Gender stereotypes as predictors of hostile and benevolent sexism in heterosexual men and woman

Abstract

Gender stereotypes assign traits to men and women generating social segregation and are related to sexist attitudes that undervalue women through overt hostility or apparent benevolence. The objectives of this study were to identify gender stereotypes and manifestations of Hostile and Benevolent Sexism in heterosexual men and women, and to determine whether stereotypical beliefs together with demographic characteristics predict the type of sexism. Using a cross-sectional predictive design, 475 people (62.3% women, 33.7% men) were evaluated, completing the analysis with the general sample and with men and women separately, to calculate linear regression models in each subsample. Two stereotypical forms were identified, a) Traits and characteristics of male superiority, and b) Male dominance; both predict Benevolent Sexism, but the stereotypes of male superiority present a higher level of explanation of the variable (R²=.39, f²=.63>.35, 1-?=1.0), than those based on male dominance (R²=14, f²=.16>.15, 1-?=1.0). Hostile Sexism is also predicted by the first group of stereotypes (R²= 41, f²=.69, 1-?=1.0). Among men, both stereotypes predict sexist ways, while among women the effect of male dominance stereotypes is of little relevance. Stereotypes that assume male superiority (independence, intelligence, leadership, etc.) are the main predictors of sexist attitudes.