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As menstrual equity gains traction in public discourse, understanding the psychological and social factors influencing support for related policies becomes increasingly important. This paper investigates the predictors of support for providing free menstrual products in schools, focusing on gender identity, perceptions of policy extremism, and sex role essentialism. Across two studies, we explored how these factors interact to shape public attitudes toward menstrual equity initiatives. Our findings indicate that individuals who do not identify as female were less supportive of the policy, particularly when they perceived it as extreme. Study 2 expanded on these findings by measuring inherent feelings of social rejection and sex role essentialism. Results revealed that traditional gender beliefs significantly reduced support for the policy, particularly among female participants. These findings highlight the critical role of gender-related beliefs in shaping public attitudes toward gender-equitable policies. Our research underscores the importance of considering deeply held gender norms and social identity when advocating for menstrual equity and other public health initiatives.
Carriere et al. (Sat,) studied this question.