More than monoliths: The gendered dynamics of support for torture in the United States

The gender gap in support for political violence is one of the most consistent findings in foreign policy literature. Beyond gender, an individuals’ gender ideologies may also impact their reactions to terrorism and their support for torture. While support for masculine honor culture increases anger after terrorism as a perceived threat, neosexism dampens anger as violence is normalized. Yet both gender ideologies support the torture of suspected terrorists. A survey of US-based individuals finds support for these hypotheses. This study refines our understanding of the gender gap by underlining the importance of not only individual gender, but also gendered beliefs.