Abstract:
Benevolent sexism (BS) has detrimental effects on women, yet women prefer men with BS attitudes over those without. The predominant explanation for this paradox is that women respond to the superficially positive appearance of BS without being aware of its subtly harmful effects. We propose an alternative explanation drawn from evolutionary and sociocultural theories on mate preferences: Women find BS men attractive because BS attitudes and behaviors signal that a man is willing to invest. Five studies showed that women prefer men with BS attitudes (Studies 1a, 1b, and 3) and behaviors (Studies 2a and 2b), especially in mating contexts, because BS mates are perceived as willing to invest (protect, provide, and commit). Women preferred BS men despite also perceiving them as patronizing and undermining. These findings extend understanding of women’s motives for endorsing BS and suggest that women prefer BS men despite having awareness of the harmful consequences.
Essentially, this study asked women to identify a preference for two different types of male vignettes in the context of intersexual relationships and dating.
The first type of man exhibited a traditionalist, yet "benevolent," mindset toward women; "pedestalizing" women for their "purity" and "superior moral sensibility."
The second type of man (control) exhibited a purely egalitarian mindset toward women. In other words, he views both sexes completely neutrally in terms of society and sexual dynamics.
It was found that all types of women (even those with "gender equality" expectations of egalitarianism between the sexes) preferred the first type of men in terms of mate selection.
Drawing on evolutionary and sociocultural perspectives on human mate preferences, we offered a novel explanation for why women prefer BS men, despite its potentially harmful effects. Specifically, we proposed that attitudes and behaviors typically defined as BS reflect women’s preferences for mates who are willing to invest by being protective, providing, and committed. This benevolence as a mate-preference hypothesis suggests that women may prefer BS men, despite knowing that they can be undermining, because the desirable aspects of a man’s benevolent attitudes and behaviors outweigh the potential downsides.
The harmful effects of a mate’s BS attitudes are more salient for women who strongly support gender equality, but even for them, the appeal of a mate who shows willingness to invest outweighs the perceived negative effects of BS attitudes.
References:
[–]neualgae♀️89 points90 points91 points (73 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] (3 children) | Copy Link
[deleted]
[–]Helmet_Icicle1 point2 points3 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]noheyokay8 points9 points10 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]Frodoro7100 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]RSDevotion1[S] 16 points17 points18 points (18 children) | Copy Link
[–]neualgae♀️25 points26 points27 points (17 children) | Copy Link
[–]RSDevotion1[S] 17 points18 points19 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Sultmaker_9000-2 points-1 points0 points (10 children) | Copy Link
[–]allweknowisD13 points14 points15 points (9 children) | Copy Link
[–]8017350 points1 point2 points (6 children) | Copy Link
[–]allweknowisD0 points1 point2 points (5 children) | Copy Link
[–]8017350 points1 point2 points (4 children) | Copy Link
[–]allweknowisD0 points1 point2 points (3 children) | Copy Link
[–]8017350 points1 point2 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]Sultmaker_9000-4 points-3 points-2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]TheBookOfSeilSentient penis with arms and legs-2 points-1 points0 points (4 children) | Copy Link
[–]Hoodratshit12121 point2 points3 points (3 children) | Copy Link
[–]TheBookOfSeilSentient penis with arms and legs1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]8017350 points1 point2 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]siempreloco310 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]GreenSatyr🟢1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]mensahi41Red Pill Man5 points6 points7 points (11 children) | Copy Link
[–]Shirley_SchmidthoeI am a sex doll stored in Denny Crane's closet3 points4 points5 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]mensahi41Red Pill Man3 points4 points5 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]Hoodratshit12120 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]throwaway042994I love the smell of my man's colon 🥰1 point2 points3 points (7 children) | Copy Link
[–]mensahi41Red Pill Man3 points4 points5 points (3 children) | Copy Link
[–]throwaway042994I love the smell of my man's colon 🥰-1 points0 points1 point (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]mensahi41Red Pill Man4 points5 points6 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]Hoodratshit12121 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]beyond_relevant0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]TheBookOfSeilSentient penis with arms and legs0 points1 point2 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]8017350 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Sultmaker_9000-5 points-4 points-3 points (36 children) | Copy Link
[–]DirectionLaMANRational Pill4 points5 points6 points (32 children) | Copy Link
[–]duffmanhbPurple Pill Man3 points4 points5 points (29 children) | Copy Link
[–]noheyokay1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Twinseo090 points1 point2 points (7 children) | Copy Link
[–]duffmanhbPurple Pill Man6 points7 points8 points (6 children) | Copy Link
[–]Twinseo094 points5 points6 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]mindsanitizer7 points8 points9 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]MuTron11 point2 points3 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]IAmTheTrueWalruss-1 points0 points1 point (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]noheyokay0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]niorbb0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]DirectionLaMANRational Pill0 points1 point2 points (19 children) | Copy Link
[–]duffmanhbPurple Pill Man0 points1 point2 points (18 children) | Copy Link
[–]DirectionLaMANRational Pill1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]noheyokay0 points1 point2 points (6 children) | Copy Link
[–]duffmanhbPurple Pill Man0 points1 point2 points (5 children) | Copy Link
[–]noheyokay0 points1 point2 points (4 children) | Copy Link
[–]duffmanhbPurple Pill Man0 points1 point2 points (3 children) | Copy Link
[–]MuTron10 points1 point2 points (9 children) | Copy Link
[–]duffmanhbPurple Pill Man1 point2 points3 points (7 children) | Copy Link
