Abstract
This study examined whether traditional gender role attitudes mediated the relation between gender and negative attitudes toward gay men and lesbians. One hundred and fifty-five heterosexual college students (59% female; 97% Caucasian) completed questionnaires that assessed their attitudes toward gay men and lesbians and their gender role attitudes. Although males reported more negative attitudes toward gay men than females, there were no gender differences in attitudes toward lesbians. Traditional gender role attitudes mediated the relation between gender and attitudes toward gay men. These findings suggest that attitudes toward gay men are more strongly related to gender role attitudes than to gender.
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The authors express their appreciation to Larry Kurdek and Gregory Herek for their helpful input in the early stages of this study and to Larry Kurdek for reviewing an earlier draft of this article.
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Kerns, J.G., Fine, M.A. The relation between gender and negative attitudes toward gay men and lesbians: Do gender role attitudes mediate this relation?. Sex Roles 31, 297–307 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01544590
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01544590