“That's Gay”: Sexual Prejudice, Gender Identity, Norms, and Homophobic Communication

Abstract

This multi-study investigation employed social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) to explain the use of derogatory terms about gay men by heterosexual men (n_Study1 = 225; n_Study2 = 334). This investigation extends research on sexual prejudice by demonstrating how homophobic communication by men often serves a self-presentation function that is mediated through group norms. Using structural equation modeling, the extent to which communication norms mediated attitudes toward gay men, gender identity, hetero-identity concern, and homophobic communication was explored. Results from both studies revealed that these data were consistent with a revised model where both descriptive communication norms and endorsement of prescriptive communication norms were mediators of gender identity and sexual prejudice in predicting men's homophobic communication and partially mediated hetero-identity concern.

Keywords:

• Attitudes Toward Gay Men
• Communication Norms
• Gender Identity
• Homophobic Communication
• Masculinity
• Sexual Prejudice
• Social Identity Theory
• Social Norms

Notes

Note. Study 1 correlations appear in the lower diagonal; Study 2 correlations appear in the upper diagonal.

*p < .05. **p < .01.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jeffrey Hall

Jeffrey Hall (Ph.D., University of Southern California, 2007) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Kansas.

Betty LaFrance

Betty LaFrance (Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1998) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at Northern Illinois University.