Title

Men's Attitudes Toward Race and Gender Equity: The Importance of Masculinity Ideology, Gender-Related Traits, and Reference Group Identity Dependence

Disciplines

Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

This research examined masculinity ideology, gender-related traits, and male identity as they relate to men's attitudes toward racial diversity, women's equality, and sexual harassment. Un- dergraduate men completed measures of these constructs. The findings suggest that men who endorse a traditional masculinity ideology and/or who are dependent on a male reference group for their gender role self-concept are also likely to hold negative attitudes about racial diversity and women's equality and have attitudes conducive to the sexual harassment of women. Con- versely, it was found that nontraditional masculinity ideology, feminine traits, and appreciating differences among men, which is associated with not being dependent on a male reference group for one's gender role self-concept, were related to positive attitudes about racial diversity and women's equality and not having attitudes conducive to sexual harassment.