Masculinity threat: understanding why Jamaican men report more anti-gay prejudice than Jamaican women

Jamaica is a developing country known for its high levels of sexual prejudice. Additionally, prior research has shown that Jamaican men reliably report more anti-gay prejudice than Jamaican women do. This study investigated potential explanations for these gender differences. Using a large, diverse data set (N = 659), we found that Jamaican men reported more anti-gay behaviour than women did, but this difference was largest under conditions of lower income, less education and younger age. Also, in line with our hypotheses, religiosity and preferences for dancehall music did not moderate the effects of gender on anti-gay behaviour. These findings suggest that Jamaican men’s anti-gay prejudice may be driven, at least in part, by motivations to bolster their masculinity in the face of underlying contemporary threats. Implications for anti-gay prejudice and prejudice-reducing interventions are discussed.