Believing gender equality is possible but too costly suppresses men’s collective guilt.
Evidence
Some sociobiologists have also argued that men have evolved to be biologically predisposed to rape as a way of passing on their genes (for a review and critique of such arguments, see Fausto-Sterling, 1985. However, sociobiologists also admit the influence of socialization is powerful enough to overcome gender differences based on biology, if society chose to socialize its members in such a way as to minimize gender inequality. However, the kind of socialization that they perceive as necessary for this to occur is frequently presented as too difficult or costly to be realistic. For example, when considering the socialization practices necessary to eliminate rape, Symons (1979) suggests that they “might well entail a cure worse than the disease” because they impose restrictions on individual freedom (pp. 284–85). In response, Fausto-Sterling (1985) asks “worse for whom,” suggesting that the costs of such rearing conditions for men is the central concern. By suggesting that gender equality is possible, but too costly to be worth the effort, such beliefs are likely to function to keep men’s experience of collective guilt at a low level of intensity. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 601
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Egalitarian gender relations threaten men’s privileged position and deter collective guilt — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 583; Gender equality threatens men’s identity by eliminating status difference — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 584; Demanding too much or too little both suppress dominant-group guilt. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 616 (+6 more)
Broader Connections
- Demanding too much or too little both suppress dominant-group guilt.
#expands(0.85) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 616 - Believing in equal opportunity lets advantaged groups justify status inequality and avoid collective guilt.
#expands(0.80) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 202 - Working-class individuals often fear equality rather than desire it.
#exemplifies(0.80) - Working-class men would fear and resent genuine equality of status
#exemplifies(0.78) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2233 - Men feel most collective guilt when reparations are moderately difficult.
#complicates(0.78) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 575 - Social-identity and privilege threats also deter collective guilt beyond reparation costs.
#qualifies(0.75) — Michael T. Schmitt, Daniel A. Miller, Nyla R. Branscombe, and Jack W. Brehm, The Difficulty of Making Reparations…, 73 - High identification with a group suppresses collective guilt, not only enables it.
#qualifies(0.72) — Torsten Masson and Markus Barth, The identification-guilt paradox…, 63