In two experiments, we examined how men respond to women who either challenge or legitimize societal gender inequality, and how gender identification moderates these responses. We hypothesized that men feel less threatened by women who legitimize (vs. challenge) the gender hierarchy, and evaluate these women more positively. To investigate these expectations, we assessed self-reports (Studies 1 and 2) and cardiovascular threat/challenge responses (Study 2). Both studies showed that men experience less negative emotions when presented with a woman who legitimized (vs. challenged) the gender hierarchy. Moreover, among men with a relatively high gender identification, a woman who challenged the gender hierarchy elicited a physiological response pattern indicative of threat, whereas a woman who legitimized the gender hierarchy elicited a pattern indicative of challenge. Results are discussed in terms of social identity theory, status threat, and self-distancing behavior.

在两个实验中，我们研究了男性如何应对挑战或使社会性别不平等合法化的女性，以及性别认同如何缓和这些反应。我们假设男性对使性别等级合法化（相对于挑战）的女性的威胁较小，并更积极地评价这些女性。为了调查这些期望，我们评估了自我报告（研究 1 和 2）和心血管威胁/挑战反应（研究 2）。两项研究都表明，当与使性别等级合法化（相对于挑战）的女性见面时，男性的负面情绪较少。此外，在性别认同相对较高的男性中，挑战性别等级的女性会引发一种表明威胁的生理反应模式，而将性别等级合法化的女性则引发了一种表明挑战的模式。结果在社会认同理论、地位威胁和自我距离行为方面进行了讨论。