Exposure to Scientific Explanations for Gender Differences Influences Individuals ’ Personal Theories of Gender and Their Evaluations of a Discriminatory Situation

AbstractGender lay theory is a framework of information interpretation related to gender categorisation and can be divided into two general forms: gender essentialism versus gender as socially constructed. The present study investigated how exposure to scientifically framed explanations for gender differences affects individuals ’ gender lay theory and if endorsement of an essentialist gender lay theory influences discrimination attribution. The 413 Swedish participants were exposed to scientific explanations of gender differences, with either a biological or a social constructionist perspective, or to no-explanation cont rol. Compared to the control condition, the social constructionist condition showed higher endorsement of a non-essentialist gender lay theory. The biological condition did not differ from the control condition, indicating that an essentialist view of gender might be the prevailing norm in Sweden. D iscrimination attribution was indirectly affected by exposure to social constructionist explanations of gender differences through increasing endorsement of a non-essentialist gender lay theory, which predicted a higher degree of discrimination attribution. In other words, exposure to social constru ctionist explanations of gender differences predicted a greater recognition of discriminatory behaviour as such than did exposure to biological explanations or no explanation. Implications of the current study include the potential for social constructionist theorie...
Source: Sex Roles - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research