Benevolent Sexism Research Articles

Ambivalent Sexism Explored: A Theoretical Examination of Gender Roles in The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

This article explores the portrayal of sexism in Michaelides's novel, The Silent Patient, using a gendered approach and drawing on Glick and Fiske's ambivalent sexism theory. This research aims to analyze the frequency and types of sexist depictions in the novel, particularly focusing on Hostile and Benevolent sexist attitudes. The analysis delves into the underlying dichotomy between Hostile and Benevolent attitudes towards the female characters, Alicia and Kathy. It also explores the contrasting representations of weakness and dependence associated with Alicia and Kathy, juxtaposed with the strength, resilience, and agency embodied by characters like Theo, Gabrielle, and the doctors at the Groove. Additionally, the prevalence of paternalism, gender differentiation, and heterosexuality as components of Hostile and Benevolent sexism is investigated to identify the dominant characteristic. By emphasizing the depiction of Hostile and Benevolent sexist attitudes, this research contributes to the ongoing efforts to challenge and dismantle gender stereotypes.

Should we all be feminists? Development of the Liberal Feminist Attitudes Scale

IntroductionThe current social zeitgeist is characterized different feminist tendencies, some of which are embedded in a neoliberal logic. Although the impact of modern mainstream feminism on the individual and society is a subject of critical scholarly debate, there is a lack of suitable instruments to measure the complexity of modern feminist attitudes.MethodsIn three studies, we developed a scale assessing liberal feminist attitudes and tested its factor structure and validity. In Study 1, we generated an item pool capturing liberal feminist attitudes and presented it to a sample of N = 473 with scales for Ambivalent Sexism (hostile and benevolent), Social Dominance Orientation, System Justification, Neoliberal Beliefs, and the self-labeling as a feminist. In Studies 2 (N = 310) and 3 (N = 214) we aimed at replicating the factor structure of the LFAS from Study 1 and confirmed the construct and criterion validity with measurements of the constructs Self-Identification as a Feminist, Personal Progress, Conformity to Feminine Norms and a concrete behavioral measure that captured the willingness to receive information about feminism in the future.ResultsExploratory factor analysis (Study 1) yielded a 4-factor structure with 17 items-the Liberal Feminist Attitudes Scale (LFAS). In Studies 2 and 3, this 4-factorial model showed excellent model fit, internal consistency and convergent as well as discriminant and criterion validity, at least within a particular demographic (i.e., German students).DiscussionThe LFAS holds the potential to provide psychologists with a tool to examine and analyse liberal feminist attitudes comprehensively.

Ambivalent sexism, mental health and partner violence among opposite-sex and same-sex couples

Ambivalent sexism has been described as influencing relationships in intimacy and partner abuse. Among 456 Spaniards, this study aimed to explore the association between mental health, ambivalent sexism and violence among opposite-sex and same-sex couples. Results showed that participants in abusive relationships presented higher levels of ambivalent and hostile sexism, regardless of partner’s sex. Psychological violence was associated with ambivalent and hostile sexism. Moderate physical violence was linked to hostile sexism. Participants in abusive relationships reported poorer mental health indexes. These findings highlight the need of interventions to focus on dimensions as sexism towards women, even when considering same-sex couples.

