hostile sexism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, academic
Quick answer
What does “hostile sexism” mean?
a form of prejudice against women characterized by antagonistic beliefs, feelings, and behaviors, often involving contempt, resentment, and overt discrimination.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
a form of prejudice against women characterized by antagonistic beliefs, feelings, and behaviors, often involving contempt, resentment, and overt discrimination
In psychological and sociological contexts, hostile sexism is one component of ambivalent sexism theory, contrasted with benevolent sexism. It encompasses openly negative attitudes, endorsement of traditional gender roles that restrict women's autonomy, and the perception of women as seeking to control men through feminist ideology or sexual manipulation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition or core usage. The term is academic in origin and used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical strong negative connotations associated with prejudice and discrimination.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American academic publishing due to the larger volume of social psychology research, but equally established in British academia.
Grammar
How to Use “hostile sexism” in a Sentence
[Subject] exhibits/endorses/perpetuates hostile sexism.Hostile sexism is correlated with [outcome].The study measured levels of hostile sexism among [group].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hostile sexism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Researchers found the group to heavily hostiley sexism their female colleagues. (Note: Not standard; the term is a noun phrase. One might 'display' or 'perpetuate' hostile sexism.)
American English
- The policy change aimed to reduce hostile-sexising behaviours in the workplace. (Note: Not standard; the term is a noun phrase. One might 'reduce incidents of hostile sexism'.)
adverb
British English
- He argued hostile-sexistically against the proposal for gender quotas. (Rare and awkward)
- The character was portrayed quite hostile-sexistically. (Rare and awkward)
American English
- The blogger wrote hostile-sexistically about feminist activists. (Rare and awkward)
- He reacted hostile-sexistically to the female chair's authority. (Rare and awkward)
adjective
British English
- He expressed a hostile-sexist attitude during the interview.
- The comments revealed a deeply hostile-sexist worldview.
American English
- She documented hostile-sexist remarks made by her supervisor.
- The campaign targeted hostile-sexist rhetoric online.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, used in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training or reports on workplace culture to describe overtly antagonistic attitudes towards women.
Academic
Primary context. Used in psychology, sociology, and gender studies papers discussing ambivalent sexism theory, gender prejudice, and social attitudes.
Everyday
Very rare. Might appear in informed discussions about gender politics or social commentary.
Technical
The standard term in social psychology for a specific measurable construct, as defined by researchers like Peter Glick and Susan Fiske.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hostile sexism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hostile sexism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hostile sexism”
- Using it interchangeably with all forms of sexism (it's a specific subtype).
- Confusing it with 'benevolent sexism' (which seems positive but is still prejudicial).
- Misspelling as 'hostel sexism'.
- Using it in informal contexts where 'sexism' or 'misogyny' would be more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are closely related but not identical. Misogyny is a broader cultural attitude of hatred or contempt for women. Hostile sexism is a specific, measurable psychological construct within social psychology that includes beliefs about women seeking to control men, resentment of feminists, and endorsement of discriminatory gender roles.
The term 'hostile sexism' in academic theory specifically refers to prejudice against women. Prejudice against men is typically discussed under different terms, such as 'hostility toward men' or within frameworks of gender role enforcement. The 'Ambivalent Sexism' theory focuses on attitudes toward women.
It is primarily measured using standardized psychological scales, most famously the Hostile Sexism (HS) subscale of the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI). Respondents rate their agreement with statements reflecting resentful, adversarial views of women (e.g., 'Women seek to gain power by getting control over men.').
No. Research shows that both men and women can endorse hostile sexist beliefs, often as a result of internalizing prevalent societal attitudes. Women who score high on hostile sexism may express resentment towards other women or feminist ideas.
a form of prejudice against women characterized by antagonistic beliefs, feelings, and behaviors, often involving contempt, resentment, and overt discrimination.
Hostile sexism is usually formal, academic in register.
Hostile sexism: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɒstaɪl ˈsɛksɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɑːstəl ˈsɛksɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms exist for this specific academic compound.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HOSTILE SEXISM: Hostile sounds like 'hostility' – think of open hostility or antagonism directed at women because of their gender.
Conceptual Metaphor
WAR/JOURNEY: Gender relations as a battle; women as adversaries/competitors. CONTAINER: Society is contaminated by hostile sexism.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a characteristic of hostile sexism, as opposed to benevolent sexism?