On sex and stigma

• Department of Political and Social Sciences

Stuart J. Turnbull-Dugarte (University of Southampton) will hold a talk in the framework of the Swiss Chair Seminar Series.

Abstract:

Are far-right supporters stigmatised by a social norm against the far-right on the dating market? This paper investigates this question leveraging a unique visual conjoint experiment conducted in Britain and Spain. Theoretically, we argue that the far-right is accommodated within the dating market as a result of the affective spillovers among those on the centre-right. Empirically, we test this by examining the behaviour of centre-right partisans and assessing whether they follow a polity-based norm which places a premium on ostracizing stigmatized parties, or a bloc-logic norm which incentivises the rejection of out-bloc partisans. The results demonstrate that centre- right partisans actively accommodate the far-right and are expected to do so by fellow in-group partisans. An accommodating bloc-logic in dating preferences among the mainstream right has large normative implications as it suggests that affective polarization and out-bloc rejection contributes to facilitating the social normalization of those often at odds with liberal democracy.

The Zoom link will be sent upon registration. If you wish to receive the paper, please send an email to pia.dittmar@eui.eu.