Hostile Sexism

[Page 895]Hostile sexism is a form of sexism that is reflected in biased attitudes and behaviors toward people based on their gender. Specifically, hostile sexism is based on ideologies that seek to maintain and perpetuate the dominance of one group by focusing on the perceived inferiority of the other group. This type of sexism is one component of ambivalent sexism, which is a theory developed and described by Peter Glick and Susan Fiske to explain beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors concerning women and men. Hostile sexism has been associated with strict endorsement of traditional gender role behaviors that reinforce a patriarchal social structure. Adherence to such hostile sexist attitudes can lead to restricting equal opportunities and maintaining gender-based prejudices that result in negative psychological and emotional ...