Imperfect Victims? Civilian Men, Vulnerability, and Policy Preferences

Who is deemed vulnerable and in need of protection has a bearing on important policy decisions, such as refugee acceptance or provision aid. In war, dominant narratives construe women paradigmatic victims, even while civilian men are disproportionately targeted the most lethal forms violence. How gender-essentialist notions reflected public opinion? Do regular citizens have inaccurate perceptions male victimization with what consequences for their preferences? We carried out survey experiments among U.S. U.K. respondents both real hypothetical conflicts, where we emphasized varied gender victims. support our expectations, consistently underestimate men, perceive victims less innocent, hold anti-male biases when it comes to accepting refugees providing However, informing vulnerability civilians assassinations massacres mitigates these effects.