Gender, Religiosity, Spirituality, and Attitudes toward Homosexuality

Abstract

This article investigates the relationship between religiosity, spirituality, gender, and attitudes toward homosexuality. The article augments the existing literature by examining the effects of religious affiliation, religiosity, and spirituality on attitudes toward homosexuality separately for men and women using the 2008 and 2010 General Social Surveys. Results indicate significant gender differences in attitudes toward homosexuality for two variables. Southern residence decreases tolerance among men, but not women. Also, men who self-identify as spiritual, but not religious, are more likely to report that homosexuality is not morally wrong than their more religious counterparts; however, a similar finding was not evident among the women who self-identified as spiritual.

Acknowledgments

Data were made available via the International Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The authors alone are responsible for the analyses and interpretations presented.

Notes

Note. Cell entries are given as unstandardized regression coefficient/standardized (beta) coefficient with the standard error given in parentheses.

*p < .05; **p < .01.

Note. Cell entries are given as unstandardized regression coefficient/standardized (beta) coefficient with the standard error given in parentheses.

*p < .05; **p < .01.