In-Depth Notes on Sexism and Gender Dynamics

Concept of Ambivalent Sexism

• Ambivalent Sexism: Comprised of two types of ambivalence toward women: conflicted and inconsistent feelings.

Types of Ambivalence:

• Conflicted Ambivalence:
  • Definition: Evokes both positive and negative feelings towards the same person.
  • Example: A woman may be liked for traditional roles but disliked when stepping outside those roles (e.g., a housewife vs. a woman in the military).

Measures of Sexism

• Research on sexism utilizes a variety of inventories and scales to assess attitudes.
• Traditional Old-Fashioned Sexism Scale:
  • Example item: "Women should worry less about their rights and more about becoming good wives."
• Modern Sexism Scale:
  • Example item: "Discrimination against women is no longer a problem in the United States."
• Neosexism Scale:
  • Example item: "Women’s requests for equality between sexes are exaggerated."
• Ambivalent Sexism Inventory:
  • Measures attitudes as two subscales:
  • Benevolent Sexism: Positive views that also limit women’s possibilities.
    • Adjectives used: purity, protection.
  • Hostile Sexism: Negative attitudes towards women as a group.
    • Examples include, "Women must care for men at home."

Systemic Nature of Sexism

• Institutionalized Sexism: Exists systemically within institutions, often unnoticed.
• Impact on Women's Opportunities:
  • Affordable childcare scarcity can hinder education and career progression.
  • Women face a dilemma between family life and career, making it challenging to balance both.

Everyday Experiences of Sexism in the Workplace:

• Insults Disguised as Jokes:
  • E.g., comments about a woman’s attire meant to box her into objectification.
• Role Stereotyping:
  • Task assignments based on gender roles. E.g., women serving food at meetings.
• Physical Focus:
  • Comments on appearance linked to professional abilities lead to objectification.
• Gender Labeling:
  • Assertiveness in women may be labeled as "bossy", while passivity could be deemed acceptable.

Psychological Effects of Sexism

• Daily sexist remarks and attitudes impact mental health; women are twice as likely to experience depression.

Job Opportunities and Stereotypes

• Agentic vs. Communal Traits:
  • Men are associated with assertiveness and achievement while women are labeled emotionally supportive and nurturing.
• Women often face discrimination in nontraditional jobs, while mental barriers discourage them from seeking such opportunities.

Glass Ceiling & Gender Pay Gap

• Glass Ceiling:
  • A metaphor for barriers women face in advancing in their careers despite qualifications.
• Gender Pay Gap:
  • Women earn approximately 0.84 to every dollar earned by men, which improves minimally over time but remains prevalent.

Misconceptions Regarding Gender Pay Gap

• It is not solely about women choosing lower-paying jobs; it exists across all job types.

Sociocultural Factors Leading to Rape

• Rape Culture: A belief system that normalizes and trivializes sexual violence and aggression directed towards women.
• Rape Myths: Beliefs that endorse stereotypes around sexual assault, such as blaming victims or normalizing male aggression.
• Victim Characteristics: Past victimization increases risk of re-victimization and some individuals (e.g., those with developmental difficulties or tourists) are more vulnerable due to situational influences.

Perpetrators of Sexual Assault

• Common traits among offenders include narcissism, hostility, and acceptance of rape myths.
• Distinction between Violent Rapists (use sex as aggression) and Power Rapists (act from inadequacy).

Social Ramifications

• Societal norms encourage men to avoid communal roles and uphold stereotypes leading to fewer men in caregiving professions.
• Men face social stigma or repercussions when entering communal roles, further perpetuating gender norms.

Importance of Addressing Gender Inequality

• Encouraging men to engage in communal roles can benefit not only individual psychological health but also societal dynamics and the deconstruction of harmful gender stereotypes.

These notes cover various aspects of sexism, including ambivalent sexism, measures of sexism, systemic sexism impacts, psychological effects, job prospects influenced by gender stereotypes, cultural implications surrounding sexual assault, and the necessity of addressing gender inequality for overall social advancement.