Patterns of Perceived Hostility and Identity Concealment among Self-Identified Atheists.

This article examines how self-identified atheists in the United States perceive hostility toward their atheist identity and manage stigma through concealment, using 2019 nationally representative survey data with an oversample of atheists. Findings indicate no direct association between perceived hostility and concealment of atheism; however, atheists who are women, Republicans, residents of the South, or raised in religious or agnostic households are more likely to conceal their identity. The study highlights that social and geographic contexts influence stigma management strategies among atheists, suggesting that identity affirmation and supportive atheist communities may buffer stigma effects despite ongoing discrimination. These results contribute to understanding the nuanced and context-specific nature of religious discrimination and stigma management in a shifting American religious and political landscape.