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What Drives Support for Transgender Rights? Assessing the Effects of Biological Attribution on U.S. Public Opinion of Transgender Rights

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Abstract

Scholars have a limited understanding of what drives opinion on transgender rights. The present study begins to fill this gap by applying attribution theory to data from a national quota-based (U.S. Census approximation) online survey of 1000 U.S. citizens to evaluate how individuals’ beliefs about the biological origin of a person’s transgender status influence support for transgender rights, including employment, housing, healthcare, and bathroom protections. Across all models, we find that believing transgender status is biological is correlated with increased support for transgender rights. Importantly, our results suggest that although political conservatives appear to be less likely to believe in biological attribution, when they do, the belief has a more dramatic impact on support for rights than it does among liberals. Our analysis builds on existing research demonstrating the importance of biological attribution for support of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) rights and extends our understanding of public opinion on transgender rights. Our findings have important implications for policy experts interested in approaches to addressing transgender rights as well as scholars and practitioners interested in better understanding opinion formation regarding transgender rights because they suggest that providing a biological basis for transgender status may be a way to increase support for protections, particularly among more conservative individuals.

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Correspondence to Melanie M. Bowers.

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The authors have no conflicts of interest involving this project.

Research Involving Human Subjects

The authors added questions to a survey that received IRB authorization through Michigan State University. IRB number X15–1315.

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All participants were gave electronic consent through the following consent form, which was approved through the IRB process.

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Appendix

Appendix

Perceptions of Science and Social Issues in the United States

1. EXPLANATION OF THE RESEARCH and WHAT YOU WILL DO

You are being asked to participate in a research project that is intended to survey you about your thoughts on important social issues in the United States. You will first read a short statement about a current issue and answer some questions about what you read. Then you will then answer some questions about your perception of the issue. You will then answer some basic questions about yourself (age, education, race, etc.). Answering the survey questions should take approximately 20 min.

2. YOUR RIGHTS TO PARTICIPATE, SAY NO, OR WITHDRAW

Participation in this research project is completely voluntary. You have the right to say no. You may also change your mind at any time and stop answering questions or skip a question if you are uncomfortable it.

3. COSTS AND COMPENSATION FOR BEING IN THE STUDY

You will not incur any costs for participation in this research.

4. CONTACT INFORMATION FOR QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS

If you have concerns or questions about this study, such as scientific issues or how to do any part of it please contact either Cameron Thomas Whitley (graduate student) at cwhitley@msu.edu or Professor Thomas Dietz, 6 J Berkey Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 or by phone at 517–353-8763, or by e-mail: tdietz@msu.edu.

5. CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE

By clicking on the button below; you indicate your voluntary agreement to participate in this online survey.

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Bowers, M.M., Whitley, C.T. What Drives Support for Transgender Rights? Assessing the Effects of Biological Attribution on U.S. Public Opinion of Transgender Rights. Sex Roles 83, 399–411 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-019-01118-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-019-01118-9

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