Rex Kerr
Dec 11, 2023

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There are a variety of ways this could be possible. For instance, feminism might have a PR problem, where everyone believes a stereotype that isn't true, even people in the group being stereotyped. Having direct knowledge might only be enough to partially overcome the stereotype.

Alternatively, feminists might speak and/or act negatively towards men--the study authors didn't measure what anyone actually did, only what people's attitudes were--far more freely than non-feminists. Since actions speak louder than words, as the saying goes, everyone may correctly be judging that feminism is relatively hostile to men in practice, but the hostility comes despite near-normal levels of internal positivity.

One can come up with other hypotheses also; the point is that you can't really tell if you don't measure it because humans are complicated.

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Rex Kerr
Rex Kerr

Written by Rex Kerr

One who rejoices when everything is made as simple as possible, but no simpler. Sayer of things that may be wrong, but not so bad that they're not even wrong.

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