https://bigthink.com/robby-berman/study-finds-heterosexual-women-prefer-benevolently-sexist-men
" It’s a minefield: Another new study presents evidence of what heterosexual women want. Still, the lead author of the study is a woman, Pelin Gul. (Her co-author is Tom R. Kupfer.) The study, recently published in Sage Journals, is called “Benevolent Sexism and Mate Preferences: Why Do Women Prefer Benevolent Men Despite Recognizing That They Can Be Undermining?” Previous studies suggest that this happens more often than you’d expect.
Benevolent sexism—or BS, amusingly enough—is an existing research term that refers to “an affectionate but patronizing attitude that treats women as needing men’s help, protection, and provision (i.e., as being more like children than adults).”
“We haven’t coined the term ‘benevolent sexism,’ previous researchers did,” Gul tells PsyPost. What she does see as her concern is finding out why a woman would prefer it in a potential partner to someone who truly sees her as his equal. “Previous studies have found that men’s benevolent sexism has many detrimental consequences on women (such as undermining their competence, restricting their freedom, confining them to the kitchen), yet research had also shown that women prefer benevolent sexist men and even find these men more attractive than non-benevolent sexist men.”
The goals of the study: The new study had two goals.
The frequent explanation for the attractiveness of BS is that the women who exhibit it are unaware of BS’s potentially insidious effects. This idea itself may strike one as sexist, as it suggests that the women are just too clueless to understand what’s going on. Gul and Kupfer wanted to see how well this “protection racket theory” held up. The study summarizes it as “claims that women embrace male BS attitudes for benefits such as protection, provision, and affection when they perceive themselves to be surrounded with men who hold HS attitudes.”
Second, the researchers had their own theory, built on evolutionary and sociocultural perspectives regarding female mate preferences: “It could be that women’s attraction to benevolent sexist men is because they perceive these men as willing to invest, which could even outweigh the downsides of benevolent sexism.”
This would align with the “parental investment hypothesis,” an evolution-based theory which asserts, according to the study, that, “sex differences in parental investment—typically months of gestation followed by energetically costly lactation for the female, compared with a few sex cells from the male—mean that females will be the more selective sex.” Therefore, “females who select mates who are able and willing to provide these resources leave more descendants than less selective females.”
Study method The study was constructed to assess the accuracy of three predictions:
“Women should perceive a male romantic partner who holds BS attitudes and displays BS behaviors as more attractive than one who does not.” “Greater attraction should be explained by the man’s willingness to protect, provide, and commit (conceptualized as components of willingness to invest).” “A BS man will be rated as especially attractive when described as a potential romantic partner compared with a work colleague because the latter should not activate mating motivations to the same extent.” To do this, 782 female subjects of varying ages from about 17 to 50, were questioned in five separate experiments, labeled 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, and 3, each optimized to measure some aspect of these hypotheses.
Results of the five tests Studies 1a and 1b verified that women found a man with BS attitudes more attractive than one who was more egalitarian, in both romantic and work contexts. It also demonstrated the women were well aware that these men were being patronizing and undermining, but were nonetheless attracted. Studies 2a and 2b removed the work context from questioning and found the effects of 1a and 1b still held.
In all four of these tests, subjects were also assessed as being “high” or “low” feminists—BS attractiveness remains for both types of women. It didn’t seem to be much of a factor.
benevolent sexism
"A" shows the minor effect a woman’s degree of feminism seems to have on BS attractiveness for "low" feminists. "B" shows how it affects "high" feminists. (Credit: Gul, et al) Study 3 was about testing the protection racket theory. After asking subjects to imagine themselves in an environment full of HS attitudes, the researchers found no effect on how attracted the women were to BS males. The results say the study, “ruled out the protection racket hypothesis as an alternative explanation by showing that the degree of male HS that women perceived in their environment did not predict attractiveness of the romantic partner with BS attitudes.”
Study conclusions Gul and Kupfer feel that the mechanisms behind mate selection for heterosexual females are important to understanding since previous research “suggests that women who perceive themselves as having a kind and committed partners have higher marital and sexual satisfaction.” The more controversial takeaway is that “it might not always be desirable to discourage women from preferring mates with benevolent [as opposed to egalitarian] gender attitudes if these are beneficial for well-being."
This isn’t the end of the story, of course, since as Gul says, “There is a lot that still needs to be addressed. For instance, do women differentiate between male behavior that is genuinely benevolent and that which is intended to patronize and undermine them? If women can tell the difference, then how do they react? Do they have ways to defend themselves against it? Women say they prefer benevolent men, but it would be interesting to see if women who do have benevolent mates have greater relationship satisfaction.”
As the study says, “A more nuanced understanding of male benevolence and female mate preferences could help to identify means to decrease the negative effects of BS while helping women (and men) understand how to have fulfilling relationships that enhance well-being."
