ABSTRACT
The authors in this chapter argue that the level of oppression towards marginalized groups (specifically women and the LGBTQI+ community) is still alarmingly high in many countries worldwide. This fact is often fuelled by the dominant political rhetoric of the authorities, in which an emphasis on preserving the so-called “traditional” values prevails. Therefore, this chapter explores the role of national identity in shaping prejudice towards different disadvantaged groups. The authors discuss the links between narcissistic (vs. secure) national identity, hostile sexism, and homonegativity. They analyse this issue in a wider socio-political context, though taking a closer look at the case of Poland, where recent actions against the rights of women and the LGBTQI+ community exemplify this phenomenon. They argue that regular exposure to threat-inducing content in the public sphere may result in adopting a narcissistic, defensive group identity, leading to negative social outcomes. This seems especially pertinent in politically unstable societies, which already experience higher polarization. They conclude that fostering a secure in-group identity may attenuate internal animosities and be beneficial for the entire society.