Pornography, sexual orientation and ambivalent sexism in young adults in Spain

BackgroundOn line platforms offer access to an almost unlimited variety of pornographic material that shows high levels of sexism. Despite this fact, there are still few studies that assess the effect of pornography on sexism in young adults The aim of this study is to analyze the association of pornography consumption and sexual orientation with benevolent sexism (BS) and hostile sexism (HS) in young men and women.MethodsWe surveyed 2,346 people aged 18–35 years old. Multiple regression models were carried out for BS and HS. The independent variables: current pornography consumption and sexual orientation. Covariates: socio-demographic variables -age, sex, level of education and place of birth-.ResultsA) HS: Men who consumed pornography had higher median values of HS than those who did not [β(95%CI):2.39(0.67;4.10)]. Homosexual/ bisexual men displayed lower values of HS than heterosexual men [β(95%CI):-2.98(-4.52;-1.45)]. The increase in HS levels associated with pornography consumption was notably greater in homosexual and bisexual women relative to heterosexual women, where that pattern was not observed [β(95%CI for interaction): 2.27(0.11; 4.43)]. B) BS: Mean values of BS were observed to be lower for both women [β(95%CI):-2.16(-2.99;-1.32)] and men [β(95%CI):-4.30(-5.75;-2.86)] who consumed pornography compared to those who did not. Homosexual/bisexual men recorded mean values of BS lower than heterosexual men [β(95%CI):-3.10(-4.21;-1.99)].ConclusionsPornography consumption is related to sexism and differs according to sex and sexual orientation. As sexism is the substratum of inequality between men and women, it is urgent to launch affective-sexual education programs for young people that take into account the determinants of sexism.

Mixed-method Study on Gender Disparity in Healthcare Leadership Positions in Southern Ethiopia

Gender disparity in healthcare leadership positions is a multifactorial phenomenon based primarily on how society has been socialised according to gender roles and defined how women and men progress in the workplace, including healthcare. The purpose of this mixed-method study was based on the theory of hostile and benevolent sexism as applied in organisations and explored gender disparity in healthcare leadership positions. Quantitative survey data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 414 healthcare professionals, and qualitative data were collected from 21 healthcare professionals using a semi-structured interview guide containing open questions. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS version 25. A descriptive phenomenology using Colaizzi’s (1978) approach was used for the qualitative strand. The findings show a noticeable increase in women’s promotion to low-level leadership positions. The quantitative results were corroborated by the qualitative findings, which confirmed that healthcare workers faced several challenges in getting promoted and that cultural bias persists. Participants of both genders reported that female promotions are negatively impacted by gender roles, inherent gender bias, and family responsibilities. This study documents changes in the way men view women’s abilities in the workplace. Although there are noticeable improvements in low-level leadership positions, serious issues persist, such as the lack of support for female healthcare workers with young families and limited recognition of women’s abilities to perform at the level of their male counterparts. It is crucial to establish gender-sensitive recovery interventions that facilitate women’s progress in leadership positions. Further research and empowerment programmes are necessary to enhance women’s self-assurance.

What makes a liberal feminist? Identifying predictors of heterosexual women and men's liberal feminist ideology

AbstractIn the wake of the #MeToo movement, liberal feminism has garnered the spotlight on equal rights for women. However, what factors contribute to men and women developing liberal feminist ideologies? This is important to understand as this ideology is predictive of support for political and social policies that are currently under debate in the United States. In this survey study (149 heterosexual men and 233 heterosexual women) we examined attitudinal and ideological variables that underlie liberal feminist ideology. The results of this study indicate that heterosexual men scored significantly lower on liberal feminist ideology and significantly higher on traditional attitudes toward women, hostile and benevolent sexism, gender‐specific justification, rape myths, and conservative political affiliation compared to heterosexual women. Furthermore, traditional attitudes toward women, hostile and benevolent sexism, gender‐specific justification, rape myths, political leanings, and gender accounted for almost 70% of the variance in liberal feminist ideology. Participant gender did not moderate the regression analyses, suggesting that men and women are influenced similarly in determining what attitudes predict liberal feminist ideologies. Implications for support for public policy are addressed.

