Femmephobia Is a Uniquely Powerful Predictor of Anti-Gay Behavior

Abstract

The current study explored a form of femmephobia (specifically, negative attitudes toward femininity in men) as a predictor of anti-gay behaviors among a sample of heterosexual men (N = 417). Additional predictor variables included hierarchical worldviews (i.e., social dominance orientation, right-wing authoritarianism, narcissism) and prejudicial attitudes (i.e., old-fashioned and modern homonegativity). Femmephobia emerged as a robust predictor, accounting for 23% of the variance in anti-gay behavior, surpassing the explanatory power (15%) of all other considered variables combined. Moreover, social dominance only predicted anti-gay behavior when femmephobia levels were high. Future research on discrimination and violence related to sexual identity and gender expression should incorporate femmephobia as a key predictive factor.

Keywords: Aggression; Femininity; Femmephobia; Homonegativity; Prejudice; Social Dominance.

Fig. 1

Social dominance orientation by femmephobia interaction. Note: Graph is shown at one standard deviation above and below the mean of each variable

Fig. 2

Modern homonegativity by femmephobia interaction. Note: Graph is shown at one standard deviation above and below the mean of each variable