Masculinity and Femininity in Social Interaction: An Intergroup Analysis

Abstract

The system of gender relations, conservative as it may seem, is currently undergoing some major changes. This research addressed the differences in social interaction in groups of people with different levels of masculinity and femininity. It relied on authentic questionnaires of gender attitudes and social interaction for different gender types. Interaction parameters included competition vs. support, hostility vs. sympathy, material vs. non-material priorities, values, control, dependence, and frequency/time of relationships. The results were subjected to ANOVA and T-test (IBM SPSS 27.0). The experiment involved 388 respondents (43% men, 57% women) aged 18–70 y.o. The gender type appeared to affect such aspects of relationships as time, sympathy, competitiveness, forced interaction, dependence on oneself and partner, control, friendly support, and mutual assistance. The largest number of statistically significant features belonged to the interaction between masculine and feminine types. They neither shared the same values nor sympathized with each other, had competitive and unequal relationships, expressed self-dependence, avoided nonmaterial resources, etc. Masculinity and femininity proved to play different roles in the organization of social interaction. The effect of masculinity was more prominent in relationships, making masculine-type people pickier in their choice of partners. The participants with prevailing femininity tended to adapt to their partner’s character profile.