Gender bias: explanatory theories

How does social psychology address the issue of discrimination suffered by women?

In 2005, in Spain, the Organic Law on Integral Protection Measures against Gender Violence came into force in 2005 to try to intervene in social problems such as gender violence, domestic violence or domestic terrorism.

Article 1.1 of this Law states that violence occurs as a manifestation of discrimination, inequality and power relations between men and women.

Although many believe that such inequality or "marginalization" of the female sex is being exaggerated or that it does not exist, it is clear that this problem is due to clearly psychosocial factors. It is Social Psychology has carried out studies on this subject. To solve a problem, it is necessary to understand it, to know how it operates and what factors reproduce it.

Background in the study of women's status

Janet Taylor Spence created in the 1970s the Attitudes Toward Women Scalewhich proved to be very useful and continues to be so today. It measures beliefs about the rights and roles of men and women and evaluates the different treatment of both sexes, emphasizing that women do not perform certain tasks as well as men.

Fortunately, the results of the application of this scale have varied over the years and, although today women continue to be more equal than men, men's scores have increased. In our country, the Gender Identity Scale. The results conclude that men with lower educational level and older age score higher in prejudicial attitudes towards the female sex.

Theory of ambivalent sexism

The ambivalence referred to in the name of this theory of sexism refers to the coexistence of two types of sexism that complement each other: hostile sexism and benevolent sexism.

Hostile sexism

By which women are considered as an inferior group that must be subordinated to the control of men. How can we justify its existence?

By the dominant paternalism, which underlies the belief that men should have more power than women, so they are afraid that women may usurp this dominant status. For example, in the private sphere within a heterosexual relationship, it is the man who should make the important decisions. For a hostile sexist, the prototypical characteristics of women (such as their greater sensitivity) make them less prone to higher status roles.

Within heterosexual relationships, hostility includes the belief that women are manipulative with men and that they exert power over men. and that, in addition, they exert power over men through sexual gratification. With the paradox that despite the fact that they consider them subordinate, they are sexually dependent on them.

Benevolent sexism

In the latter, a "positive" connotation is adopted towards women, but subject to certain functions.. This type of sexism is explained by protective paternalism, according to which women depend on men and men must protect them. For example, women must be taken care of before men in case of emergency. The complementary sex differentiation for the benevolent sexist is that female characteristics complement them, however, their roles will always be of lesser status than those he can or should exercise.

Finally, in this sexism heterosexual intimacy is also based on cooperation, however, physical and psychological aggression towards their partner has been a way to control them in order to maintain inequality.

How does a man react to ambivalent conflict?

To resolve the unpleasant psychological conflict that arises when faced with a man who is ambivalent towards the opposite sex, one can choose to react in two ways.

Firstly, one can divide the woman into sub-parts, evaluating each of them differently.. Thus they may, for example, love some women (e.g., their daughters) and hate others (e.g., those who advocate gender equality). The problem with this way of resolving the conflict is that such a subdivision of women may lead to the fact that not all women fit into one of these categories.

Secondly, sexists may negatively evaluate powerful women but respect them for being competent in their professional lives.. Or the other way around, they may feel affection for subordinate women but perceive them as incompetent. What sexists should keep in mind is that, in real life, they do not interact with stereotypes but with flesh and Blood women who fall into many categories (housewife, mother, worker with positions of responsibility, etc.) for whom they will have ambivalent feelings, especially if they have some kind of social or affective bond with her.

Concluding

The theories that address the issue of gender bias must understand the problem as part of a psychosocial dynamic. psychosocial dynamics. On the one hand, we must study the thinking styles linked to sexism, and on the other, we must study the way in which individuals interact with each other and with the environment. In this way, it is possible to understand such a complex phenomenon.