/0.77)
-
4.
I initiate conversations about gender equality. (0.74/0.77/0.79/0.76)
-
5.
I speak up when I witness gender inequality. (0.55/0.59/0.60/0.60)
-
6.
Offering support to people who are affected by gender inequality is important to me. (0.74/0.74/0.74/0.75)
-
7.
I actively support gender equality in my workplace. (0.49/0.51/0.51/0.49)
-
8.
I actively support networking and peer mentoring systems for my colleagues who are women. (0.45/0.57/0.56/0.52)
-
9.
I actively encourage colleagues who are women to take on leadership roles. (0.48/0.52/0.53/0.46)
Scale from 1 = Strongly Disagree to 7 = Strongly Agree.
Domestic support for gender equality
(Items adapted from Sudkämper et al., 2020.)
-
1.
Ideally, my partner’s and my financial contributions to the household would be equal. (0.79/0.60/0.58/0.56)
-
2.
I am willing to make compromises for my partner's career. (0.74/0.75/0.76/0.75)
-
3.
My partner and I make all important decisions together. (0.57/0.76/0.77/0.73)
-
4.
My partner and I share most household chores. (0.53/0.57/0.61/0.58)
-
5.
I feel just as responsible for household chores as my partner does. (0.61/0.64/0.66/0.78)
-
6.
I would consider working fewer hours to take care of my child, if I had one. (0.42/0.59/0.60/0.63)
Scale from 1 = Strongly Disagree to 7 = Strongly Agree.
Gender privilege awareness
(Items adapted from Swim & Miller, 1999.)
-
1.
Men have certain unearned privileges that women do not have. (0.86/0.84/0.84/0.89)
-
2.
My status as a man grants me unearned privileges. (0.90/0.96/0.97/0.94)
-
3.
I feel that being a man opens many opportunities for me in my everyday life. (0.69/0.77/0.77/0.73)
Scale from 1 = Strongly Disagree to 7 = Strongly Agree.
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Wiley, S., Kirby, C.A., Richards, J. et al. Positive Contact with Feminist Women as a Predictor of Feminist Solidarity, Gender Privilege Awareness, and Public and Domestic Support for Gender Equality in Straight Men. Sex Roles 85, 688–706 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-021-01245-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-021-01245-2