Economic inequality and intolerance: Attitudes toward homosexuality in 35 democracies

被引:231
作者
Andersen, Robert [1 ]
Fetner, Tina [2 ]
机构
[1] Univ Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 2J4, Canada
[2] McMaster Univ, Hamilton, ON L8S 4M4, Canada
关键词
D O I
10.1111/j.1540-5907.2008.00352.x
中图分类号
D0 [政治学、政治理论];
学科分类号
0302 ; 030201 ;
摘要
Using hierarchical linear models fitted to data from the World Values Survey and national statistics for 35 countries, this article builds on the postmaterialist thesis by assessing the impact of economic inequality across and within nations on attitudes toward homosexuality. It provides evidence that tolerance tends to decline as national income inequality rises. For professionals and managers, the results also support the postmaterialist argument that economic development leads to more tolerant attitudes. On the other hand, attitudes of the working class are generally less tolerant, and contrary to expectations of the postmaterialist thesis, are seemingly unaffected by economic development. In other words, economic development influences attitudes only for those who benefit most. These findings have political implications, suggesting that state policies that have the goal of economic growth but fail to consider economic inequality may contribute to intolerant social and political values, an attribute widely considered detrimental for the health of democracy.
引用
收藏
页码:942 / 958
页数:17
相关论文
共 68 条
[1]   The Defense of Marriage Act and American exceptionalism: The "gay marriage" panic in the United States [J].
Adam, BD .
JOURNAL OF THE HISTORY OF SEXUALITY, 2003, 12 (02) :259-276
[2]   Social identities and political cleavages: the role of political context [J].
Andersen, R ;
Heath, A .
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY SERIES A-STATISTICS IN SOCIETY, 2003, 166 :301-327
[3]   Cohort differences in tolerance of homosexuality - Attitudinal change in Canada and the United States, 1981-2000 [J].
Andersen, Robert ;
Fetner, Tina .
PUBLIC OPINION QUARTERLY, 2008, 72 (02) :311-330
[4]  
[Anonymous], 1999, END CLASS POLITICS C
[5]  
[Anonymous], 2005, World Development Indicators Online
[6]  
[Anonymous], 2000, 8058 NBER
[7]  
[Anonymous], 1993, Making democracy work: Civic traditions in modern Italy, DOI 10.1515/9781400820740
[8]  
Barrett D.B., 1982, WORLD CHRISTIAN ENCY
[9]   The shifting foundations of public opinion about gay rights [J].
Brewer, PR .
JOURNAL OF POLITICS, 2003, 65 (04) :1208-1220
[10]   HOMOPHOBIA AND HOMOSOCIALITY - AN ANALYSIS OF BOUNDARY MAINTENANCE [J].
BRITTON, DM .
SOCIOLOGICAL QUARTERLY, 1990, 31 (03) :423-439