Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the reactions of women and men who observe misogyny. The authors examined the emotional
distress associated with observing misogyny, and the degree to which this varied based on (a) reading about or actually observing
the incivility, (b) political orientation, and (c) religiosity. Participants (n = 205 US college students) took part in a between subjects experiment where they either heard or read about one of two scenarios:
two men making a disparaging comment about a woman while she was out of the room, or a situation in which no comment was made.
Results indicate that women, but not men, overestimated their emotional distress to observing misogyny. For women, but not
men, whether or not the misogynistic comment was heard also interacted with religiosity to predict emotional distress. Political
orientation did not have an effect on women and men’s reactions. The authors discuss contributions and implications.
distress associated with observing misogyny, and the degree to which this varied based on (a) reading about or actually observing
the incivility, (b) political orientation, and (c) religiosity. Participants (n = 205 US college students) took part in a between subjects experiment where they either heard or read about one of two scenarios:
two men making a disparaging comment about a woman while she was out of the room, or a situation in which no comment was made.
Results indicate that women, but not men, overestimated their emotional distress to observing misogyny. For women, but not
men, whether or not the misogynistic comment was heard also interacted with religiosity to predict emotional distress. Political
orientation did not have an effect on women and men’s reactions. The authors discuss contributions and implications.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s11199-012-0121-y
- Authors
- George B. Cunningham, Laboratory for Diversity in Sport, Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, 4243 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4243, USA
- Kathi Miner, Department of Psychology and Women’s and Gender Studies Program, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Claudia Benavides-Espinoza, Department of Exercise Science, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR, USA
- Journal Sex Roles
- Online ISSN 1573-2762
- Print ISSN 0360-0025