Summarised by Centrist
Whether people consider themselves masculine or feminine may predict their political behaviour better than biological sex, according to research involving more than 3,000 American adults.
Researchers asked participants to rate how masculine and feminine they felt, treating the two characteristics as separate sliding scales. Someone could therefore identify as highly masculine, highly feminine, both or neither.
Once those measures were included, being male or female was no longer a statistically significant predictor of political participation. People reporting stronger feelings of either masculinity or femininity were generally more likely to sign petitions, protest or donate to campaigns.
The relationship with political views was more complicated.
Among men, greater masculinity was associated with stronger support for gun rights and higher levels of right-wing authoritarianism. Greater femininity was linked to lower support for the death penalty and less authoritarianism.
Among women, however, greater masculinity predicted lower support for the death penalty and lower authoritarianism. The researchers found no strong relationship between perceived gender and a preference for social hierarchy.
The results suggest masculinity does not automatically produce more conservative or aggressive attitudes. Its political meaning may depend on whether it conforms to or challenges expectations attached to a person’s sex.
The studies found correlations, not causation. Political beliefs may shape how people describe their gender just as easily as gender identity might influence their politics.
Apparently, even the political gender gap now comes with a sliding scale.
Re-published from the Centrist with permission
