Replication Data for: Is there a backlash against identity politics? Experimental and focus group evidence on the conflict over gender-neutral language in Germany

Does gender-progressive value change prompt conservative backlash? This study combines survey-experimental and focus group data to examine how salient debates over gender-neutral language in Germany influence political alienation and voting intentions across different groups. Both studies consistently show widespread rejection of gender-neutral language. Despite aggressive public discourse, reactions remain surprisingly nonpolitical. Experimental exposure to a moralizing request to use gender-neutral language in a survey (n=6100) elicits negative reactions but no alienation. The treatment does decrease, however, vote intentions for the gender-progressive Greens, particularly among men. Rejection of gender-neutral language without political blaming also prevails in the twelve group discussions (n=64), regardless of gender or education. Polarizing conversation dynamics are rare. Hence, despite a conducive context of salience and politicization, there are no indications of crystallized backlash against progressive gender values. However, an intensification of negative attitudes over the one-year data-collection period may signal early stages of backlash formation.

倡导性别进步主义价值观的变革是否会引发保守派反弹？本研究结合调查实验（survey-experimental）与焦点小组（focus group）数据，探讨德国国内围绕中性性别语言（gender-neutral language）的显著争议，如何对不同群体的政治疏离感与投票意向产生影响。两项研究均一致显示，中性性别语言遭到了广泛抵制。尽管公共讨论氛围激烈，但民众的反应却意外地未呈现政治化倾向。在样本量为6100的调查实验中，让参与者接受使用中性性别语言的道德规劝式要求，会引发负面反应，但并未造成政治疏离。不过，该实验处理确实降低了受访者对倡导性别进步主义的绿党（Greens）的投票意向，这一效应在男性群体中尤为显著。在12场焦点小组讨论（样本量64）中，即便未涉及政治指责，对中性性别语言的抵制也同样普遍，且不受受访者性别与教育水平的影响。极化的对话互动态势极为罕见。因此，尽管当前存在议题凸显与政治化的有利语境，但并未出现针对性别进步主义价值观的明确反弹迹象。不过，在为期一年的数据收集周期中，民众负面态度的强化或许预示着反弹形成的早期阶段。