The influence of attitudes toward women on the relative individuation of women and men in the Netherlands

Abstract

Two studies compared Dutch college students' individuation of women and men. Participants read trait descriptions and formed impressions of male and female targets. They then attempted to recall which traits had described each target. Consistent with the status hypothesis, participants viewed men as higher status and made fewer recall errors overall for male targets, indicating greater individuation of men. However, this effect was moderated by attitudes. Participants with more traditional attitudes toward women's roles individuated men more than women, whereas those with less traditional views individuated women and men equally.