[–]MuTron10 points1 point2 points (6 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] (4 children) | Copy Link
[deleted]
[–]duffmanhbPurple Pill Man0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]IAmTheTrueWalruss1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Sultmaker_9000-2 points-1 points0 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]Twinseo091 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]noheyokay0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]bihari_baller-1 points0 points1 point (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]Sultmaker_90000 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]JohnDoe72135 points36 points37 points (7 children) | Copy Link
[–]tiposkSerial divorce rapist6 points7 points8 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] (1 child) | Copy Link
[deleted]
[–]tiposkSerial divorce rapist1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Shirley_SchmidthoeI am a sex doll stored in Denny Crane's closet5 points6 points7 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] (1 child) | Copy Link
[deleted]
[–]Shirley_SchmidthoeI am a sex doll stored in Denny Crane's closet0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]TheBookOfSeilSentient penis with arms and legs4 points5 points6 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]This_Wrangler11 points12 points13 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox14 points15 points16 points (57 children) | Copy Link
[–]neualgae♀️12 points13 points14 points (18 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox10 points11 points12 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]juliana_san7 points8 points9 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]reLincolnX2 points3 points4 points (3 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox6 points7 points8 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]reLincolnX1 point2 points3 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]lestratege2 points3 points4 points (9 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox0 points1 point2 points (8 children) | Copy Link
[–]lestratege1 point2 points3 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]8017350 points1 point2 points (5 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox0 points1 point2 points (4 children) | Copy Link
[–]8017350 points1 point2 points (3 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox0 points1 point2 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]8017350 points1 point2 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]RSDevotion1[S] 0 points1 point2 points (37 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox5 points6 points7 points (35 children) | Copy Link
[–]RSDevotion1[S] -1 points0 points1 point (34 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox10 points11 points12 points (18 children) | Copy Link
[–]RSDevotion1[S] 0 points1 point2 points (17 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox2 points3 points4 points (16 children) | Copy Link
[–]RSDevotion1[S] -3 points-2 points-1 points (15 children) | Copy Link
[–]decaf_flower4 points5 points6 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]RSDevotion1[S] 0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox6 points7 points8 points (12 children) | Copy Link
[–]RSDevotion1[S] 1 point2 points3 points (11 children) | Copy Link
[–]decaf_flower0 points1 point2 points (14 children) | Copy Link
[–]RSDevotion1[S] 2 points3 points4 points (13 children) | Copy Link
[–]decaf_flower1 point2 points3 points (5 children) | Copy Link
[–]RSDevotion1[S] 1 point2 points3 points (4 children) | Copy Link
[–]decaf_flower1 point2 points3 points (3 children) | Copy Link
[–]RSDevotion1[S] 1 point2 points3 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox1 point2 points3 points (6 children) | Copy Link
[–]RSDevotion1[S] 0 points1 point2 points (5 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox1 point2 points3 points (4 children) | Copy Link
[–]RSDevotion1[S] 0 points1 point2 points (3 children) | Copy Link
[–]Cimorene8634F Masculine Egalitarian Gamer5 points6 points7 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]SonicBackScratcherGreen Eyed Devil13 points14 points15 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]CatchPhrazeMaster Of Memeology1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]TheOffice_Account1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]decoy88Black Male in London13 points14 points15 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox-2 points-1 points0 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]juliana_san4 points5 points6 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]OneTrueQPurple Pill Man0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]reluctantly_red3 points4 points5 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]YouSaidChicken41 points42 points43 points (21 children) | Copy Link
[–]badgersonice8 points9 points10 points (19 children) | Copy Link
[–]YouSaidChicken12 points13 points14 points (16 children) | Copy Link
[–]badgersonice5 points6 points7 points (15 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] (4 children) | Copy Link
[removed]
[–][deleted] (2 children) | Copy Link
[removed]
[–][deleted] (1 child) | Copy Link
[removed]
[–]Mrs_DrgreeMarried to Automod[M] -1 points0 points1 point (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]YouSaidChicken-2 points-1 points0 points (9 children) | Copy Link
[–]badgersonice1 point2 points3 points (8 children) | Copy Link
[–]YouSaidChicken1 point2 points3 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]badgersonice2 points3 points4 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]8017350 points1 point2 points (5 children) | Copy Link
[–]badgersonice0 points1 point2 points (4 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] (3 children) | Copy Link
[removed]
[–][deleted] (1 child) | Copy Link
[removed]
[–]Mrs_DrgreeMarried to Automod[M] 0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]juliana_san-5 points-4 points-3 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]YouSaidChicken4 points5 points6 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Hoodratshit12124 points5 points6 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Twinseo093 points4 points5 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]wtknightGen X Slacker5 points6 points7 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]upalse0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox8 points9 points10 points (43 children) | Copy Link
[–]Jakes196710 points11 points12 points (34 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox2 points3 points4 points (33 children) | Copy Link
