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Essay 2 2
Essay 2 2
Leslie Alvarez
Dr. Charity Nelson
ENGL 1302 101
14 October 2022
and their roles in society. This usual belief tends to affect women and girls more than man and
boys, meaning that men are given prominence over women. This is represented in monarchies,
religions, and traditions that present the women as the weak and inferior. Sexism has become
common in the lives and minds of people, resulting in negative and discriminatory results. This
is supported by Pacilli et.al., “Despite many advances in recent decades, gender-based disparities
and survival, and in political empowerment” (474) However, some researchers think the sexism
is beneficial for women and gives them power over man without knowing, and brings both, man
and women, a better stability in their relationships (Waddell, Sibley, and Osborne 349), showing
that people tend to disagree between hostile and benevolent attitudes toward women (Hammond
and Cimpian 77). This paper review existing research from reports presenting the impact of
sexism and its two variants (Hostile and Benevolent) in the workplace and romantic/sexual
relationships. In addition of how this can be beneficial or nor for women. This essay will analyze
different points of view in the study of sexism with the investigations of different researchers and
gives an opportunity to identify where an agreement or debate among researchers take place.
Alvarez 2
Jones, Mitchell, and Martin introduce sexism as the classic idea of gender role stereotype
and the traditional norms created by society, however, a certain number of researchers describe
sexism as ambivalent, since sexism tends to be more subtle this creates the idea of ambivalent
sexism, which present the hostile and benevolent behaviors. Tompkins et.al states that “hostile
sexism encourages the dominance of men over women and contempt toward women who seek
equal status with men” (237). In contrast, Tompkins et.al also explain the benevolent sexism and
its attributes, for example protectiveness and responsibility of men with women and show
women as the benefactors of men’s actions (237). This presentation of both attitudes of sexism,
is what makes sexism as ambivalent attitude, and is described by Hammond and Cimpian as
“sexism is the strong complementary components between these two attitudes toward women”
(77). To finish with, even that classic sexism is known as the basic stereotype roles in society
and negatively affects men and women, sexism possess attitudes that are considered hostile or
Workplace
Next, several researchers introduced the impact of sexism at work and how it was
disadvantageous for women. Pacilli, et.al attributes the impact of sexism on job opportunities
among women, but also on their physical and mental health. It also includes how the act of
benevolent sexism affects women at work, making them look incompetent and in need of help
from men, creating prominent levels of anxiety in women (476). However, this article contradicts
itself, referring to benevolent sexism as a form of comfort towards the woman, which would
reduce this anxiety (478). Even so, the fact that sexism affects the workplace in women is proven
by the important levels of anxiety that they present due to hostile and benevolent sexism, which
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create a stressful place for women since their efforts are not enough to improve their work
position (Pacilli, et.al 478-479). Additionally, Goldman and Misia recognizes and talks about
how sexism is even more present and affects women who have a job that would be considered
"for men", for example, sports. However, they describe how “…sexism in this area often goes
unnoticed since sports usually reward masculinity, the act of sexism, and femininity and how is
difficult for women to fit in a place that is already dominated by men” (86). This is supported by
Hindman and Walker studies about the impact of sexism in work related to sports, where it is not
only focused on sports, but also on those jobs where men predominate, and tells how women
often feel ignored and invisible, as well as being constantly questioned about their knowledge
and skills (68-69). This triggers repercussions in the professional area of women, affecting her
careers directly, creating greater difficulty and do not let women to do a better performance in
their jobs (71). Although, many works have indicated a lower level of gender discrimination, the
studies executed by Hindman, and Walker show that at least the sport organization shows a usual
and high attitude of sexism towards its female workers (74). Lastly, Willi and Jozkowski
attributes use of language as a form of sexism and that it affects women's work in the same way.
The researchers comment as "gender exclusive language in job ads discouraged women’s interest
in the profession", as an example given, “use "he" to refer to potential applicants" (138). In
addition, the researchers also report that when girls are exposed to a job fair display, the constant
women as less successful than men and create a disinterest in careers they could take (138).
Given the information provided by the researchers, it can be concluded that sexism is something
that mostly affects women in the workplace, creating insecurities about their competence and
Romantic/Sexual Relationships
Waddell, Sibley, and Osborne describe how romantic relationships attribute numerous
positive things to someone's common life as a person and create a happy relation within a man
and a woman, however, they suggest that “…it is possible for ambivalent sexism moderate this
relationship” (347). Researchers attribute that “…one factor that affects the quality of
relationships is gender roles and attitudes” (348). Benevolent sexism is usually described as
something positive, since it attributes the adoration and protection of women, creating a positive
reaction in a relationship between man and woman, while hostile sexism is completely the
opposite (354). Additionally, Waddell, Sibley, and Osborne present how the benevolent sexism
has demonstrated to attribute happiness in the relationships between man and women, making
sexisms as something that both genders can benefit, creating a strong relationship where they can
fulfill their necessities. In the other hand, they also state that “hostile sexism wakened the
benefits of a romantic relationships and the satisfaction that men and women could gain, as this
trait create mistrust and the feeling of being manipulated” (355). Besides, Lemus et.al also states
Moreover, this is because, although most boys have hostile sexism, they tend to reduce these
attitudes and take a more benevolent attitude towards women to achieve a sexual and romantic
relationship, making the woman feel safer and therefore, establish the relationship with a man
(221). However, Lemus et.al explain that “this 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). Despise that, research on sexism in relationships does not prove to have a
negative effect, since it shows that it creates an environment of happiness and satisfaction
Conclusion
Based on the analysis from a conversation between researchers, there is a correlation of
advantages and disadvantages regarding sexist attitudes. Research into sexism, be it hostile or
benevolent, at work has been shown to merely have a negative impact due to the levels of stress
and anxiety it generates in women as they tend to ignore her efforts or doubt her competence.
However, sexism, mostly benevolent sexism, was shown to have a high quality of positivity in
romantic/sexual relationships between men and women, creating greater satisfaction and comfort
between couples. This information is important because it casts doubt on the benefits and
Works Cited
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