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On the nonlinear link between stigma and collective action: Evidence from sexual and gender minorities in 25 countries

Selvanathan, Hema Preya; Valdenegro, Daniel; Noor, Masi; Visintin, Emilio Paolo; Lalot, Fanny; Sainz, Mario; Bilewicz, Michał; Hayward, Lydia; Sebben, Simone; Ullrich, Johannes; Hässler, Tabea

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Authors

Hema Preya Selvanathan

Daniel Valdenegro

Emilio Paolo Visintin

Fanny Lalot

Mario Sainz

Michał Bilewicz

Lydia Hayward

Simone Sebben

Johannes Ullrich

Tabea Hässler



Abstract

The stigma faced by gender and sexual minorities varies across countries. How does stigma relate to collective action for social change? We propose a curvilinear link (i.e., an inverted U-curve) between stigma and collective action such that increased stigma is associated with increased collective action up to a point, beyond which, increased stigma is associated with reduced collective action. Using Bayesian inference with a sample of over 3,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ+) individuals across 25 countries, analyses showed that at the between-country level (but not at the within-country level), there was preliminary evidence of a curvilinear effect. There was also an indirect effect of institutional stigma on collective action outcomes via perceived stigma, suggesting that structural-level factors can trickle down to shape individuals’ social change intentions and behaviours. These findings raise the importance of reconsidering the assumption of linearity between stigma and collective action.

Citation

Selvanathan, H. P., Valdenegro, D., Noor, M., Visintin, E. P., Lalot, F., Sainz, M., Bilewicz, M., Hayward, L., Sebben, S., Ullrich, J., & Hässler, T. (2025). On the nonlinear link between stigma and collective action: Evidence from sexual and gender minorities in 25 countries. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, https://doi.org/10.1177/13684302241309539

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 15, 2024
Online Publication Date Jan 30, 2025
Publication Date Jan 30, 2025
Deposit Date Feb 17, 2025
Publicly Available Date Feb 17, 2025
Journal Group Processes & Intergroup Relations
Print ISSN 1368-4302
Electronic ISSN 1461-7188
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/13684302241309539
Keywords collective action, LGBTIQ+, sexual and gender minorities, social change, social stigma
Public URL https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/1076546
Publisher URL https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13684302241309539

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