Men’s Hostile Sexism and Biased Perceptions of Partners’ Support: Underestimating Dependability Rather Than Overestimating Challenges to Dominance

Abstract

Hostile sexism expresses derogation of women’s competence and emphasizes that women will exploit men’s relational dependence. Men who endorse hostile sexism perceive their female partners more negatively, but do these negative perceptions stem from motives for dominance or insecurities about dependence? We tested both perspectives by assessing bias in perceptions of partners’ behaviors that challenge dominance (criticism, instruction, taking over) versus affirm partners are dependable (love, care, availability). Both members of 100 heterosexual couples reported how much they received and enacted these behaviors in (a) a lab-based discussion and (b) six monthly retrospective reports about an ongoing important goal. In both support contexts, men’s hostile sexism was associated with underestimating dependability-relevant support, particularly when partners reported providing low support. This pattern did not emerge for dominance-relevant behaviors. These results indicate that men’s hostile sexism involves insecurities about dependence, producing perceptions that female partners are less dependable than they actually are.

Relationship (in)security is central to the sources and outcomes of sexist attitudes

“…Two of our recent papers demonstrate that insecurity about partners' dependability (rather than dominance) is pivotal in understanding the effects of men's hostile sexism in relationships. Hammond and Overall () found that men's hostile sexism predicted perceiving partners as being less dependable (e.g., loving and caring) than was warranted based on their partners' reports, and these negative biases arose particularly at times when partners were actually being less dependable. Moreover, this vigilant pattern of bias did not emerge for perceptions of partners' dominance (e.g., being critical and taking over).…”

Ambivalent sexism and relationship adjustment among young adult couples: An actor-partner interdependence model

“…Consistent with research revealing that the endorsement of benevolent sexism is significantly associated with higher levels of happiness, well-being, and life satisfaction among both men and women (e.g., Connelly & Heesacker, 2012; Hammond & Sibley, 2011; Napier et al, 2010), we hypothesized that both men and women’s relationship adjustment would be impacted positively by their own level of endorsement of benevolent sexism. In contrast, considering previous results indicating that men who endorse higher levels of hostile sexism tend to behave more negatively toward their partners and to be less satisfied with their relationship (e.g., Hammond & Overall, 2013, 2020), we postulated that men’s endorsement of hostile sexism would be negatively associated to their own and their partner’s relationship adjustment. Finally, considering that less is known about the consequences of women’s endorsement of hostile sexism toward their own gender, the examination of the links between this variable and both partners’ relationship adjustment is exploratory.…”

“…Their propensity for aggression is heightened when they feel manipulated or controlled by their partners (Cross et al, 2017). Researchers have documented that men who strongly endorse hostile sexism tend to maintain biased perceptions of their partners, perceiving their behavior as more critical, manipulative, and less supportive and dependable than appears merited based on their partners’ reports of that behavior (Hammond & Overall, 2013, 2020). These biased perceptions would involve insecurities about dependence and lead men to behave more negatively toward their partners and, in turn, to experience lower relationship satisfaction (Hammond & Overall, 2013, 2020).…”

“…Researchers have documented that men who strongly endorse hostile sexism tend to maintain biased perceptions of their partners, perceiving their behavior as more critical, manipulative, and less supportive and dependable than appears merited based on their partners’ reports of that behavior (Hammond & Overall, 2013, 2020). These biased perceptions would involve insecurities about dependence and lead men to behave more negatively toward their partners and, in turn, to experience lower relationship satisfaction (Hammond & Overall, 2013, 2020). Dyadic data from a sample of married, cohabiting, and dating partners aged 16 to 74 suggested that the consequences of men’s hostile sexism extend beyond actor effects (Cross et al, 2019).…”

Men who endorse hostile sexism feel vulnerable and exploited when seeking support in close relationships.

“…The mistrust of women associated with men’s hostile sexism has deleterious effects on intimate relationships. For instance, men who endorse hostile sexism perceive their partners as less committed (Cross et al, 2019) and less caring (Hammond & Overall, 2020) than is justified by their partner’s reports. In turn, these men tend to report lower relationship satisfaction (Cross et al, 2019; Hammond & Overall, 2013; Leaper et al, 2020), greater fear of intimacy (Fisher & Hammond, 2019; Yakushko, 2005), and more serious relationship problems (Cross & Overall, 2019; Leaper et al, 2020).…”