Who Guards the Gender Line? Seeking a Framework for Understanding Attitudes Towards Gender Nonconformity

Date of Award

2008

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Barton, Michelle

Keywords

Gender Nonconformity, Conformity, Perceived Threat, Anti-Trans Attitudes, Transgender

Area of Concentration

Psychology

Abstract

This study set out to establish if Feldman�s (2003) conformity-threat framework could be used to understand intolerance toward gender nonconformity and trans people. According to this framework the strongest predictors of intolerance and prejudicial attitudes would be the combination of conformity and perceived threat to social cohesion. A total of 138 respondents (114 women, 22 men, 2 no answer) contributed usable data via a web-based survey containing demographic questions, 3 scales (Perceived Threat to Social Cohesion; Conformity versus Autonomy; Genderism and Transphobia Scale), and the revised Attitudes Toward Transsexuals Questionnaire. The conformity-threat framework was not supported by the data. Higher conformity significantly predicted higher intolerance; and perceived threat did not significantly affect intolerance. The results also showed that lack of personal contact with a transsexual person predicted intolerance toward gender nonconformity. Other variables related to GTS scores were: believed etiology of transsexualism, and sexual orientation. Thus the results showed that conformity and personal contact with a trans person were the best predictors of intolerance toward gender nonconformity; more research is warranted to further establish if this model can be generalizable to the American population.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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