Individual difference predictors of the Attitudes Towards Asexuality scale

While predictors of attitudes toward lesbians and gay men, as well as bisexuals and trans individuals, have been investigated relatively thoroughly, attitudes toward asexuality are a recently emerging field. The current study investigates predictors of attitudes toward asexuality, operationally defined using the Attitudes Towards Asexuality (ATA) scale created by Hoffarth and colleagues in 2016 . Predictors included authoritarianism, social dominance orientation, intergroup disgust sensitivity, sexism, erotophobia–erotophilia, sociosexuality, motivation to respond without prejudice, singlism, and demographic characteristics of the perceiver. Response to the ATA indicated positivity toward asexuality, with the majority of participants expressing disagreement with the negative statements about asexuality. Many of the individual difference variables correlated moderately with the ATA. Multiple regression analyses indicated that significant predictors of the ATA included right-wing authoritarianism, internal motivation to respond without prejudice, intergroup disgust sensitivity, benevolent sexism, participant sexual orientation, and religiosity. Together, these six predictors accounted for half of the variance in the ATA. The findings of this study suggest that attitudes toward asexuality are similarly predicted by those individual difference variables that predict attitudes toward gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transpersons.

Exploring Biphobia Among Heterosexuals and LGBTQ + Individuals in Spain: Psychometric Properties of the Biphobia Scale in a Spanish Sample

Self-reported questionnaires for assessing biphobia have been developed and validated in English-speaking countries. In Spain, despite considerable rates of biphobia, there is a lack of validated instruments to assess this phenomenon. The aim of this study was to explore the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Biphobia Scale (BS), a useful self-reported measure of biphobia. Four hundred and sixty-six participants from the general population in Spain completed the BS, the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory, the Modern Homophobia Scale, and the Internalized Homonegativity Scale. The factorial structure, internal consistency, and convergent validity were analyzed. The results of the factor analysis support a one-factor solution. Cronbach’s alpha and Omega coefficient were .95 and .96, respectively. Evidence of convergent validity was provided, as shown by the significant and positive correlations between biphobia, sexism, homophobia, and internalized homonegativity. The results support the use of the BS in the Spanish population as a valid and reliable measure.

Gender Role Ideology, Ambivalent Sexism, and Homonegativity as Predictors of Individuals’ Attitudes Toward Stalking and Its Victims

ABSTRACT Stalking is a public health concern that affects both heterosexual and non-heterosexual individuals. Consequences to victims include being blamed for their stalking victimization and having their victimization minimized by others. However, less research has been conducted regarding attitudes toward non-heterosexual stalking victims and the fear individuals feel for stalking victims in general. Therefore, using a scenario-based approach, we examined how participants blamed stalking victims, minimized stalking incidents, and felt subjective fear for heterosexual and non-heterosexual stalking victims in hypothetical scenarios. Participants were recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk for two separate research studies. In Study 1, participants read about heterosexual stalking situations, and in Study 2, participants read about same-gender stalking situations. Participants responded to dependent variable questionnaires that assessed blame, minimization, and subjective fear. Participants also responded to predictor variables questionnaires that assessed gender role ideology, ambivalent sexism, attitudes toward lesbian women, and attitudes toward gay men. MANOVAs and simultaneous multiple regression analyses were conducted to analyze the hypotheses. There were no main effects of participant gender or hypothetical scenarios for either of the two research studies regarding blame, minimization, or subjective fear. However, gender role ideology, ambivalent sexism, and homonegativity were significant predictors of participants’ attitudes toward stalking. Explanation for the current studies’ findings and implications of these findings were discussed.

“A No means No”: rape myth acceptance, victim blaming and hostile sexism as predictors of acceptance towards rape on a date among Pakistani adults

