Perceived Similarity With Gay Men Mediates the Effect of Antifemininity on Heterosexual Men’s Antigay Prejudice

Abstract

This research examined the hypothesis that heterosexual men's motivation to differentiate themselves from gay men mediates the relationship between the antifemininity norm of masculinity and antigay prejudice. We assessed masculinity through three concepts: status, thoughness, and antifemininity. Participants then reported their perceived similarity with gay men and their antigay prejudice. The results showed that antifemininity was the best predictor of both perceived similarity and antigay prejudice: The more people endorsed the antifemininity norm, the more they perceived themselves as dissimilar from gay men and showed antigay prejudice. More important, perceived similarity mediated the effect of antifemininity on antigay prejudice. These findings provide direct evidence for the link between masculinity and the motivation to differentiate oneself from gay men, and they suggest that antigay prejudice accomplishes the identity function of maintaining unambiguous gender boundaries.

Perceived Men’s Feminization and Attitudes Toward Homosexuality: Heterosexual Men’s Reactions to the Decline of the Anti-Femininity Norm of Masculinity

“…First, and according to our rationale, men who adhere most strongly to the antifemininity norm might report more prejudiced attitudes as a response to men's feminization in an attempt to restore masculinity through the affirmation of their own heterosexuality. Indeed, past research showed that heterosexual men affirm their masculinity by increasing the psychological distance between themselves and gay men (Herek 1986;Martínez et al 2014) and by avoiding being misclassified as gay (Bosson et al 2005;Buck et al 2013;Plant et al 2014). Accordingly, we would expect that heterosexual men's discomfort with homosexuality would mediate the effect of the perceived feminization of men on attitudes toward homosexuality (Hypothesis 3).…”

“…Indeed, gay men are overall perceived to be more feminine (and less masculine) than heterosexual men are (Kite and Deaux 1987;Lehavot and Lambert 2007;McCreary 1994). Moreover, the endorsement of the anti-femininity norm constitutes one of the best predictors of heterosexual men's anti-gay prejudice (Branon 1976;Herek 1988;Parrott et al 2002Parrott et al , 2011Thompson and Pleck 1986;Wilkinson 2004), and the distance that heterosexual men perceive to be between themselves and gay men mediates this link (Martínez et al 2014).…”

Two Sexes, Two Genders Only: Measuring Attitudes toward Transgender Individuals in Poland

“…Losing one's own masculinity might be a result of expressing feminine traits and behaviors by men who are culturally prohibited from showing such manifestations. Men who display feminine characteristics are viewed as being gay (McCreary 1994), whereas antifemininity counted the most in predicting antigay prejudice (Martínez et al 2015). The study showed that the higher endorsement of antifemininity, the higher perceived dissimilarity from gay men and subsequently more prejudice toward them.…”

The Relationship between Masculinity and Internalized Homophobia amongst Australian Gay Men

“…It was argued that gay men pose a threat to hegemonic masculinity and, therefore, straight men are motivated to maintain a distinct gender identity. This was further highlighted in Martínez, Vázquez, and Falomir-Pichastor's [26] study whereby links to anti-effeminacy were made. Similarly, when having their masculinity threatened, masculine-identifying men tend to rate in-group members (masculine men) as more likeable than outgroup members (effeminate men) and are less likely to interact with out-group members [27,28].…”

“…Beginning from the macro level of a gay man’s social ecology, hegemonic masculinity permeates the psychology of how they perceive themselves, others, and the world—including the fear of male effeminacy and the synonymous perceptions of homosexuality and femininity [ 17 , 24 ]. Moreover, the interactions between the individual and their micro-, meso-, and exo-systems arguably contribute further to the issues presented [ 4 , 26 , 32 ]. Based on the literature discussed above, Figure 1 depicts a typical ecological environment for a gay man and highlights various areas hegemonic masculinity pervades and exerts an influence.…”