Which Traits and Values do YOU Hold?

At Galvanize USA, we always talk about meeting our audience at their values and understanding the traits that show up as strengths or barriers for the women we connect with. But what are those values and traits?

Let’s start by taking a look at the values people hold so that we can understand them better. Each definition is followed by an example of something you might hear from a person who holds that value strongly. As you read, think about which ones resonate most with you! 

• Achievement: being ambitious with a strong desire to be seen as successful
  “Getting ahead in life is important to me.”
• Authority: following rules, honoring traditions, and respecting leaders
  “Respect for authority is something all children need to learn.”
• Compassion: nurturing and caring about others, even if they are not close to you personally
  “We should protect the weak and vulnerable in the world.”
• Emotionality: having intense feelings and expressing them
  “I experience my emotions intensely.”
• Environmentalism: caring for nature and protecting the environment
  “I strongly believe that people should care for nature.”
• Equality: desiring a level playing field in society, thinking that everyone should get a fair shot
  “I think it’s important that every person be treated equally.”
• Excitement: actively seeking new and thrilling experiences
  “I am always looking for adventures.”
• Hedonism: being motivated by a desire to enjoy life and be happy
  “I like to ‘spoil’ myself.”
• Independence: being autonomous and self-reliant
  “I like to rely on myself.”
• In-group care: protecting the people you are closest to and others who are similar
  “It is my duty to take care of my family.”
• Merit: having a sense that rewards should be tied to how good of a job you do or how hard you work
  “People who produce more should be rewarded more than those who just try hard.”
• Nostalgia: respecting traditions and having positive memories associated with the past
  “I think it’s best to do things in traditional ways.”
• Patriotism: loving and being faithful to your country
  “It is important to me to support our country first.”
• Politeness: being careful to avoid upsetting others
  “I try never to disturb or irritate others.”
• Power: having control, prestige, and being in charge
  “It is important to me to be in charge and tell others what to do.”
• Purity: protecting what is sacred to you
  “People should not do things that are disgusting, even if no one is harmed.”
• Security: prioritizing safety, order, and stability
  “It is very important to me that my country is safe.”

Just for fun: this heavily-simplified quiz won’t tell you ALL of your top values, but it will correctly identify one that is meaningful to you!

Now let’s examine some of the measurable traits that ideologically moderate women hold. It’s very important to understand that these traits are held by everyone to some extent. In other words, it’s not that some folks are compassionate or sexist and some are not. Rather, it’s that each one of us could be plotted on a spectrum according to how strongly these traits show up for us. It’s interesting to see which traits show up, and how they interact with each other!

• Authoritarianism: looking to strong leadership for safety and security, particularly when you feel threatened
• Benevolent sexism: the belief that women should be protected and cherished by men
• Colorblindness: a form of racial resentment that denies the ongoing systemic effects of racism
• Compassion: a sense of our common humanity and empathy for others
• Internalized sexism: taking in messages about the inferiority of women and attributing them to yourself and other women
• Just world view: the belief that the world is a fair place and people generally get what they deserve
• Moral righteousness: finding comfort and balance during uncertain times by holding tightly to your beliefs of right and wrong
• Out-group derogation: viewing those outside of your in-group as threatening
• Civic self-efficacy: confidence in your ability to have an impact or affect change in the civic system
• Racial resentment: the belief that discrimination is no longer a significant issue and that it’s now up to individuals to overcome prejudice or disadvantages they may be experiencing
• Religiosity: the role religion plays in your life and the strength of your beliefs
• Role of government: Trust in and support for the government, including how large a role one believes it should play in our lives
• Self-esteem: a sense of personal worth and value 
• Social significance: how the status and influence of the group you’re a part of impacts your identity 
• Trust: believing that people in general are good and worthy of trust

Now that you understand all of these traits and values, practice spotting where they show up in Galvanize USA messages and programming! 

Thanks again to our expert partners! We created these definitions with support from Grow Progress and Mindbridge.