Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3420-0011

Date Available

5-1-2025

Year of Publication

2025

Document Type

Doctoral Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College

Arts and Sciences

Department/School/Program

Political Science

Faculty

Stephen D. Voss

Faculty

Michael Zilis

Abstract

Existing theories, such as Social Identity Theory, Social Dominance Theory, and the Black Sheep Effect, explain how group biases shape social attitudes but overlook the role of social contexts, such as relational dynamics, hierarchical stability, and norm violations, in influencing attitudes toward violence against women (VAW). This research addresses that gap by advancing the Selective Solidarity Theory (SST), which integrates group identity processes with contextual factors to explain selective support for perpetrators or victims based on identity and circumstance.

Using an original national survey experiment in Bangladesh, the study examines how gender, religious affiliation, and political partisanship affect public attitudes toward perpetrator punishment and victim-blaming. Findings show that individuals selectively extend solidarity: support for perpetrators or victims shifts based on group membership, perceived hierarchical stability, and whether social norms are violated. This research demonstrates that attitudes toward VAW are not uniformly shaped by group identity but are contingent on broader relational and societal contexts. By highlighting the mechanisms of selective solidarity, this study offers a more nuanced understanding of intergroup bias, contributing to theoretical debates on identity, power, and justice, particularly in hybrid regimes marked by political polarization and entrenched social hierarchies.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2025.104

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