ABSTRACT Past research has shown that date rape continues to remain a major instrument in rape cases. Moreover, hostile sexism and victim blaming are significant predictors of acceptance of rape on dates. The current study assesses whether rape myth acceptance, victim blaming and hostile sexism significantly predict acceptance towards rape on a date among Pakistani adults. A cross-sectional research design was employed in the study with a sample of 330 participants selected through a sensitivity analysis based on G power analysis with 95% confidence intervals. The findings showed that this sample was sufficient to achieve the desired effect sizes. Data analysis was done using Pearson product moment correlation, hierarchical regression, independent sample t test and moderated mediation analysis via AMOS. The results showed that all study variables had acceptable levels of reliability. It was also found that hostile sexism, victim blaming and rape myth acceptance significantly and positively predicted acceptance of rape perpetrated by a male on a date. The findings further showed higher levels of victim blaming moderated the mediating effect of hostile sexism on the association between rape myth acceptance and acceptance of rape perpetrated by a male on a date. It is thus concluded that hostile sexism, victim blaming and rape myth acceptance significantly predict acceptance of rape on a date. It was also found that males have a higher tendency towards hostile sexism, victim blaming and rape myth acceptance and thus may be more likely to view the perpetrators of rape as being more credible in comparison to the victims.

Is Adolescents’ Cyber Dating Violence Perpetration Related to Problematic Pornography Use? The Moderating Role of Hostile Sexism

ABSTRACT Intimate partner violence is an important public health problem. Cyber dating violence (CDV) is a form of intimate partner violence perpetrated within a dating relationship via new communication technologies. This study investigated the moderating roles of hostile and benevolent sexism in the relationship between problematic pornography use and CDV perpetration. The Cyber Pornography Use Inventory, the Cyber Dating Violence Inventory, and the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory were completed by 421 Italian adolescents (M = 16.53; females = 63.7%). Results indicated that problematic pornography use was positively related to CDV perpetration. In addition, the relationship between problematic pornography use and CDV perpetration was found to be moderated by hostile sexism. In participants with low levels of hostile sexism, the relationship between problematic pornography use and CDV perpetration was not significant. Conversely, in those with high levels of hostile sexism, this relationship was stronger and significant. Benevolent sexism was not found to be a moderator in the relationship between problematic pornography use and CDV perpetration. Thus, hostile sexism could be a risk factor for the relationship between adolescents’ problematic pornography use and their engagement in CDV. Conversely, low levels of hostile sexism could be a protective factor.

The Causes, Manifestations, and Effects of Benevolent Sexism and How It Contributes to the Perpetuation of Gender Discrimination

Benevolent sexism is a subtle form of gender discrimination that manifests itself in seemingly friendly attitudes and behaviors towards women. This research synthesizes existing literature, incorporating research and analysis from multiple subjects including psychology, sociology, and gender studies to explore various forms of benevolent sexism, dissect the underlying ideologies that support its existence, and investigate its impact on women in society. In addition, this paper includes case studies of real-life situations to illustrate the practical implications of benevolent sexism. According to analysis, it can be concluded that benevolent sexism manifests itself in various ways, such as an expression of kindness and appreciation, traditional gender roles and stereotypes, denial of womens capabilities due to deep-rooted prejudices, and paternalistic and chivalrous behavior. From the perspectives of historical foundation, a lack of awareness, and social environment, benevolent sexism exists and contributes to the perpetuation of gender discrimination by reinforcing the stereotype about women, hindering women's advancement in professional and academic fields, gradually normalizing gender inequality within societies and communities, and lacking recognition of women's achievements, contributions, and abilities.

Beyond Glass Ceilings: Examining The Role of Racial Resentment, FIRE, and Hostile Sexism in Whites Evaluations of Vice President Kamala Harris

Beyond Glass Ceilings: Examining The Role of Racial Resentment, FIRE, and Hostile Sexism in Whites Evaluations of Vice President Kamala Harris

