benevolent sexism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Academic
Quick answer
What does “benevolent sexism” mean?
A seemingly positive but patronising attitude towards women, which reinforces traditional gender roles.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A seemingly positive but patronising attitude towards women, which reinforces traditional gender roles.
A form of sexism that appears favorable, such as the belief that women are inherently more nurturing or morally pure and therefore deserve protection and provision from men. It is a social psychological concept contrasted with 'hostile sexism', and together they form the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory. While subjectively positive in feeling, it is objectively harmful as it restricts women's roles and justifies inequality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The term is used identically in academic and social commentary across both varieties.
Connotations
Identical negative academic/sociological connotations.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English academic publications, due to the scale of the U.S. research output in social psychology. The term is equally understood in UK academic circles.
Grammar
How to Use “benevolent sexism” in a Sentence
[Subject] endorses benevolent sexism by [gerund phrase]Benevolent sexism toward(s) womenThe concept of benevolent sexismVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “benevolent sexism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The policy, though well-meaning, effectively benevolent-sexisms women by assuming they all prioritise childcare.
- He was accused of benevolent-sexising his female colleagues.
American English
- The article argues that the media often benevolent-sexizes female politicians by focusing on their families.
- We need to stop benevolent-sexising women in the workplace.
adverb
British English
- He spoke benevolent-sexistly, praising her primarily for her nurturing qualities.
- The policy was benevolent-sexistically framed as 'protecting' women.
American English
- She argued that the character was written benevolent-sexistically.
- He acted benevolent-sexistically by automatically assigning the note-taking role to the only woman in the meeting.
adjective
British English
- His benevolent-sexist attitude led him to insist on paying for everything, which she found infantilising.
- The campaign aimed to reduce benevolent-sexist beliefs in the community.
American English
- She called out the benevolent-sexist comments disguised as compliments.
- The study measured benevolent-sexist attitudes among participants.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in HR and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) training to identify subtle, well-intentioned biases that can limit women's career advancement (e.g., 'We don't give her the tough client because we want to protect her from stress').
Academic
Core concept in social psychology, gender studies, and sociology. Used in research papers, theories (Ambivalent Sexism Theory), and empirical studies measuring sexist attitudes.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Used in informed discussions about gender dynamics, feminism, and media analysis to critique seemingly positive portrayals that are ultimately restrictive.
Technical
A precisely defined construct with validated scales (e.g., the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory) for measuring attitudes in psychological research.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “benevolent sexism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “benevolent sexism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “benevolent sexism”
- Using it to describe an individual's genuinely kind act with no underlying gender stereotype.
- Confusing it with 'hostile sexism'. A person can hold both attitudes simultaneously toward different women or in different contexts.
- Misspelling as 'benovalent sexism'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. While it may feel subjectively positive, it reinforces restrictive gender stereotypes, justifies inequality (e.g., 'women shouldn't be in leadership because they're too pure for the cut-throat world'), and can negatively impact women's performance and self-perception.
Yes. Both men and women can endorse benevolent sexist beliefs, often as a result of internalising widespread cultural norms. Women might apply these beliefs to themselves or other women.
The key difference is in the underlying belief. An act is rooted in benevolent sexism if it is based on the assumption that women, as a group, are inherently weaker, more delicate, or suited only for certain roles. General politeness or individual acts of kindness that are not based on gender stereotypes are not benevolent sexism.
It is typically measured using the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI), a validated psychometric scale. Respondents rate their agreement with statements reflecting benevolent sexist attitudes (e.g., 'Women should be cherished and protected by men') and hostile sexist attitudes.
A seemingly positive but patronising attitude towards women, which reinforces traditional gender roles.
Benevolent sexism is usually formal, academic in register.
Benevolent sexism: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈnɛvələnt ˈsɛksɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /bəˈnɛvələnt ˈsɛksɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a knight offering to 'save' a princess because she's 'too delicate'. The offer seems BENEVOLENT (kind), but it's based on the SEXIST idea that she can't save herself.
Conceptual Metaphor
WOMEN ARE CHILDREN (requiring protection and guidance) / WOMEN ARE PURE BEINGS (on a pedestal, but trapped there).
Practice
Quiz
How does benevolent sexism primarily differ from hostile sexism?