Posted on 02/11/2003 9:27:41 AM PST by Mr. Jeeves
LOS ANGELES (Reuters Health) - Chivalry isn't all it's cracked up to be, suggests new research showing that men who hold doors for women also tend to hold sexist views about them.
"On the surface, you would say these are really polite gentlemen," said study author William Altermatt, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Michigan in Flint.
But women may not find their underlying beliefs about the opposite sex very considerate, he said.
At a recent meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Altermatt reported research showing that men who supported chivalry also generally believed that women are not as competent and powerful as men and that their place is in the home.
In one study, 201 college students (66% male) completed questionnaires about their beliefs on chivalry and attitudes toward women.
Responses revealed a clear association between chivalry and sexist beliefs, a link that is based on stereotypes, Altermatt and colleagues found.
The belief that women are less competent and powerful than men explained both chivalry --that women must be protected and provided for by men--and sexist beliefs that women are not qualified for high-power positions, the researchers concluded.
In a second study, they sought more information about chivalry and female stereotypes from an additional 185 college students (62% male). Participants evaluated three stereotypical subgroups of women and also completed a questionnaire about their views on chivalry.
The participants reporting high support for chivalry gave more favorable ratings to homemakers and less favorable ratings to career women and sexually permissive women than the low-chivalry participants did.
The researchers said these findings extend those of the first study by suggesting that chivalrous men not only endorse the stereotype that women are less competent and powerful than men but also disapprove of women who violate this stereotype--those who are high in competence and power or low in virtue.
While women shared some of the same views as men, there were differences. "Men were more favorable to chivalry than women and they also had more stereotypes of women," Altermatt said.
He describes chivalry as a type of "benevolent sexism." While chivalry may seem nice, he explained, the basis for it nonetheless is that women are in need of help by men.
"It makes men look great, but it's also got this baggage," Altermatt said. "It doesn't always make sense."
Um.....huh? Abortions don't result in children, last I checked.
LOL! I trust that this is an intentional parody of their logically incoherent sputterings.
My job took me around the country, and I decided quite naturally to retire to the South. For the reason you mention.
Yeah, I always open doors for the babes.
... not wear their hat at the table.
When I forgot to remove my hat at the table, my Dad would ask me if I were Jewish.
Why, that's mighty chivalrous of you. Isn't nice to know that (in the eyes of some academics), I just insulted you? Chivalry = sexism, so labeling someone as chivalrous must be something like Hate Speech. Oh, it's a strange, strange world.
No kidding. How many crates of 5.56mm NATO Ball could have been purchased with that money? That would be a helluvalot better way to spend the taxpayers bucks than this "study".
Watch your keyboard there, son. You're infected with the same feminazi drivel as the cartoons!
You ain't no generic, androgynous, nondescript "parent". You're a Father, an indispensable part of a complete family. Don't ever forget it.
(Of course, if despite your FRname, your'e female, then you're a Mother. Same deal.)
The researchers said these findings extend those of the first study by suggesting that chivalrous men not only endorse the stereotype that women are less competent and powerful than men but also disapprove of women who violate this stereotype--those who are high in competence and power or low in virtue."
Is it me or is there a disconnect between those paragraphs. How does he get from "favoring" homemakers to "women are less competent"? This guy makes quite a leap.
Oh, and I'm a sexist. I much rather spend my time in the company of a mature, confidant, capable, warm, loving woman than this guy, or most guys for that matter.
Too late, buddy. She's already married to me.
LOL Excellent point.
Nothing, you already told him twice!
I actually had something similar said to me when I did so for a lady in Washington DC. I was surprised by it, to say the least. Being British and thus unaware of this rather blunt end of feminism didn't help either.
Regards, Ivan
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