Assertive women face backlash that identical men do not

Evidence

From this perspective, to undermine gender hegemony, women need only present themselves as independent, competitive, and forceful creatures (i.e., “act like men”). Although this solution sounds simple, it has turned out to be untenable for women because agency is not only more expected of men, it is more accepted in men. For example, women who selfpromote, argue assertively, or defend themselves aggressively are viewed less favorably than identical male counterparts (see Rudman, 1998; Rudman & Fairchild, 2004, for reviews). Likewise, agentic women (but not men) are discriminated against when vying for leadership positions, even though agency is necessary for being viewed as competent and qualified (Rudman & Glick, 1999). — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 756 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Research on gender attitudes and discrimination has also challenged Allportian assumptions. It has increasingly been shown that while women experience persistent occupational and income discrimination, women in general are liked as much as or more than men (Eagly & Diekman, ch. 2 this volume; Jackman, 1994; Rudman, ch. 7 this volume). In a more generic vein, experiments by Ridgeway (2001) found that, while the resource-rich are more likely to be seen as competent and agentic, the resource-poor are more likely to been seen positively as likeable, considerate, and cooperative (see also Fiske, ch. 3 this volume). Glick and Fiske’s (2001) research on “ambivalent sexism” has shown that attitudes toward women bifurcate into “benevolent” and “hostile” types of sexism, depending on whether the female target follows the traditional, deferential (communal) model or the career-oriented, feminist (agentic) model. Hostility is thus reserved only for those women who defy traditional, discriminatory injunctions (Rudman, ch. 7 this volume). — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 661 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Men want women to exist but refuse to be women themselves — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 319; Evaluating identical work shows no overall devaluation of women.; Agentic women face backlash penalties that identical male counterparts do not — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 756 (+7 more)

Broader Connections

• Agentic women face backlash penalties that identical male counterparts do not #corroborates (1.00) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 756
• Female targets of discrimination are nonetheless liked more than men #complicates (0.75) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 661