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Exposure to Scientific Explanations for Gender Differences Influences Individuals’ Personal Theories of Gender and Their Evaluations of a Discriminatory Situation

Klysing, Amanda LU (2020) In Sex Roles: A Journal of Research 82(5-6). p.253-265
Abstract
Gender lay theory is a framework of information interpretation related to gender categorisation and can be divided into two
general forms: gender essentialism versus gender as socially constructed. The present study investigated how exposure to
scientifically framed explanations for gender differences affects individuals’ gender lay theory and if endorsement of an essentialist gender lay theory influences discrimination attribution. The 413 Swedish participants were exposed to scientific explanations of gender differences, with either a biological or a social constructionist perspective, or to no-explanation control. Compared
to the control condition, the social constructionist condition showed higher endorsement of a... (More)
Gender lay theory is a framework of information interpretation related to gender categorisation and can be divided into two
general forms: gender essentialism versus gender as socially constructed. The present study investigated how exposure to
scientifically framed explanations for gender differences affects individuals’ gender lay theory and if endorsement of an essentialist gender lay theory influences discrimination attribution. The 413 Swedish participants were exposed to scientific explanations of gender differences, with either a biological or a social constructionist perspective, or to no-explanation control. Compared
to the control condition, the social constructionist condition showed higher endorsement of a non-essentialist gender lay theory.
The biological condition did not differ from the control condition, indicating that an essentialist view of gender might be the
prevailing norm in Sweden. Discrimination attribution was indirectly affected by exposure to social constructionist explanations
of gender differences through increasing endorsement of a non-essentialist gender lay theory, which predicted a higher degree of
discrimination attribution. In other words, exposure to social constructionist explanations of gender differences predicted a
greater recognition of discriminatory behaviour as such than did exposure to biological explanations or no explanation.
Implications of the current study include the potential for social constructionist theories of gender to be used for educational
purposes to increase recognition of discriminatory behaviour. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Gender lay theory is a framework of information interpretation related to gender categorisation and can be divided into two
general forms: gender essentialism versus gender as socially constructed. The present study investigated how exposure to
scientifically framed explanations for gender differences affects individuals’ gender lay theory and if endorsement of an essentialist gender lay theory influences discrimination attribution. The 413 Swedish participants were exposed to scientific explanations of gender differences, with either a biological or a social constructionist perspective, or to no-explanation control. Compared
to the control condition, the social constructionist condition showed higher endorsement of a... (More)
Gender lay theory is a framework of information interpretation related to gender categorisation and can be divided into two
general forms: gender essentialism versus gender as socially constructed. The present study investigated how exposure to
scientifically framed explanations for gender differences affects individuals’ gender lay theory and if endorsement of an essentialist gender lay theory influences discrimination attribution. The 413 Swedish participants were exposed to scientific explanations of gender differences, with either a biological or a social constructionist perspective, or to no-explanation control. Compared
to the control condition, the social constructionist condition showed higher endorsement of a non-essentialist gender lay theory.
The biological condition did not differ from the control condition, indicating that an essentialist view of gender might be the
prevailing norm in Sweden. Discrimination attribution was indirectly affected by exposure to social constructionist explanations
of gender differences through increasing endorsement of a non-essentialist gender lay theory, which predicted a higher degree of
discrimination attribution. In other words, exposure to social constructionist explanations of gender differences predicted a
greater recognition of discriminatory behaviour as such than did exposure to biological explanations or no explanation.
Implications of the current study include the potential for social constructionist theories of gender to be used for educational
purposes to increase recognition of discriminatory behaviour. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Essentialism, Sweden, Gender discrimination, Scientific communication, Gender differences, Discrimination attribution, Essentialism, Gender discrimination, Gender differences, Discrimination attribution ., Scientific communication, Sweden
in
Sex Roles: A Journal of Research
volume
82
issue
5-6
pages
13 pages
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85066990441
ISSN
0360-0025
DOI
10.1007/s11199-019-01060-w
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e8d831a8-7e48-4945-9c5c-07bfe246ce8e
date added to LUP
2019-06-06 10:22:42
date last changed
2022-04-26 01:03:30
@article{e8d831a8-7e48-4945-9c5c-07bfe246ce8e,
  abstract     = {{Gender lay theory is a framework of information interpretation related to gender categorisation and can be divided into two<br/>general forms: gender essentialism versus gender as socially constructed. The present study investigated how exposure to<br/>scientifically framed explanations for gender differences affects individuals’ gender lay theory and if endorsement of an essentialist gender lay theory influences discrimination attribution. The 413 Swedish participants were exposed to scientific explanations of gender differences, with either a biological or a social constructionist perspective, or to no-explanation control. Compared<br/>to the control condition, the social constructionist condition showed higher endorsement of a non-essentialist gender lay theory.<br/>The biological condition did not differ from the control condition, indicating that an essentialist view of gender might be the<br/>prevailing norm in Sweden. Discrimination attribution was indirectly affected by exposure to social constructionist explanations<br/>of gender differences through increasing endorsement of a non-essentialist gender lay theory, which predicted a higher degree of<br/>discrimination attribution. In other words, exposure to social constructionist explanations of gender differences predicted a<br/>greater recognition of discriminatory behaviour as such than did exposure to biological explanations or no explanation.<br/>Implications of the current study include the potential for social constructionist theories of gender to be used for educational<br/>purposes to increase recognition of discriminatory behaviour.}},
  author       = {{Klysing, Amanda}},
  issn         = {{0360-0025}},
  keywords     = {{Essentialism; Sweden; Gender discrimination; Scientific communication; Gender differences; Discrimination attribution; Essentialism; Gender discrimination; Gender differences; Discrimination attribution .; Scientific communication; Sweden}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5-6}},
  pages        = {{253--265}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Sex Roles: A Journal of Research}},
  title        = {{Exposure to Scientific Explanations for Gender Differences Influences Individuals’ Personal Theories of Gender and Their Evaluations of a Discriminatory Situation}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11199-019-01060-w}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s11199-019-01060-w}},
  volume       = {{82}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}