Gender Identity and Perceptions of Sexism: A Liberation Psychology Perspective

Abstract

Three studies sought to assess cultural influences in gender identification, gender identity content, and perceptions of sexism. Study 1 examined the impact of taking an introductory women's studies course relative to a personality psychology course, while Studies 2 and 3 took place in the lab and manipulated factors thought to differ between the two courses in Study 1. For Study 1, cultural context influenced constructions of gender identity such that women's studies students were more likely to internalize women's struggles and recognize sexism than personality psychology students. Results indicate that identity content mediated the relationship between course and sexism perception. In Study 2, participants read about gender as a biological or a social construct. Contrary to hypotheses, reading about gender as a biological construct promoted sexism perception. In addition an interaction between level of identification and identity content emerged such that increased gender identification promoted sexism perception only for participants who construct their gender in terms of women's struggle. In Study 3, women exposed to Women's history facts perceived less racism and reported decreased internalization of struggle. Consistent with other studies, women who thought of gender in terms of struggle saw greater sexism in gendered traditions. These studies provide evidence of the need for content-based analyses of identity along with consideration of multiple forms of gender oppression.