Prescription of Protective Paternalism for Men in Romantic and Work Contexts

Abstract

Behavioral prescription specifies how people ought to act. Five studies investigated prescription for men of protective paternalism, a particular form of benevolent sexism, depending on contextual and individual factors. In Studies 1 and 2, female participants prescribed for men more protective paternalistic behavior toward women in a romantic than in a work context. In Study 3, male participants prescribed the same level of protective paternalistic behavior as female participants did. Conversely, more gender egalitarianism was prescribed for men in a work than in a romantic context (Studies 1–3). In Study 4, the same protective paternalistic behavior was labeled as intimacy in a romantic context but was identified to the same extent as intimacy and as sexism in a work context. In Study 5, female participants’ benevolent sexist beliefs predicted their prescription of protective paternalistic behavior for men in both contexts. These studies demonstrated that prescription of protective paternalism for men is a complex phenomenon because it depends on contextual as well as individual variables. These findings need to be added to the list of factors explaining how this particular form of sexism is maintained within gender relationships and how it contributes to women’s subordination.

Flash fire and slow burn: Women’s cardiovascular reactivity and recovery following hostile and benevolent sexism.

“…On the other hand, women tend to form relatively favorable impres sions of men who espouse benevolently sexist beliefs (Kilianski & Rudman, 1998), and they view at least some forms of benevolent sexism as appropriate in romantic contexts (Sarlet, Dumont, Delacollette, & Dardenne, 2012). For instance, many women expect their male romantic partners to convey protective paternalism toward them, and they may not view such treatment as sexist when it comes from a romantic partner (Sarlet et al, 2012). Thus, women have both positive and negative reactions to benevolent sexism.…”

Endorsing benevolent sexism magnifies willingness to dissolve relationships when facing partner‐ideal discrepancies

“…The protective attitudes associated with BS are identified as “sexist” because prior research has shown BS maintains men's societal advantages through emphasizing women's interpersonal qualities and importance in the relationship domain, reducing women's competence and ambition outside the home (e.g., Barreto, Ellemers, Piebinga, & Moya, ; Dardenne, Dumont, & Bollier, ; Sinclair, Huntsinger, Skorinko, & Hardin, ). Despite these costs, however, BS is perceived favorably by women and not typically seen as “sexist” (Barreto & Ellemers, ; Kilianski & Rudman, ; Sarlet, Dumont, Delacollette, & Dardenne, ). This is because BS fosters relationship benefits for both women and men: Women are revered for their relational competence, and receive protective, caring behavior from male partners who endorse BS (Overall, Sibley, & Tan, ), and men are able to secure satisfying relationships while also maintaining greater social power as the provider outside the home (Hammond & Overall, ; Sibley & Becker, ).…”

“…Critically, the warmth/trustworthiness expectations contained within BS are prescriptive in nature; women and men “ought to” and “should be” warm, sensitive, supportive, and loyal (Delacollette, Dumont, Sarlet, & Dardenne, ; Sarlet et al, ). Such prescriptions create strong boundaries of how men and women should and should not be or behave (Burgess & Borgida, ).…”

What Looks Like Sexism and Why? The Effect of Comment Type and Perpetrator Type on Women's Perceptions of Sexism

“…Indeed, previous research has demonstrated that women are more likely to accept a sexist restriction (e.g., the man should do all the driving on a road trip) when the restriction was made by a husband compared to a coworker (Moya et al, 2007). Furthermore, when queried on their expectations of how men should behave, women are more likely to prescribe benevolently sexist behaviors (e.g., "I expect a man to be protective towards me") for a romantic partner but not a coworker (Sarlet, Dumont, Delacollette, & Dardenne, 2012). Yet, women experience sexism from a variety of different types of perpetrators (Swim et al, 2001).…”