BENEVOLENT SEXISM TOWARD MYRA HINDLEY
Article Summary
When chivalry backfires: Benevolent sexism and attitudes toward Myra Hindley
Lesley Smith
Fort Valley State University
Viki, Massey, and Masser (2005), conducted empirical research to determine if the hypothesis “that paternalistic attitudes may influence people’s perception of female offenders” could be accepted or not (p. 109). Research has shown that paternalism can be defined as either hostile sexism or benevolent sexism (Glick and Fiske, 1996). Benevolent sexism is the positive evaluation of women in traditional gender role, while hostile sexism is the negative evaluation of women who violate traditional gender roles (Glick, Deibold, Bailey-Weerner, & Zhu, 1997; Masser & Adams in press). This article focuses on the influence that hostile and benevolent sexism has on people’s perceptions of female offenders (Viki, Massey, and Masser, 2005, p. 109). The researchers chose to conduct this study to examine where benevolent sexism and hostile sexism would differentially predict participants’ evaluations of female offender Myra Hindley (Viki, Massey, and Masser, 2005, p. 110-111). Paternalistic influence is important because it may actually result in harsher treatment of female offenders (Nagel, 1981; Saulter-Tubbs, 1993).
Research was done concerning Myra Hindley, who was convicted in England for the murder of two children and the accomplice to another similar murder and tortured them as well, because she is an example of the female stereotypical role of nurturing behavior violated in the most extreme way (Viki, Massey, and Masser, 2005, p. 110). The participants in the research were various volunteers from southeast England (Viki, Massey, and Masser, 2005, p. 112). Most of the volunteers were from a college campus, the city center, and a train station (Viki, Massey, and Masser, 2005, p. 112). One hundred and twenty three people participated, eighty seven of which were females and thirty six were male with a
When chivalry backfires: Benevolent sexism and attitudes toward Myra Hindley
Lesley Smith
Fort Valley State University
Viki, Massey, and Masser (2005), conducted empirical research to determine if the hypothesis “that paternalistic attitudes may influence people’s perception of female offenders” could be accepted or not (p. 109). Research has shown that paternalism can be defined as either hostile sexism or benevolent sexism (Glick and Fiske, 1996). Benevolent sexism is the positive evaluation of women in traditional gender role, while hostile sexism is the negative evaluation of women who violate traditional gender roles (Glick, Deibold, Bailey-Weerner, & Zhu, 1997; Masser & Adams in press). This article focuses on the influence that hostile and benevolent sexism has on people’s perceptions of female offenders (Viki, Massey, and Masser, 2005, p. 109). The researchers chose to conduct this study to examine where benevolent sexism and hostile sexism would differentially predict participants’ evaluations of female offender Myra Hindley (Viki, Massey, and Masser, 2005, p. 110-111). Paternalistic influence is important because it may actually result in harsher treatment of female offenders (Nagel, 1981; Saulter-Tubbs, 1993).
Research was done concerning Myra Hindley, who was convicted in England for the murder of two children and the accomplice to another similar murder and tortured them as well, because she is an example of the female stereotypical role of nurturing behavior violated in the most extreme way (Viki, Massey, and Masser, 2005, p. 110). The participants in the research were various volunteers from southeast England (Viki, Massey, and Masser, 2005, p. 112). Most of the volunteers were from a college campus, the city center, and a train station (Viki, Massey, and Masser, 2005, p. 112). One hundred and twenty three people participated, eighty seven of which were females and thirty six were male with a