The Adored Pet Effect: How men perceive women performing in stereotypically masculine domains

Open Access
- Author:
- Dlugos, Kathryn Elizabeth
- Area of Honors:
- Psychology
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Theresa K Vescio, Thesis Supervisor
Cynthia L Huang Pollock, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- Adored Pet Effect
heterosexual masculinity
masculinity threat
gender stereotypes
person perception - Abstract:
- In Western cultures, masculinity has three core components (Vescio et al., 2010). To be a good man means to have power (the ability to influence others) and/or status (respect of others), to be physically, emotionally, and mentally tough, and to repudiate and distance from all that is feminine or gay (i.e. avoid everything “sissy”). We can assume, then, that men will feel “non-manly” when they are unable to demonstrate these components. Two studies examined how men responded to other men and women who performed better or worse than they did on an important task. In particular, the present theory and research examined the possibility that, in stereotypically masculine domains, men feel threatened by women who outperform them and disrespect women who perform far less well than them, but adore women who perform objectively well but not as well as they do (making them an “adored pet”). To test predictions, we manipulated partner gender (male or female) and partner performance (outperform, pet, or underperform). Results show effects of gender or performance condition on several variables such as perceived warmth and competence. Contrary to predictions, however, partner gender and performance condition did not consistently interact. Instead, regardless of partner gender, people preferred well performing but non-threatening partners who did not surpass their performance. Further research is necessary to determine whether an “adored pet” (a woman who is both liked and respected because she is competent but poses no threat to a man’s masculinity) exists in such domains or if pets are preferred regardless of their gender.