TY - JOUR PY - 2017// TI - Women's attraction to benevolent sexism: needing relationship security predicts greater attraction to men who endorse benevolent sexism: women's attraction to benevolent sexism JO - European journal of social psychology A1 - Cross, Emily J. A1 - Overall, Nickola C. SP - 336 EP - 347 VL - 48 IS - 3 N2 - Benevolent sexism prescribes that men should cherish and protect women in intimate relationships. Despite the romantic tone of these attitudes, prior research indicates that benevolent sexism undermines women's competence, ambition, and independence. Ambivalent sexism theory proposes that benevolent sexism is able to incur these costs because the promise of a chivalrous and protective partner offers women security in their intimate relationships. We tested this key proposition by examining whether women who intensely need relationship security--women higher in attachment anxiety--are more attracted to men who endorse benevolent sexism. Highly anxious women (N = 632) rated men described as endorsing benevolent sexism as relatively more attractive, and reported greater preferences for partners to hold benevolently sexist attitudes. These results advance understanding regarding the underlying reasons women find benevolent sexism appealing and identify who will be most vulnerable to the potential costs of benevolent sexism.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1099-0992 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2334 ID - ref1 ER -