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Leslie Alvarez
Dr. Charity Nelson
ENGL 1302 101
11 November 2022
Benevolent Sexism is not Beneficial for Women
The social issue of sexism is a common trait that affects women continuously throughout

their lives, creating some difficulties when they want to stablish a romantic relationship, when

they try to find a job, and even in the workplace. Some researchers stablished that sexism is

ambivalent, which make sexism divided between hostile and benevolent attitudes. In one hand

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 because is seen as

“bad.” 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 (Ruiz, 560).

However, some researchers such as Ivona Hideg and D. L. Ferris, show in their work how even

benevolent sexism tends to give women an uncomfortable environment at work, creating an area

of stress and anxiety for them (708). In addition, Matthew D. Hammond and Andrei Cimpianand

suggest that even if benevolent sexisms show a balance in heterosexual romantic/sexual

relationships, the reality is that benevolent sexism only creates inequality in this bond (216).

Women continuously experience benevolent sexism in their work area as well as in their

romantic relationships, and some men and women suggest that accepting benevolent sexism

makes things easier for everyone. However, although this benevolent sexism claims to be

beneficial to women, the only thing it does is subject women to a state of conformity and

submission to men.
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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 most people tend to think that when

sexism is present, they expect the common hostile attitude towards women, however benevolent

sexism is the new attitude that has taken power in recent times, mostly because the idea that

benevolent sexism provides the protection and adoration that women need. In addition to the fact

that, although hostile sexism has high negative consequences for women and is continuously

rejected by society, researchers try to demonstrate how benevolent sexism also causes

repercussions on women in a negative way.

Firstly, when talking about the benevolent sexism in the workplace, there is the situation

when men commonly help women. This is thanks to the idea that women are always in need of

help and protection, creating a state of inferiority and an area where they feel as incapable of

doing their own work (Goldman and Gervis 91). Even if men see this as a “help” for women in

the workplace, this only support the ideology of benevolent sexism. In addition, some

researchers suggest that the help a woman receives is not always negative, since it can benefit

both the helper and the recipient, however the reality is completely different. Although it can be

considered an act of generosity, this creates a difference in power between the one who helps

(men) and the one who receives the help (women) (Ruiz, 529-530). Furthermore, certain

attitudes commonly tend to cause women to suffer discrimination in their own work. Women are

expected to have warm attitudes, such as being friendly and sensitive, while men are expected to

have attitudes related to competence, be it leadership or ambition. This causes that woman which

does not comply with these attitudes, tends to suffer certain discriminatory treatment in their

work (Delacollette, et al. 297-298). This is all supported in the aspect of the need of help, as A.G

Ruiz mentions in their research, there are two types of help: the autonomy-oriented and the
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dependency-oriented. The autonomy-oriented is providing help as tools and knowledge to solve

the problem by their own, while the dependency-oriented is providing the full solution. Now,

benevolent sexism makes people with this ideology, whether it is a man providing help, or a

woman asking for it, to execute the dependency-oriented help. Which leads to men to do all the

work for women in an idea that they are being gentlemanly, supportive, or good towards women.

While women who accept this kind of help, are seen as a better position for a lower status

compared to men (531). Something unfair is that, as man provide the help, he is doing an act of

help to their co-worker, while if the woman is accepting this help, the women is being

incompetent in their work for no trying to solving by herself. Therefore, benevolent sexism

makes men believe that women need help continuously, and with helping them, they will create a

pleasant workplace area for everyone. However, this only causes many women to be in a state of

constant stress and anxiety, due their abilities are continually put to the test, in addition to

creating a feeling of incompetence in women by not being able to perform their work (Pacilli,

et.al 476). So, the benevolent sexism does not provide a better environment for women in their

workplace.

