New publication in PLOS One explores the intersection of class and gender across cultures

Investigating the intersection of gender and social class is critical for informing social equality and policy interventions, especially amid the rise of online misogyny which promotes material wealth and dominance over women as defining features of manhood (UN Women, 2025). Lab member Isabelle Weissflog has contributed to this emerging literature on intersectionality within social psychology, exploring the under-researched intersection of gender with social class across eight countries. Using three class markers (namely, income, occupation and education) across countries which vary in social inequality and acceptance of cultural diversity, Weissflog and colleagues showed that, for example, men were judged more harshly for having lower income or a less prestigious job, and these effects were stronger in countries with more conservative gender norms. Read the full article here. 

Abstract

To address social injustice, it is crucial to understand the intersecting social dimensions that contribute to it, such as gender, race, and class. While intersections of race and gender are well-studied, class remains underexplored in social psychology. This research investigates how class (measured by education, income, and occupational status) and gender influence interpersonal attitudes regarding likability, respect, and social distance across different cultures. We present results from factorial survey experiments in eight countries (Armenia, Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, Russia, UK, US) with different gender norms and inequality levels. High education and income influenced attitudes towards women (vs. men) more positively, and low income and occupational status influenced attitudes towards men (vs. women) more negatively. In countries with more conservative gender norms, these differences were stronger. General inequality also impacted status- and gender-based attitudes. Our findings demonstrate that gender and class interact differently across cultures, contributing to discourses on intersectionality and informing social equality and policy interventions.

References:

UN Women. (2025). What is the manosphere and why should we care?. Available at: https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/explainer/what-is-the-manosphere-and-why-should-we-care