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The Association between Feminist Self-Labeling and Gender Equality Activism: Exploring the Effects of Scale Language and Identity Priming

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Abstract

Feminists report engaging in more activism for gender equality than non-feminists, yet the label “feminist” is widely perceived as stigmatizing. This study assessed whether the stigmatizing effect of the term “feminist” suppressed self-reported activism among women who may not identify as feminist. An online (Amazon’s Mechanical Turk) sample of 302 women reported activism on the original or one of two modified versions of Foster and Matheson’s Measure of Collective Action. Modified versions either minimized stigmatizing scale language by characterizing activist behaviors as broadly related to “gender equality,” not “feminism,” or maximized stigmatizing language by characterizing behaviors as explicitly for “feminism.” Replicating past studies, there was a strong correlation between feminist identification and activism (β = .56) and a main effect of sexual minority status on reported activism, such that sexual minority women reported significantly higher rates of activism. Extending past research, our results clarify these effects in suggesting that they are not artifacts of either priming feminist identity or using stigmatizing scale language. Specifically, at the highest level of feminist identification, there was no significant difference in reported activism as a function of timing of reporting identification (before versus after activism reporting) and no significant difference in activism rates between the two modified scale versions (minimized versus maximized stigma). Practically, these results highlight the importance of promoting women’s feminist self-identification as a route toward increased activist participation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Florida, 945 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Sarah E. Conlin & Martin Heesacker

Authors
  1. Sarah E. Conlin
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  2. Martin Heesacker
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sarah E. Conlin.

Ethics declarations

Funding

None.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval & Informed Consent

The University of Florida’s Institutional Review Board approved this project. All participants were required to complete an Informed Consent document prior to accessing the research survey. All procedures performed in the present study were in accordance with ethical standards.

Appendices

Appendix 1: Modified Version #1 of the Measure of Collective Action (Foster and Matheson 1995)

  1. 1.

    I have gone out of my way to collect information on gender equality issues.

  2. 2.

    I don’t let anyone treat me differently because of my gender.

  3. 3.

    If others treat me differently on the basis of my gender, I assure them that it is not necessary.

  4. 4.

    I make a conscious attempt to use gender-equal language.

  5. 5.

    I keep an eye on the views of my political representatives regarding issues of gender equality.

  6. 6.

    I have attended talks on gender equality issues.

  7. 7.

    I will correct other’s use of gender-biased language.

  8. 8.

    I have discussed gender equality issues with family or friends, stressing the need to enhance gender equality in society.

  9. 9.

    I have signed a petition advocating for gender equality on a social issue (e.g., prochoice, pay equity, affirmative action).

  10. 10.

    I have distributed information on gender equality issues around campus or work.

  11. 11.

    I have lobbied my political representatives regarding gender equality issues.

  12. 12.

    I have volunteered for groups aimed to promote gender equality.

  13. 13.

    I have donated money to gender equality organizations or events aimed at gender equality issues.

  14. 14.

    I have participated in discussion groups designed to discuss issues or solutions to problems that will promote gender equality.

  15. 15.

    I have written letters to public media in instances where I believe it was necessary to speak about gender equality concerns.

  16. 16.

    If, in a group of strangers (i.e., people who I haven’t known for long or well), a comment against gender equality is made, I will make a point of arguing against it.

  17. 17.

    I am a member of an organization that deals with gender equality issues.

  18. 18.

    I have encouraged friends to collect information on gender equality issues.

  19. 19.

    I have encouraged friends to take classes oriented towards gender equality issues.

  20. 20.

    I have encouraged friends to join organizations that deal with gender equality issues.

  21. 21.

    I have participated in protests regarding gender equality issues.

  22. 22.

    I have organized events that deal with gender equality issues.

  23. 23.

    I have organized support groups to promote gender equality (e.g., for women who are re-entering school, or the workforce, for single mothers, etc.)

  24. 24.

    I have participated in fundraisers, consciousness-raising events, etc. that attempt to promote gender equality.

  25. 25.

    I have given lectures or talks on gender equality issues.

Appendix 2: Modified Version #2 of the Measure of Collective Action (Foster and Matheson 1995)

  1. 1.

    I have gone out of my way to collect information on feminist issues.

  2. 2.

    I don’t let anyone treat me differently because of my gender, as I consider this to be an important feminist issue.

  3. 3.

    In support of feminism, if others treat me differently on the basis of my gender, I assure them that it is not necessary.

  4. 4.

    I make a conscious attempt to use feminist language relating to gender.

  5. 5.

    I keep an eye on the views of my political representatives regarding feminist issues.

  6. 6.

    I have attended talks on feminist issues.

  7. 7.

    I will correct other’s use of non-feminist language.

  8. 8.

    I have discussed feminist issues with family or friends, stressing the need to enhance gender equality in society.

  9. 9.

    I have signed a pro-feminist petition advocating on a social issue (e.g., prochoice, pay equity, affirmative action).

  10. 10.

    I have distributed information on feminist issues around campus or work.

  11. 11.

    I have lobbied my political representatives regarding feminist issues.

  12. 12.

    I have volunteered for groups aimed to promote feminism.

  13. 13.

    I have donated money to feminist organizations or events aimed at feminist issues.

  14. 14.

    I have participated in discussion groups designed to discuss issues or solutions to problems that will promote feminist concerns.

  15. 15.

    I have written letters to public media in instances where I believe it was necessary to speak about feminist concerns.

  16. 16.

    If, in a group of strangers (i.e., people who I haven’t known for long or well), a non-feminist comment is made, I will make a point of arguing against it.

  17. 17.

    I am a member of an organization that deals with feminist issues.

  18. 18.

    I have encouraged friends to collect information on feminist issues.

  19. 19.

    I have encouraged friends to take classes oriented towards feminist issues.

  20. 20.

    I have encouraged friends to join organizations that deal with feminist issues.

  21. 21.

    I have participated in protests regarding feminist issues.

  22. 22.

    I have organized events that deal with feminist issues.

  23. 23.

    I have organized support groups to promote feminist issues (e.g., for women who are re-entering school, or the workforce, for single mothers, etc.)

  24. 24.

    I have participated in fundraisers, consciousness-raising events, etc. that attempt to promote feminist issues.

  25. 25.

    I have given lectures or talks on feminist issues.

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Conlin, S.E., Heesacker, M. The Association between Feminist Self-Labeling and Gender Equality Activism: Exploring the Effects of Scale Language and Identity Priming. Curr Psychol 37, 334–342 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-016-9517-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-016-9517-0

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