Electric cars are often seen as the future of transportation, but a new study reveals that men who think they’re “more macho” may not see it the same way, with the odd belief that electric vehicles will hurt their image.
dr. Michael Parent, researcher at University of Texas at Austin (UT)argues that men who prioritize behaving “like a real man” are more likely to disapprove of electric cars.
Instead they prefer high-performance petrol vehicles as a label masculinityhe says, creating alarming and unexpected uncertainty for climate change efforts.
“It wouldn’t be one of the main causes of climate change, but it’s another preventable thing that adds to the climate-related problems,” Parent said.
The expert indicated that while the problem could be solved through advertising, it would probably be better if education addressed healthy gender role norms to reduce fragile masculinity in general.
“It is related to a broad setnegative behaviors including sexism, homophobiaaggression and others,” he added.
As part of his research, Dr. Parent examined the concept of “male contingency” among 400 men living in the United States.
Masculinity refers to the degree to which a person bases his self-esteem on cultural standards of masculinity, including toughness, status, and anti-femininity.
Psychologist Louise Goddard-Crawley says the results even have roots in human evolution and long-held ideas about dominance.
“Traditional vehicles, with their loud engines and powerful performance, could symbolize these traits, making them more attractive to some people who value traditional masculinity,” he says.
Goddard-Crawley adds that the attitude of these people would be based on the fact that electric cars, by being quieter and perhaps perceived as less powerful, deviate from these evolutionary ideals, leading to resistance among those who strongly identify with traditional gender norms.
Despite his findings, Dr. Parent acknowledges that his study is limited and requires more data to establish a direct relationship.
Source: Panama America
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