[–]MorbidMoonlight 1 points [recovered] (11 children) | Copy Link
[–]DeontologicalSanders45 points46 points47 points (5 children) | Copy Link
[–]MorbidMoonlight 1 points [recovered] (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]DeontologicalSanders4 points5 points6 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]p3n1x2 points3 points4 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]morexel2 points3 points4 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]yomo862 points3 points4 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]ntvirtue2 points3 points4 points (4 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 7 points8 points9 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]ntvirtue2 points3 points4 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]1cappadocianhawk180 points181 points182 points (3 children) | Copy Link
[–]MarcosDomingues56 points57 points58 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 7 points8 points9 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Ballosaurus 1 points [recovered] (18 children) | Copy Link
[–]maracusdesu53 points54 points55 points (16 children) | Copy Link
[–]MuteCook 1 points [recovered] (11 children) | Copy Link
[–]maracusdesu0 points1 point2 points (8 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 10 points11 points12 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]saibot8311 points12 points13 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]AnAbsoluteSith4 points5 points6 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]maracusdesu1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]p3n1x1 point2 points3 points (3 children) | Copy Link
[–]maracusdesu-2 points-1 points0 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]RodzillaPT2 points3 points4 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]maracusdesu0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]p3n1x4 points5 points6 points (3 children) | Copy Link
[–]maracusdesu0 points1 point2 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]p3n1x0 points1 point2 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]maracusdesu0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]ShadyMahFuggah60 points61 points62 points (7 children) | Copy Link
[–]LukesLikeIt15 points16 points17 points (6 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 30 points31 points32 points (4 children) | Copy Link
[–]_BITCHES_LOVE_ME_21 points22 points23 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Aestheticcunt19966 points7 points8 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]WolfofAnarchy5 points6 points7 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 2 points3 points4 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]TRP VanguardHumanSockPuppet5 points6 points7 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Demiurge_Decline44 points45 points46 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]AceofRains0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]psycho_sid181 points182 points183 points (27 children) | Copy Link
[–]BurningOrangeHeaven36 points37 points38 points (25 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 51 points52 points53 points (22 children) | Copy Link
[–]rorrr66 points67 points68 points (8 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 13 points14 points15 points (5 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 16 points17 points18 points (3 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 2 points3 points4 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]paprikk6 points7 points8 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]expansion1018 points9 points10 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 18 points19 points20 points (4 children) | Copy Link
[–]Skuggasveinn11 points12 points13 points (3 children) | Copy Link
[–]dinnerwithfunions0 points1 point2 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]WiseMonkeyGoodMonkey0 points1 point2 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]dinnerwithfunions1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 20 points21 points22 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]econquest15 points16 points17 points (4 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] -3 points-2 points-1 points (3 children) | Copy Link
[–]econquest8 points9 points10 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 0 points1 point2 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]econquest1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]1chuckrutledge6 points7 points8 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]psycho_sid0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]iamnotfromtexas90 1 points [recovered] (16 children) | Copy Link
[–]HootsTheOwl178 points179 points180 points (4 children) | Copy Link
[–]Avertus36 points37 points38 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 14 points15 points16 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]pct9211 points12 points13 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]GOODLORD10014 points15 points16 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]unclecrumble49 points50 points51 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]Neutral_User_Name1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]1scissor_me_timbers0022 points23 points24 points (3 children) | Copy Link
[–]I_BET_UR_MAD13 points14 points15 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]1scissor_me_timbers005 points6 points7 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 12 points13 points14 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Bing_Bang_Bam2 points3 points4 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]pct92-1 points0 points1 point (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]nangin15 points16 points17 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]subwayjack15 points16 points17 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]PMmewikedguitarlicks27 points28 points29 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]2Overkillengine55 points56 points57 points (15 children) | Copy Link
[–]wisty 1 points [recovered] (14 children) | Copy Link
[–]LukesLikeIt29 points30 points31 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 20 points21 points22 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 19 points20 points21 points (5 children) | Copy Link
[–]Thaweed4 points5 points6 points (4 children) | Copy Link
[–]_BITCHES_LOVE_ME_15 points16 points17 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]askmrcia4 points5 points6 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]DouglasPR3 points4 points5 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]daffy_duck23317 points18 points19 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–]I_BET_UR_MAD25 points26 points27 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]Skuggasveinn5 points6 points7 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]2Overkillengine29 points30 points31 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]dinnerwithfunions0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Redpillandrew9 points10 points11 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] -1 points0 points1 point (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]MrDapper46910 points11 points12 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 47 points48 points49 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]Scrub_TLC0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 9 points10 points11 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] -1 points0 points1 point (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]finclover917 points18 points19 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]JDRoedell8 points9 points10 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]WholesomeAwesome[🍰] 6 points7 points8 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Senior EndorsedMattyAnon2 points3 points4 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]jonpe872 points3 points4 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Shoregrey 1 points [recovered] (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]SandtheB2 points3 points4 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]111Dx2 points3 points4 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]LogicalCreations24061 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]juju5156 points7 points8 points (21 children) | Copy Link
[–]sea-bear21 points22 points23 points (3 children) | Copy Link
[–]juju5150 points1 point2 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]sea-bear0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 15 points16 points17 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]Bc_Land13 points14 points15 points (5 children) | Copy Link
[–]stalient13 points14 points15 points (3 children) | Copy Link
[–]Bc_Land0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]SelfUnmadeMan0 points1 point2 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]Bc_Land0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 5 points6 points7 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Nov516052 points3 points4 points (6 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 5 points6 points7 points (5 children) | Copy Link
[–]juju5151 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Nov516051 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]naIamgood0 points1 point2 points (2 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 0 points1 point2 points (1 child) | Copy Link
[–]naIamgood0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–][deleted] 0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]Pastelitomaracucho0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]M_Hamza-1 points0 points1 point (0 children) | Copy Link
[–]logicman101-1 points0 points1 point (0 children) | Copy Link