The Association between Adherence to Sexist Beliefs and Traditional Family Norms, Religion, and Attitudes toward Sexual Minorities

Much remains unknown about the collective influence of adherence to sexist beliefs and traditional family norms on attitudes toward sexual minorities. Understanding factors that shape attitudes are important as attitudes can influence the development of laws and policies. This is particularly salient as rights gaps remain in spite of recent legal victories for sexual minorities in the U.S. Using a weighted nationally representative sample (N = 3,647) from the 2016 American National Election Studies, the current study examined the association between adherence to sexist beliefs and traditional family norms, religion, and attitudes toward sexual minorities. Individuals with a stronger adherence to sexist beliefs and traditional family norms have less favorable attitudes toward sexual minorities. This finding illustrates the nexus of sex, gender, and sexuality, and shows their collective association with attitudes toward sexual minorities. Findings can inform advocacy efforts and initiatives that address misconceptions regarding sexual minorities and what characteristics constitute masculinity and femininity.