When intergroup contact correlates with gender-prejudice beliefs of emerging adults

Joyce J Endendijk*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

This study examined whether the contact emerging adults have with same-gender and other-gender friends, and other-gender romantic partners is associated with their sexist and gender-inequality beliefs, and whether these associations are moderated by their gender or gender contentedness (feeling content with one's gender). Dutch emerging adults (N = 381, 18-25 years old, 51% female) completed an online survey. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that more other-gender contact was associated with less gender-inequality beliefs and with less hostile sexism in people who felt less content with their gender, but with more hostile sexism in people who feel highly content with their gender. More same-gender contact was associated with more benevolent sexism and gender-inequality beliefs, as well as with men's hostile sexism. Contact with romantic partners was not associated with gender-prejudice beliefs. Thus, same-gender contact and other-gender contact with friends each are associated with gender prejudice, depending on gender and gender contentedness.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)97-113
Number of pages17
JournalBritish Journal of Developmental Psychology
Volume42
Issue number1
Early online date22 Sept 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. British Journal of Developmental Psychology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Psychological Society.

Keywords

  • gender inequality
  • gender prejudice
  • intergroup contact
  • other-gender friends
  • same-gender friends
  • sexism

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