Support for sexual liberalization among ethnic majorities and minorities in Europe: The role of social norms in the public expression of opinions

Abstract

In recent decades, the cultural differences between the ethnic majority and the ethnic minority populations have sparked public and political debates about the consequences of ethnic diversity for the cohesion of Western European societies. However, we currently know little about the extent to which these cultural differences between ethnic groups also translate into behavioral differences. Therefore, in order to improve our understanding of how ethnic diversity affects contemporary Western European societies, the present dissertation examines the extent to which, and under what conditions, ethnic minority and ethnic majority groups publicly express support for conservative and progressive group norms, and whether these public expressions also reflect their personal preferences. To study this, this dissertation focuses on a theme that has come to symbolize the contrast between the progressive national majority culture and the conservative ethnic minority culture in Western Europe: sexual liberalization.