Gender Differences in COVID-19 Conspiracy Theory Beliefs

In this article, we evaluate gender differences in COVID-19 conspiracy theory beliefs. We find that women are significantly less likely than men to endorse COVID-19 conspiracy theories and that this gender difference cuts across party lines. Our analysis suggests that this gender gap is partially ex...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPolitics & Gender Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 1009 - 1018
Main Authors Cassese, Erin C., Farhart, Christina E., Miller, Joanne M.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.12.2020
Subjects
Beliefs
Conspiracy
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Gender differences
Helplessness
II. Gender, health, and public opinion during the Covid-19 pandemic
Learned helplessness
Partisanship
Public opinion
Research Article
Trump, Donald J
United States > US
China
COVID-19
Gender gap
public opinion
conspiracy beliefs
learned helplessness
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Summary:In this article, we evaluate gender differences in COVID-19 conspiracy theory beliefs. We find that women are significantly less likely than men to endorse COVID-19 conspiracy theories and that this gender difference cuts across party lines. Our analysis suggests that this gender gap is partially explained by two dispositional factors: learned helplessness and conspiratorial thinking. Our findings qualify past work on the antecedents of conspiracy theory beliefs, which does not uncover robust and significant gender differences. The results highlight the need for work in this area to better theorize about the significance of gender.
ISSN:1743-923X
1743-9248
DOI:10.1017/S1743923X20000409