Have men more right-wing orientations than women and why? Individualistic value orientations and right-wing extremism

Different studies in right-wing extremism have found gender differences in attitudes and especially in overt behavior. These descriptive results need a theoretical explanation. In recent research one misses a theoretical answ er to the phenomenon. Referring to Heitmeyer in this article the authors tr y to use the theoretical concept of individualization to develop the theore tical discussion aa gender differences. We argue that gender differences in right-wing extremism could be rooted in value orientations that are suppor ted in an individualized society. Such values show strong affinities to mal e gender stereotypes. In the second part of the article these hypotheses ar e empirically tested. It can be shown that individualistic value orientatio ns are connected to right-wing extremism and xenophobia and that they are u seful to explain gender differences.