Submission Type

Poster

Start Date

April 2020

Abstract

No studies have examined bystander responses to violence against apparent transwomen, which reflects the general lack of research on transgender identities in the field of psychology. Given gender differences in socialization, men, as compared to women, were expected to report less intent to intervene to help a transwoman subjected to violence. Men were also predicted to show less victim sympathy and greater transphobia. Undergraduate participants (N = 107) who self-identified as heterosexual and cisgender responded to a measure of transphobia and then to a scenario of male violence against a woman. Specifically, they were randomly assigned to one of two conditions in which the victim was slurred as a “tranny” or a “slut.” They then completed measures of intent to intervene, sympathy for the victim, and perception of the victim. Those assigned to the trans-slur condition perceived the victim as trans. Results also showed that, compared to women, men reported less intent to intervene when the victim was perceived as trans. Regardless of their perception of the victim, women showed more victim sympathy and less transphobia than men. Although naturalistic research methods are needed to extend these preliminary findings, the results highlight gender differences in helping transwomen.

Comments

Sponsored by Jennifer Katz

Included in

Psychology Commons

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Apr 22nd, 12:00 AM

104— Gender Differences in Bystander Responses to Male Violence Against a Transwoman

No studies have examined bystander responses to violence against apparent transwomen, which reflects the general lack of research on transgender identities in the field of psychology. Given gender differences in socialization, men, as compared to women, were expected to report less intent to intervene to help a transwoman subjected to violence. Men were also predicted to show less victim sympathy and greater transphobia. Undergraduate participants (N = 107) who self-identified as heterosexual and cisgender responded to a measure of transphobia and then to a scenario of male violence against a woman. Specifically, they were randomly assigned to one of two conditions in which the victim was slurred as a “tranny” or a “slut.” They then completed measures of intent to intervene, sympathy for the victim, and perception of the victim. Those assigned to the trans-slur condition perceived the victim as trans. Results also showed that, compared to women, men reported less intent to intervene when the victim was perceived as trans. Regardless of their perception of the victim, women showed more victim sympathy and less transphobia than men. Although naturalistic research methods are needed to extend these preliminary findings, the results highlight gender differences in helping transwomen.

 

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