Introduction: In recent years, the Western world has been characterized by policies reversals regarding women's issues. A prime example is the overturn of Roe v. Wade in the United States, which made abortion a right protected by the constitution. At same time, ethnonationalism and anti-immigration sentiments have been on the rise, causing a spike in hate crimes towards and harmful rhetoric aimed at ethnic minorities.


Purpose: In these two studies, we want to establish whether there is a connection between realistic and symbolic threats and attitudes towards women. In particular, we hypothesize that symbolic threat and realistic threat from non-native immigrant groups will lower support for workplace gender equity policies in the NZ European population, controlling for benevolent and hostile sexism. In the same way, we hypothesize that realistic threat from non-native immigrant groups and warmth towards immigrants will be significant predictors of lower support for elective abortions, controlling for benevolent and hostile sexism.


Methods & Results: In study 1 (N = 4,629) through a multiple regression we find that symbolic threat, but not realistic threat, significantly and negatively predicts support for policies benefitting women in the workplace. In study 2 (N = 8,729) through a multiple regression we find that realistic threat, but not warmth towards immigrants, significantly and negatively predicts of support for elective abortions.


Conclusions: These results demonstrate the interconnected nature of ethnic prejudice and attitudes towards women in a majority population perceiving either realistic or symbolic threat from immigrants. In particular, it appears that, under perceived threat, women may be seen as competitors or resources, to be controlled in their autonomy in order to maintain dominant ethnic hierarchies. Finally, these findings highlight the importance of citizens' attitudes towards policies supporting marginalized communities.