Role Rigidity: A Problem of Identity Misclassification?

Abstract

When nonstigmatized individuals enact certain role-violating behaviors, they risk becoming "falsely accused deviants" (H. S. Becker, 1963, p. 20). For instance, when heterosexual men perform stereotypically feminine behaviors, they are liable to get misclassified as homosexual. Findings presented here reveal that expectations of identity misclassification fuel nonstigmatized individuals' negative reactions to role violations (Studies 1-2) and that using a disclaimer--that is, informing their audience of their nonstigmatized identity--assuages people's discomfort during a role-violating behavior (Studies 3-4). Moreover, when not concerned about being misclassified, nonstigmatized individuals benefit psychologically from the enactment of a challenging role violation (Study 4). Discussion considers the nature of the threat that misclassified role violators face and compares the plight of the falsely accused deviant to that of the truly stigmatized individual.

Is the Marlboro man the only alternative? The role of gender identity and self-construal salience in evaluations of male models

“…Our findings suggest that classification expectations provide insights for exploring the process that underlies gender identity differences in how men evaluate male models. Further, we extend the findings of Bosson et al (2005) by showing that the responses of feminine men to advertising in a collective self context is influenced by concerns of being correctly classified as feminine which results in them supporting traditional masculinity. When the collective self is salient, the expectation that they will be revealed as feminine drives feminine men to endorse the masculine model and shun the feminine model.…”

“…Specifically, how men feel they will be classified by others and the normative pressure men experience to endorse the traditional masculine male. Research suggests that heterosexual men seek to avoid misclassification as homosexual when they perform stereotypically feminine role behaviors, such as dancing in a ballet class (Bosson, Prewitt-Freilino and Taylor 2005). Further, Bosson et al (2005) show that these misclassification expectations mediate feelings of self-conscious discomfort thereby promoting adherence to role norms.…”

“…Research suggests that heterosexual men seek to avoid misclassification as homosexual when they perform stereotypically feminine role behaviors, such as dancing in a ballet class (Bosson, Prewitt-Freilino and Taylor 2005). Further, Bosson et al (2005) show that these misclassification expectations mediate feelings of self-conscious discomfort thereby promoting adherence to role norms. Given that self-construal is context-dependent and that for the collective self, individuals emphasize their similarity to other in-group members (Guimond et al 2006), such as male peers, we expect masculine men and androgynous men to endorse the masculine norm to avoid misclassification as feminine.…”

“…We propose that expectations of being classified by other people as similar to an ad model (classification expectations) mediate the effect of model gender identity on male attitudes. Previous psychological research has focused on misclassification expectations where masculine men are concerned at being misclassified by strangers as feminine (Bosson, Prewitt-Freilino and Taylor 2005). We contribute by showing how the responses of feminine men to advertising are influenced by concerns of being correctly classified by others as feminine.…”

A Latent Semantic Analysis of Gender Stereotype-Consistency and Narrowness in American English

“…We hypothesized that stereotypically masculine and feminine words would share more semantic meaning with their matching (man/he/him, woman/she/her, respectively) than mismatching (woman/she/her, man/he/him, respectively) category referents. We also hypothesized that stereotype narrowness -whereby a category referent is distinctly dissimilar to words stereotypical of the contrasting category -would be evinced in American English semantics, with this pattern expected to be more pronounced for the male than the female category because of differential cultural injunctions against men versus women engaging in counterstereotypical behavior (Bosson, Prewitt-Freilino, & Taylor, 2005;Burn, 2000;Maccoby, 1998).…”