Secondly, some researchers suggest that romantic/sexual relationships with the ideology

of benevolent sexism creates a relationship where both sexes are benefited since satisfies the

necessities of men and women and create a balance in the relationship (Waddell and Osborne,

347). However, as is mentioned by Lemus et.al “benevolent sexism only creates a relationship of

conformity, where both sexes satisfy their romantic and sexual interests, but fails to provide a

relationship where equality exists” (222). Benevolent sexism does not provide a relationship

where fairness, equality, or teamwork so this can be a balanced relationship as Waddell and

Osborne mentioned. The benevolent sexism falls on the fact of complying with the role genres
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established by society, where the man will always be the one who provides and protects, while

the woman is only left to receive this treatment. Not only with that, but the belief of benevolent

sexism tends to create women who are able to give up their own ambitions to have a

romantic/sexual relationship with a man. Even is explicit stablished that this benevolent sexism

focuses on "rewarding" women with affection and protection for "stay in her place" (Exposito,

et.al 36) As mentioned before, a warm demeanor (as expected of a woman) tends to cause a

feeling of advantage for those associated with this demeanor. In other words, these attitudes are

commonly sought after by those who seek to dominate. Besides, "the traditional relations of men

and women correspond to the dominant-subordinate schema", putting the woman clearly at a

disadvantage thanks to this schema. Further developing dominant-subordinate scheme, “the man

in a state of dependency towards the woman commonly causes the man to want to keep the

woman in a subordinate role to favor the relationship either romantically, in the form of

reproduction, and in the taking care of children” (Delacollette, et al. 298). Additionally, it is

implanted in teenage girls that if they want to attract a man, they must not confront him or be too

assertive, since men hate women who are too "strong", "smart", or "powerful", since the type of

girl that boys despise includes those who call themselves "feminists". So, to attract male

attention, these girls prefer to opt for a benevolent sexism in the hope of getting a boy who

satisfies their desires since "feminism will decrease their romantic attractiveness to men"

(Lemus, et.al., 216-217). This, the benevolent sexism in romantic/sexual relationships only

demonstrate the dominance of man over women disguised as protectiveness.

In conclusion, sexism is a common toxic issue, and hostile sexism is already refused by

most of the society, however benevolent sexism which is the trait that is seen as the good one,

needs to be seen as the disguised way of men to dominate women. Benevolent sexism, whether
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in a romantic/sexual relationship or in the workplace, expect a degree of submission from

women. Mainly because in the work area women are expected to fulfill a subordinate role, or in a

lesser status than men. Even when help is given to women, it is preferable to give dependent help

so that women remain in a state of "being less" compared to men. As for romantic relationships,

which prove to bring a greater degree of happiness to both sexes, it lacks a relationship where

equality can exist, since benevolent sexism makes the partners to believe that certain attitudes are

necessary for the success of a relationship, whether the man provides security to the woman, and

the woman has quality attitudes to please the man romantically and sexually. However, this is

just another act of male empowerment and female submission. Even women abandon their ideas,

dreams, and aspirations, for fear of not being found attractive and as possible partners for men.

Therefore, it is established that benevolent sexism does not really benefit women as many have

wanted to believe. Since for the woman to be full, it is necessary that she also have the same

opportunities as the man. To achieve an egalitarian environment for men and women, where

sexism, whether hostile or benevolent, does not take place, it is necessary that there be a change

of education to have a change of mentality, in order to know identify benevolent sexism and not

let it interfere with women's daily lives. However, there is still more research that can be

conducted relative to sexism and its variants, therefore, further research should be realized

considering the contents of this paper.

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Works Cited

Delacollette, N., et al. “Benevolent Sexism, Men’s Advantages and the Prescription of Warmth

to Women.” Sex Roles, vol.68, no. 1, 2013, pp.296–310. Academic Research Ultimate,

Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-012-0232-5

Exposito, F., et.al. “Don’t Rock the Boat: Women’s Benevolent Sexism Predicts Fears of Marital

Violence.” Psychology of Women Quarterly, vol. 34, no. 1, 2013, pp. 36–42. Academic

Research Ultimate, Doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6402.2009.01539.x

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.

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

Hideg, Ivona, and Ferris, D. L. “The Compassionate Sexist? How Benevolent Sexism Promotes

and Undermines Gender Equality in the Workplace.” Journal of Personality and Social

Psychology, vol. 111, no. 5, 2016, pp.706–727. Academic Research Ultimate,

https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000072
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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

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.,”

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Ruiz, A.G. “White Knighting: How Help Reinforces Gender Differences between Men and

Women.” Sex Roles, vol.81, 2019, pp. 529–547. Academic Research Ultimate, Doi:

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-019-01018-y

Waddell, N., Sibley, C.G., Osborne, D. “Better off Alone? Ambivalent Sexism Moderates the

Association Between Relationship Status and Life Satisfaction Among Heterosexual

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-018-0935-3