Yes, the earth is facing a major crisis, and yet there are some men who do not want to do anything because they are afraid that people may think they are gay.
This is according to research published in Sex Roles, which noted that many men opt out from recycling and using cotton bags because they’re afraid of what people may think of them by questioning their… masculinity.
In “Gender Bending and Gender Conformity: The Social Consequences of Engaging in Feminine and Masculine Pro-Environmental Behaviors”, there were men who consider the idea of saving the world and taking care of the planet as “feminine” things typically done by women.
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Social consequences for gender bending versus conformity with pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) were assessed in three studies. Gender bending created uncertainty about an actor’s heterosexual identity (Studies 1 and 2). Consistent with stigma-by-association, actors’ gender bending influenced judgments about an actor’s friend’s sexual identity (Study 2).
However, according to the research, “gender bending had limited effects on ascription of gendered traits: More feminine than masculine traits were ascribed to PEB actors, even actors of masculine PEBs (Studies 1 and 2). Consistent with social ostracism, Study 3 illustrated that men were most likely to socially distance themselves from female gender benders, likely as a result of prejudice against gender-bending women.”
In contrast, the research noted, “women preferred to socially interact with gender-conforming women, likely resulting from a combination of their greater interest in feminine than masculine PEBs and preferring to interact with women more so than with men. Social repercussions are discussed in terms of stigmatizing engagement in PEBs.”
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Fortunately, the research done by Janet K. Swim, Ashley J. Gillis and Kaitlynn J. Hamaty similarly noted that although PEBs have been characterized as feminine, some PEBs are masculine, suggesting that gender bending (e.g. engaging in pro-environmental behaviors inconsistent with one’s own gender) and gender conformity (e.g. engaging in pro-environmental behaviors consistent with one’s own gender) are still possible for both women and men.
