Predictors of conspiracy beliefs regarding gender equality initiatives within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Bethan Iley; Ioana M Latu

Predictors of conspiracy beliefs regarding gender equality initiatives within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

School of Psychology

Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster › peer-review

Abstract

Despite their slow progress, gender equality initiatives (GEIs) have faced considerable backlash. In some cases, this has developed into conspiracy theorizing about their true nature. Despite serious implications, including an association with far-right radicalization, formal research on this topic remains limited. The present study aimed to develop a measure of conspiracy theories about GEIs, then to identify how these relate to broader conspiracy beliefs and gender-based attitudes.

15 items were developed using conspiracy theories present on social media, blogs and image board websites. An exploratory factor analysis indicated two factors: An 11-item factor including conspiracy theories opposing GEIs, and a two-item factor containing transphobic conspiracy theories.

Men were more likely to endorse conspiracy theories opposing GEIs than women. In a regression analysis, realistic threat, hostile sexism, modern sexism, and general conspiracy beliefs emerged as significant predictors of this. These findings suggest that conspiracy beliefs about GEIs exist and can be measured, but further work is needed to differentiate them from related constructs.

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - 18 Feb 2022
Event	Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual Convention - San Francisco, United States Duration: 16 Feb 2022 → 19 Feb 2022

Conference

Conference	Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual Convention
Country/Territory	United States
City	San Francisco
Period	16/02/2022 → 19/02/2022

Keywords

Conspiracy theories
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Sexism
Intergroup relations

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

https://osf.io/dmh7r/Licence: Unspecified

1 Invited talk
1 Oral presentation

Intergroup threat and conspiracy theory beliefs about gender equality initiatives in male-dominated domains
Iley, B. (Speaker)
29 Sept 2023
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
Integrating intergroup threat and attitude inoculation theories to protect against misinformation about gender equality
Iley, B. (Invited speaker)
27 Feb 2023
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk

File

Cite this

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title = "Predictors of conspiracy beliefs regarding gender equality initiatives within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics",

abstract = "Despite their slow progress, gender equality initiatives (GEIs) have faced considerable backlash. In some cases, this has developed into conspiracy theorizing about their true nature. Despite serious implications, including an association with far-right radicalization, formal research on this topic remains limited. The present study aimed to develop a measure of conspiracy theories about GEIs, then to identify how these relate to broader conspiracy beliefs and gender-based attitudes.15 items were developed using conspiracy theories present on social media, blogs and image board websites. An exploratory factor analysis indicated two factors: An 11-item factor including conspiracy theories opposing GEIs, and a two-item factor containing transphobic conspiracy theories.Men were more likely to endorse conspiracy theories opposing GEIs than women. In a regression analysis, realistic threat, hostile sexism, modern sexism, and general conspiracy beliefs emerged as significant predictors of this. These findings suggest that conspiracy beliefs about GEIs exist and can be measured, but further work is needed to differentiate them from related constructs.",

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T1 - Predictors of conspiracy beliefs regarding gender equality initiatives within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

AU - Iley, Bethan

AU - Latu, Ioana M

PY - 2022/2/18

Y1 - 2022/2/18

N2 - Despite their slow progress, gender equality initiatives (GEIs) have faced considerable backlash. In some cases, this has developed into conspiracy theorizing about their true nature. Despite serious implications, including an association with far-right radicalization, formal research on this topic remains limited. The present study aimed to develop a measure of conspiracy theories about GEIs, then to identify how these relate to broader conspiracy beliefs and gender-based attitudes.15 items were developed using conspiracy theories present on social media, blogs and image board websites. An exploratory factor analysis indicated two factors: An 11-item factor including conspiracy theories opposing GEIs, and a two-item factor containing transphobic conspiracy theories.Men were more likely to endorse conspiracy theories opposing GEIs than women. In a regression analysis, realistic threat, hostile sexism, modern sexism, and general conspiracy beliefs emerged as significant predictors of this. These findings suggest that conspiracy beliefs about GEIs exist and can be measured, but further work is needed to differentiate them from related constructs.

AB - Despite their slow progress, gender equality initiatives (GEIs) have faced considerable backlash. In some cases, this has developed into conspiracy theorizing about their true nature. Despite serious implications, including an association with far-right radicalization, formal research on this topic remains limited. The present study aimed to develop a measure of conspiracy theories about GEIs, then to identify how these relate to broader conspiracy beliefs and gender-based attitudes.15 items were developed using conspiracy theories present on social media, blogs and image board websites. An exploratory factor analysis indicated two factors: An 11-item factor including conspiracy theories opposing GEIs, and a two-item factor containing transphobic conspiracy theories.Men were more likely to endorse conspiracy theories opposing GEIs than women. In a regression analysis, realistic threat, hostile sexism, modern sexism, and general conspiracy beliefs emerged as significant predictors of this. These findings suggest that conspiracy beliefs about GEIs exist and can be measured, but further work is needed to differentiate them from related constructs.

KW - Conspiracy theories

KW - Equality, diversity and inclusion

KW - Sexism

KW - Intergroup relations

M3 - Poster

T2 - Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual Convention

Y2 - 16 February 2022 through 19 February 2022

ER -

Predictors of conspiracy beliefs regarding gender equality initiatives within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Activities

Intergroup threat and conspiracy theory beliefs about gender equality initiatives in male-dominated domains

Integrating intergroup threat and attitude inoculation theories to protect against misinformation about gender equality

Cite this