Although there is broad agreement on the need for policies to reduce gender inequality in the labor market, gender quotas remain controversial. This study investigates whether providing information about how quotas function influences attitudes and support for them. While prior research shows that information can shift opinions, less is known about how different informational frames interact with preexisting beliefs about the causes of inequality. Using a survey experiment among Italian workers and managers (N=2404), we compare two informational treatments: one emphasizing quotas’ role in addressing demand-side factors such as discrimination, and another focusing on supply-side factors such as women’s underconfidence. We examine how these frames interact with respondents’ prior beliefs about the sources of gender inequality, including stereotypes, traditional norms, perceived ability differences, and work-life balance constraints. Results reveal a say-do gap between stated support for quotas and behavioral support, measured by willingness to donate to an NGO promoting quotas. While neither treatment increases the likelihood of donating, exposure to the supply-side frame raises the donation amount, especially among respondents with less defined beliefs about the origins of inequality. These findings highlight the importance of targeted information in shaping not only attitudes but also the strength of behavioral support for gender-equality policies.
Can reactionary leaders transform latent social divisions into political cleavages by mobilizing moral panics? I study the case of Phyllis Schlafly’s STOP-ERA campaign (1972–1982), which played a central role in organizing opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment in the United States. Using a newly constructed dataset on Schlafly’s appearances across U.S. counties, I exploit variation in campaign exposure to examine its impact on voting behavior and public opinion. Findings show that local exposure to the campaign increased Republican vote share, and shifted beliefs toward more anti-feminists sentiments. Analysis of the mechanism suggest that moral panics can contribute to the transformation of political cleavages by aligning cultural conservatism with partisan identity.
Misperceptions of social norms can sustain tolerance for coercive and controlling behaviours in intimate relationships. Using a preregistered online experiment with 3,900 young adults from Italy, Sweden and Romania, the study tests whether providing accurate information about peers’ attitudes shifts beliefs and policy preferences related to violence against women. Participants systematically overestimated peer acceptance of controlling behaviours. Corrective feedback reduced support for coercive options, particularly among men and those with larger initial biases. Effects on policy preferences were asymmetric—strengthening support for punitive measures while reducing perceived need for preventive or support-based interventions. Behavioural effects are limited but consistent with a shift toward greater willingness to support anti-violence initiatives.