[–]Jakes19671 point2 points3 points (30 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox1 point2 points3 points (29 children) | Copy Link
[–]akihonj5 points6 points7 points (14 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox1 point2 points3 points (13 children) | Copy Link
[–]akihonj7 points8 points9 points (12 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox0 points1 point2 points (11 children) | Copy Link
[–]akihonj3 points4 points5 points (10 children) | Copy Link
[–]LeJacquelopeMale thirst is as much our enemy as female hypergamy0 points1 point2 points (13 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox0 points1 point2 points (12 children) | Copy Link
[–]LeJacquelopeMale thirst is as much our enemy as female hypergamy0 points1 point2 points (11 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox0 points1 point2 points (10 children) | Copy Link
[–]LeJacquelopeMale thirst is as much our enemy as female hypergamy0 points1 point2 points (9 children) | Copy Link
[–]jdobrila0 points1 point2 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox-1 points0 points1 point (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]RSDevotion1[S] 4 points5 points6 points (7 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox0 points1 point2 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]RSDevotion1[S] 5 points6 points7 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Twinseo09-1 points0 points1 point (4 children) | Copy Link
[–]RSDevotion1[S] 2 points3 points4 points (3 children) | Copy Link
[–]Twinseo090 points1 point2 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]RSDevotion1[S] 2 points3 points4 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]Twinseo090 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]CatchPhrazeMaster Of Memeology3 points4 points5 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Iluvalmonds83No Pill3 points4 points5 points (9 children) | Copy Link
[–]GrapefruitFinancial1 point2 points3 points (7 children) | Copy Link
[–]Iluvalmonds83No Pill3 points4 points5 points (6 children) | Copy Link
[–]8017351 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]MuTron11 point2 points3 points (4 children) | Copy Link
[–]medlabunicorn1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]8017351 point2 points3 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]MuTron10 points1 point2 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]8017350 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]8017350 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Cimorene8634F Masculine Egalitarian Gamer5 points6 points7 points (9 children) | Copy Link
[–]princessangelbaby_2 points3 points4 points (4 children) | Copy Link
[–]Cimorene8634F Masculine Egalitarian Gamer2 points3 points4 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]mensahi41Red Pill Man4 points5 points6 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]Cimorene8634F Masculine Egalitarian Gamer3 points4 points5 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]TheOffice_Account1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Kaisha001-1 points0 points1 point (3 children) | Copy Link
[–]Cimorene8634F Masculine Egalitarian Gamer0 points1 point2 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]Kaisha0011 point2 points3 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]Cimorene8634F Masculine Egalitarian Gamer0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]somegenerichandleBlack Pill1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]SolarTortality1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Hoodratshit12121 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]medlabunicorn1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Rockin1O12 points3 points4 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]haikusbot1 point2 points3 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]Rockin1O1-1 points0 points1 point (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]RSDevotion1[S] 1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Willow-girlLike B-side Townes Van Zandt1 point2 points3 points (4 children) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox1 point2 points3 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]Willow-girlLike B-side Townes Van Zandt-1 points0 points1 point (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]NarniaFox0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]AutoModerator[M] 0 points1 point2 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]Kaisha0010 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]honeybooboo500 points1 point2 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]RSDevotion1[S] 1 point2 points3 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]honeybooboo501 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]anonymouscausefuckU0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]cynoclast0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]BrainlessMutant0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]GunnzzNRosesPurple Pill Man0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Pontifex_Lucious-IIEducating Gentiles since 19890 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]NinjaOfTheSouth-1 points0 points1 point (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]DirectionLaMANRational Pill4 points5 points6 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]upalse1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]bribedzapp0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Diamond-BreathPastilla Rosa💋0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]NoRoperino0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]darkredpintobeans-1 points0 points1 point (15 children) | Copy Link
[–]geometersbane5 points6 points7 points (5 children) | Copy Link
[–]darkredpintobeans-1 points0 points1 point (4 children) | Copy Link
[–]geometersbane2 points3 points4 points (3 children) | Copy Link
[–]darkredpintobeans1 point2 points3 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]geometersbane2 points3 points4 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]darkredpintobeans1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Kaisha0012 points3 points4 points (8 children) | Copy Link
[–]darkredpintobeans0 points1 point2 points (7 children) | Copy Link
[–]Kaisha0012 points3 points4 points (6 children) | Copy Link
[–]darkredpintobeans0 points1 point2 points (5 children) | Copy Link
[–]Kaisha0011 point2 points3 points (4 children) | Copy Link
[–]darkredpintobeans1 point2 points3 points (3 children) | Copy Link
[–]Kaisha0010 points1 point2 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]darkredpintobeans1 point2 points3 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]Kaisha0010 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link