Do you open the door for women? New study claims you might be a sexist

[Bebe 17,289]

If you're the sort of gentleman who holds the door open for a lady – or the sort of woman who expects him to – then be warned.

Such acts of chivalry may actually be 'benevolent s-xism' in disguise, according to researchers.

Experts say this type of s-xism is harder to spot than the 'hostile s-xism' we are more familiar with – because it often masquerades as gallantry. It is typified by paternal and protective behaviour, from encouraging smiles to holding doors open.

US researchers argue that while women may enjoy being showered with attention, benevolent s-xism is 'insidious' and men who are guilty of it see women as incompetent beings who require their 'cherished protection'.

Professor Judith Hall, of Northeastern University in Boston, said: 'Benevolent s-xism is like a wolf in sheep's clothing that perpetuates support for gender inequality among women. These supposed gestures of good faith may entice women to accept the status quo in society because s-xism literally looks welcoming, appealing and harmless.'

Working with a male colleague, Professor Hall paired 27 men with women they had never met before and gave them a quiz game to play and time to chat afterwards.

The men, who were aged 18 to 22, also filled in a survey designed to detect s-xist attitudes. 

Examples of hostile s-xism included agreeing that women tend to exaggerate problems at work, while someone who is benevolently s-xist will believe women should be rescued before men from a sinking ship.

They found men whose answers led to them being classed as benevolently s-xist smiled more while playing the quiz game and chatting. They were more patient while waiting for their female partners to answer the trivia questions and warmer, friendlier and chattier than those who were hostile s-xists.

Writing in the journal Sex Roles, the researchers said that while such behaviour may be well-intentioned, this doesn't mean it isn't harmful. Men who are guilty of benevolent s-xism see women as 'warm and pure, yet helpless and incompetent beings'. Study co-author Jin Goh said: 'Benevolent s-xist men hold women in high regard and are willing to sacrifice themselves to save and protect women. 

However, benevolent s-xist men perceive women as the weaker gender at the same time. 

'Unless s-xism is understood as having both hostile and benevolent properties, the insidious nature of benevolent s-xism will continue to be one of the driving forces behind gender inequality in our society.'

But critics have argued that there is nothing wrong with men trying to protect women as they are usually the physically stronger s-x. Jill Kirby, a writer on social policy, said: 'There are times when it is very important for women to be protected. We should accept this and not seek to stamp out what is likely a good instinct on the whole.'

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2988310/How-smile-reveals-man-s-SEXIST-Beliefs-women-betrayed-facial-expressions-claims-study.html?ito=social-facebook

Hmm. Interesting. I hold doors open for everyone if I am the first person to reach the door. I have also offered women jackets if they are cold, that's what I have been taught by my mother. I don't do anything else from the "Benevolent Sexist" checklist though.

What are your thoughts on this?

[djBuffoon 12,235]

I also hold the door for people if I happen to reach it first. Yes, calling a woman "love" or "dear", especially if they're a stranger/acquaintance, is a little annoying to me, but some of the other specifications could be considered good manners.

[Paper Planes 340]

I hold doors open for most anybody that is polite...?

[Pitch 204]

I hold it open for both men and women

[Coop 15,397]

 

[Jester 6,388]

I hate feminism. It's sooo not what it's supposed to be.

[Luiz 4,253]

ok so i'm just going to slam it in their ****ing faces next time and keep opening it for the bros.

 

 dont want to be s-xist and all and sorry about your face 

[Dorothy Gale 7,575]

These feminist theories are getting crackpottier by the day. 

[Brandon 457]

Yes I do. I also think women are weaker naturally and most men are superior or at least they have to work for it. 

[Shadow 6,697]

I thought opening the door for anyone was polite.  So chivalry is s-xist now?

I don't use terms of endearment for random women. I only use madam or miss and I need to be careful of that since many don't like the age connotations those terms seem to have now. Even guys get weird when you call them, "sir." So .i try to use dude or man with them. If I know the female's first name, I just try to use that.

Am I the only one who doesn't give a **** of what people call me? If people are cool or nice, I acknowledge and return politeness in kind. If people act rude or stupid, I feel exempted from giving a **** about their existence.

 

 

[Mariann 301]

I love when somebody opens a door for me. It's a nice gesture. 

[Harry 26,836]

See this is the kind of thing that really annoys me. If I hold a door open for a woman I'm s-xist? I hold the door open for anyone that's approaching, it's called manners.

I can actually see how some of those other things could contribute to pushing gender equality backwards, but it's only how people have been raised to act.

It's this exact kind of thing that makes people think feminism is a joke. If a guy does something chivalrous because he thinks it's nice - he's s-xist! I don't understand why they can't raise these points and inform people instead of using terms like that.

ALSO I don't see how a man loving a topless calendar would fall under hostile s-xism. If a woman loves her body enough to show it off for a calendar like that, then good for her. It's within a straight man's natural instinct to be aroused by that, in the same way that a lot of women would like to hang up a calendar of some Hollywood actor with his six pack on show.

[Morphine Prince 109,682]

What they are saying makes sense. But I open the door for anyone who is close behind me male or female. I address people all people by their name, no endearment. A lot of women seem to like chivalry, so I wouldn't say it's too harmful.  

[Fiona Apple 13,006]

I hate feminism. It's sooo not what it's supposed to be.

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[Luiz 4,253]

was looking for a funny gif to add to my post but found this.