By name or by deed? Identifying the source of the feminist stigma

Abstract

Prejudice and discrimination against feminists were explored across two contexts, a workplace and a social setting. We examined university students' reactions to a woman who called herself a feminist, behaved like a feminist by challenging sexism, did both, or did neither. In Study 1, participants (N = 177) evaluated a job candidate less favorably when she called herself a feminist after controlling for perceived assertiveness and participants' feminist self‐identification. However, our results showed no evidence of hiring discrimination. In Study 2, participants (N = 184) evaluated a peer less favorably and were less willing to befriend and date her when she called herself a feminist, controlling for perceived assertiveness. Participants were also less willing to befriend her when she behaved like a feminist. The contextual nature of the feminist stigma and the influence of perceived assertiveness are discussed.

Feminist or Paternalistic: Understanding Men’s Motivations to Confront Sexism

“…Our samples are limited to Spanish college students. In recent years, gender issues have become an important political agenda topic in Spain (Grodira et al, 2018), so despite the feminist stigma (Anderson, 2009;Anastosopoulos and Desmarais, 2015), feminist identification is rising in Spain (Álvarez, 2018;Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas [Sociological Research Center], 2018). Thus, it would be important to replicate these results in other countries, as well as to study these processes with the general population to see if they can be generalized.…”

The impact of feminist stereotypes and sexual identity on feminist self-identification and collective action

“…Twenge and Zucker (1999) suggested that the misperception of others' attitudes towards feminism may have led to women rejecting a feminist identity; even though studies have revealed that women's stereotypes of feminists are generally positive, they assume others evaluate feminists negatively (Ramsey et al, 2007;Roy et al, 2007). In particular, it has been found that some women believed that men do not like feminists (Alexander & Ryan, 1997;Anastasopoulos and Desmarais, 2015). Interestingly, Ramsey et al (2007) acknowledged this trend for women believing others hold negative stereotypes, but predicted that self-identified feminists would be more likely than nonfeminists to assume that others consider feminists in a positive light.…”

“…working on behalf of women is often reinterpreted as working against men (Anastasopoulos & Desmarais, 2015). In several studies, participants have described feminists as "man-hating lesbians" or women in search of reverse discrimination (Ogletree, Diaz, & Padilla, 2017;Ramsey et al, 2007).…”

“…As a consequence, a woman's decision to openly and publicly identify as a feminist can be socially isolating. When students were asked to evaluate certain social situations, Anastasopoulos and Desmarais (2015) found that women who called themselves feminists were at risk of being the targets of prejudice and discrimination.…”

By name or by deed? identifying the source of the feminist stigma

“…In Anastasopoulos & Desmarais (), the surname of the first author was spelled incorrectly as Anastosopoulos. The author's correct surname should be Anastasopoulos.…”