Men's Decline and Rising Support for Hostile Sexism

Men's Decline and Rising Support for Hostile Sexism

영화 <야구 소녀>가 야구하는 여성을 재현하는 방식과 그 의미

This study examined the reality of women playing baseball in Korea by analyzing the way the movie <Baseball Girl> represents female players and sought to find out the meaning of <Baseball Girl>. The representation of women playing baseball in the movie <Baseball Girl> is organized into the following three categories. First, conflict: hostile sexism or benevolent sexism. In the movie <Baseball Girl>, there is no competitor competing with the main character Su-in. However, the situation of not being able to become a professional baseball player and the prejudice and discrimination of those around him act as conflict factors. Several male characters in the film reaffirm the traditionally defined view of baseball as a male-only sport that women should not invade, and engage in discrimination, including prejudice. The same goes for schools that promote the school by allowing students to enroll, but are indifferent to the subsequent situation. The act of a professional team offering an employee position to a prisoner who applied to be a player is a benign sexist attitude. Second, growth: from a fastball to a breaking ball In the movie, a fastball represents a ‘man’ in that it comes from a good physique and strength. The point where Soo-in, who previously tried to win with a fastball, chooses a change-up ball called a knuckleball, is also the point where he changes his method and grows while trying to respond in the same male way in a male- dominated field. The position of the helper in the prisoner's response and growth process is different from previous sports movies. There are no rivals who are depicted as relatively evil people, and there is no leader whom the protagonist absolutely relies on. Suin's growth is depicted through solidarity with those around her. Third, new beginnings: as a professional second team player. Suin achieves satisfactory results in the tryout while passively but clearly showing solidarity between women and receiving applause from the male players who had ridiculed her. The ending of Suin joining the second-tier league seems like a happy ending, but it is also unsettling. However, Suin’s small achievement is expected to bring about a new beginning for ‘Korean women’s baseball.’ Next, the meaning of <Baseball Girl>, a movie that differentiates itself from existing domestic sports movies, is organized into the following three points. First, a woman is the main character. Second, it is free from nationalism and statist ideology. Third, there are no fixed characters that fit the patriarchal system. In this way, the movie <Baseball Girl> is special in that it shows how to overcome the distorted conservative gender consciousness that sports movies have been producing.

모의 배심원의 성별, 피해자의 저항 여부와 지적장애 유무가 성폭력 처벌 판단에 미치는 영향

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of mock juror's gender, the resistance and intellectual disability of victim on punishment judgments in a sexual assault case, this study is designed with between subjects 2(resistance: do vs do not) X 2(intellectual disability: present vs absent). Participants, aged 20 to 59 eligible for jury duty nationwide, were presented with manipulated trial scenarios and narratives regarding the resistance and intellectual disability of victim. Subsequently, they were asked to provide judgments on guilty/not guilty, probability of guilt, sentencing, as well as to provide Korean Hostile Sexism ratings. Although there was no interaction effect between the victim resistance and intellectual disability of victim on the probability of guilt and sentencing, the probability of guilt was higher when resistance was present and when there was an intellectual disability. Additionally, sentencing was higher when there was an intellectual disability. The study findings indicated that female were more likely than male to render guilty verdicts. Further analysis revealed a sequential mediating effect between gender and sentencing judgments, mediated by hostile sexism ratings and judgment of consent to sexual intercourse. In other words, men had a higher level of hostile sexism ratings than women, and the higher hostile sexism ratings, the higher the degree of sexual consent. The higher the degree of sexual consent, the lower the punitive judgment.

Relationship between Sexist Attitudes and Sexual Harassment: Investigating the Mediating Role of Authoritarianism

This research aimed to investigate the inter-relational dynamics between ambivalent sexism, authoritarianism, and attitudes towards sexual harassment in young adult men. It was hypothesized that a) there would be correlations between the study variables, b) both ambivalent sexism and authoritarianism would predict sexual harassment attitudes and c) authoritarianism would mediate between ambivalent sexism and sexual harassment attitudes. Following APA-mandated research ethics, a sample of 239 young adult men (Mage= 24.34, SDage=2.97) was conveniently recruited and assessed through the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory, the Aggression-Submission-Conventionalism Scale, and the Sexual Harassment Attitude Scale. Findings indicated that while sexual harassment attitudes were found to be negatively related to ambivalent sexism, they had a positive relationship with authoritarianism. Further, authoritarianism appeared to predict sexual harassment attitudes and also emerged as a partial mediator between ambivalent sexism and sexual harassment attitudes. The findings of this research offer considerable implications for academicians, researchers, gender experts and policymakers as it provides them with the latest empirical and apt results.

