Study Explores Links Between Gender Ideology and Authoritarian Beliefs

In the wake of contentious pro-trans policies championed by Democratic lawmakers across the U.S. and a series of alarming incidents allegedly orchestrated by individuals identifying as trans, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initiated a study to investigate the relationship between gender ideology and leftist authoritarian beliefs.

The results, released on Wednesday, are striking but probably won’t come as a surprise to those who have followed the discourse closely.

The study claims that greater political liberalism correlates with a higher justification for political violence.

Titled “Where the Clinic Meets the Movement: Does Gender Ideology Arm Left-Wing Authoritarian Psychology?”, this research represents the latest scientific inquiry affirming suspicions many on the right have long harbored. It was led by a team that includes Joel Finkelstein of the Network Contagion Research Institute and Colin Wright, an evolutionary biologist with ties to the Manhattan Institute.

They developed a “Clinical Gender Affirmation Scale,” which gauges agreement with five specific assertions regarding gender ideology. These assertions are rooted in guidance from mainstream organizations recognized as authoritative in transgender care.

Respondents from a primarily Democratic demographic were asked to express their level of agreement with statements such as:

• “Not affirming a transgender person’s gender identity heightens the risk of serious psychological distress for that individual.”
• “Individuals should be supported in expressing their transgender identity.”
• “Utilizing a person’s chosen name during their gender transition is an essential form of support.”

The study utilized a questionnaire disseminated to over 1,200 individuals and sought to uncover any potential correlations between adherence to these consensus beliefs and left-wing authoritarian attitudes.

Colin Wright admitted that the results were unexpected, stating, “All correlations were substantial.” The study found that endorsing the Clinical Gender Affirmation Scale (CGAS) was a strong statistical predictor of leftist authoritarianism.

Moreover, it noted significant links between CGAS support and justifications for political violence directed at various targets, including figures like Donald Trump and institutions like the police.

It concluded that CGAS support was a consistent predictor of justifying political violence, emphasizing that a more liberal political identity also predicted higher justifications for such violence.

Notably, the research raises questions regarding scientific responsibility, especially since organizations like the American Psychological Association have backed the five statements included in the study. The researchers indicated that gender ideology notably contributes to justifying political violence beyond mere political affiliations, suggesting it serves as a lens through which leftist authoritarian tendencies become more pronounced.

This ideology not only identifies targets for those with authoritarian inclinations but also enforces institutional norms that compel behavior, suppress dissent from parents, and maintain discipline within institutions.

Brian Christine, Assistant Secretary for Health, remarked that the findings highlight critical implications about the intersection of ideology and medicine, calling for deeper scientific examination of the identified relationships.

He assured that HHS would pursue further rigorous investigations to provide the public with the necessary evidence.