Beliefs About the Precarity of Manhood and Violence Against Women: A Cross-Cultural Exploration

The belief that manhood is a precarious social status (hard won and easily lost) has been linked to men’s threatened sense of masculinity and consequent aggressive behaviors. This study examined cultural variation in the extent to which people endorse precarious manhood beliefs and the association of this endorsement with rates of aggression against women. An international survey spanning 60 countries produced country-level scores on average endorsement of the belief that manhood is a precarious social status. Country-level precarious manhood beliefs predicted rates of violence (intimate partner violence, rape, women’s physical security), attitudes condoning partner violence, and legal protections for women against domestic violence, rape, and sexual harassment. The index outperformed Hofstede’s index of ‘Motivation Toward Achievement and Success’ (formerly ‘Masculinity’) in predicting outcomes. Most associations remained significant after controlling for religiosity and societal violence, and gender inequality, but less so when controlling for national wealth and hostile sexism. Results are consistent with the assertion that the socialization of men to believe that manhood is precarious may endanger women’s safety.