Dismantling “Benevolent” Sexism

According to the research, even well-intentioned men are likely to respond to sexist workplace comments with "benevolent sexism": attitudes, practices, and actions that seem positive but that undermine their goal of supporting women at work. Stereotypes about women's and men's identities, social roles, and behavior are reinforced by sexism. The consequences for working women are the same, even though each type uses different tactics. Men should be aware that some responses may not be as effective as they thought. Six things men can do to check their assumptions are presented.

The majority of us work with men who care about gender equity. You might be one of those men. It is likely that you agree that workplace sexism is a problem. You know how society benefits when you challenge sexism, and you are confident in your abilities to do so. When you hear a sexist remark at work, your instinct is to confront the speaker directly.