A study on psychological variables predicting 2030 Korean men's support for gendered policies: Focusing on fairness and sexism

This study investigated psychological variables related to support for gendered policies among Korean men in their 20s and 30s(2030 men), and examined the validity of existing theoretical positions on opposition to gendered policies among 2030 men. Previously, it was believed that 2030 men's opposition to gendered policies was due to the sexist beliefs of 2030 men or their sense of deprivation that their privilege was taken away(gender discrimination hypothesis). However, recently, the explanation that the gendered policy is opposed because it runs counter to the meritocratic fairness internalized by 2030 men emerged(fairness hypothesis) had been presented. This study surveyed 110 2030 men to examine the validity of the two hypotheses. Through regression analysis, we examined whether fairness-related variables and sexism-related variables predict support for gendered policies in Korean society. At result, the equity principle positively predicted support for anti-women policies that eliminated affirmative treatment for women or gave affirmative treatment to men(e.g. elimination of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, military service extra-points system, and female conscription), but not the prowomen policies that gave affirmative action for women(e.g, affirmative action for women employment, mandatory gender perspective education and women-specific support systems). Among sexist beliefs, hostile sexism negatively predicted support for pro-women policies and positively predicted support for anti-women policies. On the other hand, masculinity norms showed the opposite tendency. These results only partially supported both the fairness hypothesis and the gender discrimination hypothesis. This study is significant in that it studied 2030 men's support for gendered policies discussed in Korean society instead of abstract sexist beliefs. In discussion, the results of this study were interpreted and an alternative explanation for 2030 men's opposition to gender equality policies was attempted.