Prejudice’s targets and agents differ systematically along gender lines

Evidence

Guided by the theories of sexual selection and parental investment, we have clarified and extended a number of predictions put forth by the SMTH as originally proposed by SDT (see Sidanius & Pratto, 1999). In the process, we have altered the nature of the original hypothesis such that it may no longer be adequately characterized by the name, “subordinate male target hypothesis.” In its stead, we propose a theory of gendered prejudice, which asserts three primary predictions: (1) outgroup men serve as the primary targets of intergroup prejudice, especially when this prejudice is expressed as out-group denigration and aggression; (2) although both men and women may serve as agents of intergroup prejudice, as expressed by in-group bias and in-group favoritism, men will tend to be the primary agents of prejudice, as expressed by out-group denigration, intergroup domination, and social predation; and (3) men and women’s out-group prejudice is driven by different underlying motivations—out-group prejudice among women is significantly motivated by fearful avoidance, whereas out-group prejudice among men is more likely to be motivated by a combination of aggression and social dominance. — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 1197

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the ‘theory of gendered prejudice’ and its three core predictions, renaming the subordinate male target hypothesis.