Women are more attracted to men who have a “benevolent sexism” attitude, a new study has revealed. Benevolent sexism is sexism which views women in a stereotypical way with restricted roles like thinking of women as homemakers or being gentle and nurturing.
In the study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin by Pelin Gul from Iowa State University, ladies think that men with this kind of attitude are most likely willing to invest.
The research was designed by asking more than 200 female students to read the profile of a man that represented either BS or non-BS attitudes and rate the men in various categories including a willingness to provide, willingness to protect, and how attractive they found him.
According to the authors, the women preferred men with BS attitudes because they were “willing to invest by being protective, providing, and committed.”
However, from the feminist proponents' view, the study itself raises many questions.
“The reality is that there’s nothing ‘benevolent’ about sexism. Sexism, like every other -ism, is based on power and reinforcing the dominant partner’s status. So ‘benevolent sexism’ is, to me, a contradiction in terms,” Harriet Minter, a broadcaster, women’s rights journalist told The Independent.