Alvarez 1

Leslie Alvarez
Dr. Charity Nelson
ENGL 1302 101
04 November 2022
Sexism is not beneficial for women
The social issue of sexism is a common theme that affects women continuously throughout their

lives, creating some difficulties in the romantic relationships of women and their workplace.

Some researchers stablished; the sexism is divided in two patterns. First, we have hostile sexism,

which is the complete rejection and contempt towards women, this behavior is already seen as

something negative and is commonly rejected when it is spoken of. In the other hand, there is

benevolent sexism, this behavior tends to be accepted, and seen as the “good one” because this

behavior “glorifies” and " protects" women. Several researchers try to justify how benevolent

sexism is beneficial for women. Researchers such as (Mention the authors and their works),

show how this type of sexism tends to give women a more comfortable situation at work and in

romantic relationships. Women continuously experience benevolent sexism in her work area as

well as in her romantic relationships, many admit that accepting benevolent sexism makes things

easier and is fairer for everyone. However, although this sexism claims to be beneficial to

women, the only thing it does is subject women to a state of conformity and submission to men.

Sexism is a topic that has created controversy lately due to the newer generations. While many

deny the practice of sexism with women, it is because the majority tends to think that they speak

of hostile sexism, when it is the benevolent one that has taken power in recent times. In addition

to the fact that, although hostile sexism has high negative consequences for women, benevolent

sexism also causes repercussions on them.

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First, when talking about the workplace of women and how this affects sexism, a clear example

is when women tend to be weak and the need of help of men. Men see this as a “help” for

women in the workplace. But the reality is that they only are using the benevolent sexism to

denigrate women. Most women refers that they hate this, because is make them seem as dumb

and incompetent, creating disbalance in the workplace.

In the other hand, most researchers debate how benevolent sexism is beneficial for women. They

state that women seek the protection of men in a relationship, creating a balance in the

relationship, and make both, men and women, happier in a romantic relationship. However, this

only creates a state of convenience for men, and conformism for women.

As a result of benevolent sexism, women often feel incompetent and in need of a man's care.

Whether in the workplace or in romantic relationships, these tend to cause certain submissive

behaviors in women.
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Works Cited

Hammond, M.D., Cimpian, A. “Wonderful but Weak”: Children’s Ambivalent Attitudes Toward

Women.”, Sex Roles, vol. 84, no. 1/2, 2020, Academic Search Ultimate,

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-020-01150-0

Glick, Peter, et.al. “Beyond Prejudice as Simple Antipathy: Hostile and Benevolent Sexism

Across Cultures.,” Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, vol. 79, no.5, 2000, pp.

763-775. Academic Search Ultimate, Doi:10.1037//0022-3514.79.5.763.

Lemus, Soledad, et.al. “When Contact Correlates with Prejudice: Adolescents’ Romantic

Relationship Experience Predicts Greater Benevolent Sexism in Boys and Hostile Sexism

in Girls.,” Sex Roles, vol. 63, no.3-4, 2010, pp. 214-225. Academic Search Ultimate,

Doi:10.1007/s11199-010-9786-2

Goldman, Aura, and Gervis, Misia. “Women Are Cancer, You Shouldn’t Be Working in Sport:

Sport Psychologists’ Lived Experiences of Sexism in Sport.,” Sport Psychologist, vol. 35,

no. 2, 2021, pp. 85-96. Academic Research Ultimate, Doi:10.1123/tsp.2020-0029.

Pacilli, Maria Giuseppina, et.al. “System justification moderates the relation between hostile (but

not benevolent) sexism in the workplace and state anxiety: An experimental study.,”

Journal of Social Psychology, vol. 159, no. 4, 2019, pp. 474-481. Academic Research

Ultimate, Doi:0.1080/00224545.2018.1503993.