In a groundbreaking study recently published in the open-access journal PLOS One, researchers Marie Isabelle Weißflog and colleagues from Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany, and the University of York, U.K., present novel insights into how social judgments are shaped by the intersection of socioeconomic status and gender across diverse cultural contexts. This comprehensive analysis sheds light on the intricate ways in which high and low status markers differently affect perceptions of men and women, revealing nuanced patterns that challenge traditional understandings of social hierarchy and gender bias.
Socioeconomic status—often measured through indicators such as education, income, and occupational prestige—has long been recognized as a critical determinant of social standing. However, this study innovatively unpacks how these markers interact with gendered expectations, especially in societies characterized by varying degrees of conservatism in gender norms. The team’s survey data, involving 2,714 participants from eight countries spanning multiple continents—including Armenia, Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—provides a global perspective on these phenomena.
Their findings illuminate that while higher socioeconomic status generally engenders more positive social attitudes, the extent of this effect is not gender-neutral. Specifically, women appear to receive a more pronounced positive boost from high income and educational attainment compared to men. This suggests that when women achieve markers of high status, societal perceptions may elevate them more significantly than their male counterparts, potentially as a response to defying traditional gender expectations.
Conversely, the study reveals that men experience a sharper decline in social evaluations when marked by low income and occupational standing relative to women. This asymmetry may be rooted in entrenched cultural narratives that position men as primary breadwinners and providers, causing social judgments to be harsher when men fail to fulfill these roles. Such findings resonate profoundly in countries with conservative gender norms, where strict delineations between masculine and feminine roles are socially enforced.
Exploring these dynamics further, Weißflog and colleagues demonstrate that the cultural context greatly moderates these effects. In societies with more traditional gender roles—characterized by rigid expectations of men and women—gendered disparities in responses to socioeconomic markers are accentuated. Here, the social penalties faced by men with low status or the amplified admiration for high-status women are more pronounced, revealing the double-edged sword of gender normativity.
Intriguingly, the study also finds that in nations with high overall inequality, such as Brazil and India, the power of gender and status in shaping social attitudes diminishes. Sociocultural scientists hypothesize that in highly stratified societies, individuals may attribute low socioeconomic status more to systemic or contextual constraints rather than personal failures, thereby modulating implicit biases. This underlines the importance of considering broader structural factors when evaluating individual perceptions.
To investigate these complex interactions, the researchers utilized a methodological design involving vignettes portraying hypothetical individuals—men and women—varying systematically in educational achievement, income level, and job status. Participants then reported their levels of liking, respect, and willingness to engage socially with these characters. This rigorous approach allowed for an experimental control of status and gender variables and a cross-cultural comparison rarely achieved in such scale.
These insights carry substantial implications for social justice, especially with respect to intersectionality—the concept that overlapping social identities compound and nuance experiences of oppression or privilege. Rather than treating gender and class as isolated axes, this research advocates for approaches that recognize their interdependence. By doing so, policymakers and advocates can better understand the layered mechanisms through which inequalities perpetuate.
The authors emphasize that tackling societal disparities demands a nuanced understanding of how intertwined social identities influence perceptions and interactions. “Our findings show that looking at status/class in isolation is only part of the picture, its impact can differ depending on the social and cultural context, and is intertwined with people’s other social positions like race/ethnicity, gender, and more,” Weißflog notes. This multifaceted lens promises to create more targeted and effective strategies to combat inequality.
Moreover, the study highlights the detrimental effects of conservative gender norms not only on the traditionally marginalized—such as women and gender minorities—but also on men themselves. Men who fall short of the “breadwinner” stereotype suffer harsher social penalties, revealing how rigid expectations can reinforce harmful social dynamics that restrict individuality and perpetuate stress and stigmatization among men.
In countries where gender roles are less rigid, these status-related gender disparities are attenuated, underscoring how cultural transformation toward gender egalitarianism could ameliorate biased social judgments. As societies evolve, challenging normative scripts around gender and status may foster more equitable perceptions and interactions.
This research opens new pathways for social psychology to delve deeper into how class and gender intersect across diverse cultural milieus. Future investigations may incorporate additional identity dimensions such as race or ethnicity, as well as longitudinal methods, to unravel causality and dynamic change. As global inequalities persist and evolve, rigorous scientific evidence like this equips stakeholders with the critical understanding necessary for inclusive policy development.
In sum, Weißflog and her team’s study provides a vital contribution to social science, urging society to account for the complex interplay of gender, status, and culture. Their work eloquently demonstrates that inequalities are neither monolithic nor straightforward, but instead operate through multidimensional, context-sensitive mechanisms that shape social perceptions and ultimately affect lived realities.
Subject of Research: Not applicable
Article Title: Social judgments at the intersection of class and gender across cultures
News Publication Date: 18-February-2026
Web References: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0338029
References: Weißflog MI, Grigoryan L, Hofmann W (2026) Social judgments at the intersection of class and gender across cultures. PLoS One 21(2): e0338029.
Image Credits: johnhain, Pixabay, CC0
Keywords: socioeconomic status, gender norms, social judgments, intersectionality, cultural differences, social psychology, inequality, class, gender roles, status perception