Exploring Hostile Sexism and Social Phobia in Ideological and Political Education: Detrimental Effects on Self-Esteem and Performance Anxiety

This study has been conducted to assess the impact of hostile sexism on performance anxiety with the double mediation on self-esteem and social phobia. Because of its adverse effects on society, the social phobia has been found to play a crucial role in decreasing the motivation of women who experience hostile sexism. Apart from the workplaces, the educational sectors are significantly affected by hostile sexism in developing countries. To conduct this study quantitative survey-based approach has been used. The targeted population for this study is graduate students from Belgium universities. Three hundred fifty questionnaires were gained and later used for the data analysis. The results reported that the direct impact of hostile sexism on performance anxiety is significant. The mediation of social phobia and self-esteem is also effective as it is found after the analysis that the model is fit and accurate. The results of SEM indicated these variables significantly exerted influence on each other. This study contributes theoretically to the growing body of literature regarding the causes of performance anxiety causes and its effects or how performance anxiety can be affected. Many educational institutions are taking crucial steps to decrease hostile sexism by giving equivalent chances to both male and female students in educational settings. There are some shortcomings as in every research that the alternative or some other method can be used to assess future results fluctuations.

Racialized Sexism: Nonverbal Displays of Power in Workplace Settings are Evaluated as More Masculine When Displayed by White (vs. Black) Women With Implications for the Expression of Ambivalent Sexism.

We hypothesized that White (vs. Black) women in high- (vs. low-) power poses would be evaluated as particularly masculine and unfeminine due to greater perceived violations of gendered racial stereotypes. As predicted, White (vs. Black) women in high- (but not low-) power poses were evaluated as more masculine and less feminine (Studies 1-3). Moreover, greater perceived masculinity of White (vs. Black) women in high-power poses predicted more hostile sexism; and, lesser perceived femininity of White (vs. Black) women predicted less benevolent sexism. Finally, these associations between masculinity/hostile sexism and femininity/benevolent sexism serially mediated reduced hiring desirability of White (vs. Black) women (Study 2). Study 3 replicated these serial indirect effects and found that these effects emerged regardless of job status and even when controlling for socially desirable responding. We conclude that gendered racism leads sexism to be expressed toward White and Black women embodying power in distinct ways.

The unruly arts of ethnographic refusal: power, politics, performativity

Refusal remains a core concern in processes of research across the sciences. Drawing on previous anthropological theorisations, this paper contemplates on the manifold ‘arts’ of refusal during ethnographic research praxis, drawing on diverse thematic experiences and contexts across coastal India, Malaysia, and Uganda. We argue for a concerted engagement with refusal as more than an act of withholding co-operation and as an expression of resistance. While recognizing refusal as a locally situated and historically contingent sensibility, we ask in what other ways might the more generative qualities of refusal be explored, paying particular attention to the performative nature of refusal itself that may entrench as much as reverse power differentials in the ‘field’. Drawing on decolonial and post-development epistemologies and diverse experiences as scholars situated and working across different geographies and disciplines, we explore the many entanglements, articulations, and enactments that remain ubiquitous in everyday ethnographic research praxis through several thematic angles. These include the negotiation of uneven (and often violent) forms of research collaboration and co-optation, the enactment of benevolent sexism as an ‘ethics of care’, and embodied practices such as silence(-ing), together with play and humour in participants’ critiques of scientific truth-telling. While illustrating subtler manifestations of refusal across ethnographic research-based encounters, we also contemplate pedagogical practices of un/learning (to ‘read’) and to teach the arts of identifying and productively working with the many appearances of refusal – both manifest and less visible.