Beyond Simple Differences: Moderators of Gender Differences in Heteronormativity

ABSTRACT

Heteronormativity is a culturally embedded system defining acceptable identities and behaviors in romantic relationships. Recent literature has suggested that heteronormativity is strongly associated with political attitudes, personality characteristics such as tolerance of ambiguity, and key demographic variables such as gender and sexual orientation. However, interactions between gender and other factors have not been thoroughly explored as predictors of heteronormative attitude and beliefs. The current study (N = 306) expands the understanding of predictors of heteronormativity, particularly as they interact with gender. In the current study, higher education was associated with lower heteronormativity among women, but not among men, and expressiveness was associated with lower heteronormativity among men, but not among women. Finally, a 3-way interaction showed that the relationship between education and heteronormativity for men (but not women) depended on trait expressiveness. Future studies are recommended, including observation of changes in heteronormativity over time and exploration of mechanisms that reinforce or reduce heteronormativity.

KEYWORDS:

• Heteronormativity
• gender trait norms
• expressiveness
• education
• gender
• sexual prejudice

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Abigail Stewart, David Winter, Joyce Chu, and Teceta Tormala for constructive feedback on earlier versions of this article.

This project was reviewed and granted IRB-exempt status by the University of Michigan Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this project was provided by the University of Michigan’s Rackham Graduate School, departments of Psychology and Women’s Studies, and Institute for Research on Women and Gender.