Penalized for Challenging Traditional Gender Roles: Why Heterosexual Relationships in Which Women Wear the Pants May Be More Precarious

Abstract

There is growing evidence that heterosexual relationships in which traditional gender roles are reversed because women have attained higher societal status than their male partner are more precarious. We argue that this is the case because both partners in role-reversed relationships are evaluated more negatively than partners in more egalitarian or traditional gender role relationships. In two experimental studies conducted in the United States (N = 223) and the Netherlands (N = 269), we found that when encountering role-reversed relationships, participants perceive the woman as the more dominant and agentic one and the man as the weaker one in the relationship. They also perceive women in role-reversed relationships as less likeable, have less respect for men in role-reversed relationships, and expect that such relationships are less satisfying. In addition, in a third partner study (N = 94 heterosexual couples), we found that both male and female partners in role-reversed relationships considered the man to be the weaker one and the woman to be the more dominant one. Moreover, perceiving the man as the weaker one predicted lower relationship satisfaction in role-reversed couples. Overall, this research indicates that gender stereotypes about heterosexual relationships should be considered in efforts to achieve gender equity.

All is nice and well unless she outshines him: Higher social status benefits women's well‐being and relationship quality but not if they surpass their male partner

“…Furthermore, this line of research could also investigate whether these associations are similar for men in role‐reversed relationships. In our own work, we find first evidence that heterosexual couples highly agree upon the status division within their relationship and that both the man's and the woman's relationship quality suffers when they report being in a role‐reversed relationship (Vink et al., in press).…”

“…This research adds another layer to our understanding of why gender inequality persists (see e.g., Ellemers, 2018). Women are stigmatized when they are successful in the workplace (Heilman & Okimoto, 2007; Rudman et al., 2012), but growing evidence shows how women who become more successful than their partner are also stigmatized (Hettinger et al., 2014; MacInnis & Buliga, 2019; Vink et al., in press). Moreover, we show that successful women experience negative relationship outcomes when they surpass their partner in status.…”

“…This process is known more broadly as “backlash” against people who display stereotype disconfirming behaviors (Ellemers, 2018). Stigmatization and backlash also occur when people evaluate romantic relationships where the woman has surpassed her male partner in social status (Hettinger et al., 2014; MacInnis & Buliga, 2019; Vink et al., in press). Specifically, because people expect a woman with a higher status profession than her male partner to be the dominant one in their relationship, they tend to dislike her (i.e., dominance penalty; Vink et al., in press).…”

“…Specifically, because people expect a woman with a higher status profession than her male partner to be the dominant one in their relationship, they tend to dislike her (i.e., dominance penalty; Vink et al., in press). On the other hand, to the extent that people expect a man with lower status than his partner to be the weak one in their relationship, they disrespect him (i.e., weakness penalty; Vink et al., in press). Further, people generally expect such role‐reversed relationships to be less satisfying for the couple than being in a traditional relationship (MacInnis & Buliga, 2019; Vink et al., in press).…”

Measurement invariance and psychometric properties of a German-language Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory among cisgender sexual minority and heterosexually identified women and men.

“…For instance, women might display behaviors that are defined in part by masculinity ideologies (e.g., being results-oriented, speaking assertively, expressing confidence in oneself, showing determination), especially in male-dominated workplaces (Galea & Chappell, 2022) and when taking leadership positions (Mohan et al, 2022; Zinn & Hofmeister, 2022). Women who display certain behaviors associated with masculinity ideologies, even in workplaces where such behaviors are often expected and favored, face devaluation (Mohan et al, 2022; Zinn & Hofmeister, 2022), and are in conflict with femininity ideologies, that is, culturally defined standards and norms of how women are expected to be or behave (Eagly & Karau, 2002; Hamilton et al, 2019; Heilman & Okimoto, 2007; Vink et al, 2022). In order to understand the degree to which women conform to masculinity ideologies and may consequently face devaluation or disadvantage (Hamilton et al, 2019), instruments for the assessment of conformity to masculinity ideologies need to be validated in women in addition to men and people with another gender.…”