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Sexism measured as attitudes toward women's rights fails to predict stereotypes

Properties1
tagsja-picks, factual_claims, singleton, xref, category/factual-claims

2 min read

Sexism measured as attitudes toward women’s rights fails to predict stereotypes

Evidence

The Attitudes Toward Women Scale (Spence & Helmreich, 1972b) measures blatantly sexist attitudes regarding women’s status in society (e.g., “Women should be concerned with their duties of childbearing and house tending, rather than with desires for professional and business careers”). Consistent with the argument that it reïŹ‚ects antipathy toward women, higher scores are associated with greater male aggression toward women (Scott & Tetreault, 1987) and more favorable perceptions of those who aggress toward women (e.g., rapists; Weidner & GrifïŹtt, 1983; and domestic abusers; Hillier & Foddy, 1993). However, the measure is limited in the scope of its predictive utility (see Spence, 1999, for a review). For example, it does not predict gender identity, women’s career choices, or gender stereotypes, perhaps because it measures attitudes toward women’s rights, not attitudes toward women. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of
, 749 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

To complement the theoretical analyses of Eagly and Diekman and of Jackman, this chapter considered evidence for two benevolent barriers to gender equity. Each has implications for women’s progress and, in each case, their presence was revealed when implicit (but not explicit) beliefs and attitudes were assessed. First, perceivers who possess automatic female benevolent stereotypes may devalue masterful women (the backlash effect). Second, women who implicitly rely on men for power and prestige may hinder their own aspirations, perhaps due to a belief that “someday their prince will come” (the glass-slipper effect). In concert, these barriers help to explain why women continue to be largely employed in low-status occupations at the turn of a new millennium. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of
, 774 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

  • XREF: connects to: The Attitudes Toward Women Scale measures rights attitudes, not attitudes toward women.; Blatant sexism scales fail to predict key gender outcomes — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of
, 749; Modern sexism scales measure opposition to equality policies, not feelings about women — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of
, 751 (+5 more)

Broader Connections

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