Gender Differences in Anticipated but Not Behavioral Confrontation of Heterosexist Comments

Heterosexist comments are prevalent, but they can be combatted by recognizing and confronting them. Using a 2 (participant gender: woman, man) by 2 (heterosexist comment: gender-policing, sexuality-based) design, we evaluated gender differences in ratings of offensiveness and confrontations of heterosexist comments. In Study 1 (N = 110), participants imagined interacting with a person who made a heterosexist comment. In Study 2 (N = 86), participants interacted in-person with a confederate who made a heterosexist comment. In both studies, non-target (heterosexual) women rated the comments as more offensive as compared to non-target men. Notably, women anticipated confronting with more strength than men (Study 1), but in actuality confronted with similar strength as men (Study 2). We explored perceived perpetrator sexism, beliefs about appearing gay, and prior contact with sexual minorities as potential variables impacting gender differences and predicting confronting. Differences between anticipated and actual confronting are discussed.