Skip to main content
Log in

Predictors of feminist self-labeling

  • Published:
Sex Roles Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigated the relations of demographic and attitudinal variables on self-labeling as a feminist. Male (N=22) and female (N=83) primarily white (79%) college students and other adults responded to a questionnaire assessing their opinion of the feminist movement, perceptions of feminists, agreement with profeminist attitudes toward women's roles, belief in the importance of collective vs. individual action, political liberalism, and perceived discrimination. Although self-labeling as a feminist was significantly related to all of the above, with the exception of perceived discrimination, two major predictors were shown to be independently important: profeminist attitudes toward women's roles and opinion of the feminist movement.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Berryman-Fink, C., & Verderber, K. S. (1985). Attributions of the term feminist: A factor analytic development of a measuring instrument. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 9, 51–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caplan, P. J. (1985). Anti-feminist women. Feminist Psychology, 8, 351–354.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crocker, J., & Luhtaken, R. (1990). Collective self-esteem and ingroup bias. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58, 60–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, P. A., Gottesdiener, M., & Abramson, P. R. (1975). Another put-down of women? Perceived attractiveness as a function of support for the feminist movement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 32, 113–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hovland, C. I., Janis, I. L., & Kelley, H. H. (1953). Communication and persuasion. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korman, S. K. (1983). The feminist-familial influences on adherence to ideology and commitment to a self-perception. Family Relations, 32, 431–439.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lopez, G. E., Reifman, A. S., & Gurin, P. (1989, August). Women's work structure, political attitudes, and political participation. Paper presented at the 97th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.

  • Renzetti, L. (1987). New Wave or Second Stage?: Attitudes of college women toward feminism. Sex Roles, 16, 265–277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, M. D., & Self, G. D. (1981). Feminist and traditionalists: An attitudinal comparison. Sex Roles, 7, 183–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spence, J. T., & Helmreich, R. L. (1978). Masculinity and femininity: The psychological dimensions, correlates, and antecedents. Austin: University of Texas Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tavris, C. (1973). Who likes women's liberation and why: The case of the unliberated liberals. Journal of Social Issues, 29, 175–197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Unger, R., Hilderbrand, M., & Madar, T. (1982). Physical attractiveness and assumptions about social deviance: Some sex-by-sex comparisons. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 8, 293–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallis, C. (1989, December 4). Onward, women! Time Magazine. pp. 80–82, 85–86, 89.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cowan, G., Mestlin, M. & Masek, J. Predictors of feminist self-labeling. Sex Roles 27, 321–330 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00289942

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00289942

Keywords

Navigation