Posted on 03/12/2015 6:54:19 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
If you’re a man who smiles at women and makes an effort to be kind to them, you’re probably an “insidious” and “treacherous” sexist, according to a study conducted by researchers from Northeastern University in Boston.
Seriously.
After observing 27 people playing Trivial Pursuit, the researchers determined that these kind of behaviors — previously known as “chivalry” — were actually signs of what’s called “benevolent sexism.”
In other words: Men who think that women deserve to be treated well often also think that women should be treated particularly well because they’re women. This, they explain, perpetuates gender inequality. Offering your jacket to a shivering women isn’t helping her — it’s hurting her by perpetuating the patriarchal idea that a woman is more likely to be cold than you are just because she’s a woman.
Other warning signs of “benevolent sexism” include being friendly and chatty to women — which head researcher Jin Goh said is in some ways worse than being mean and/or straight up ignoring them:
“Sexism can appear very friendly and very welcoming, so in the paper we said that sexism can act like a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” Goh said, according to an article in the Washington Post. “We add that sexism can consciously or unconsciously cloak itself in friendliness, so in a way it’s more insidious and treacherous than hostile sexism.”
If you still don’t believe that “nice guys” are just sexist pigs in sheep’s clothing, check out some of their responses to questions on a test distributed by the researchers. They actually said things like “Women should be rescued from a sinking ship before men” and “A good woman should be set on a pedestal by her man.” Whoa!
See, here’s the thing — I totally do want to be rescued from a sinking ship first, and I’d immediately break up with anyone who didn’t set me on a pedestal. What’s so wrong with that?
Well, according to another one of the researchers, what’s wrong is that I actually don’t want those things for myself. I’m just too mesmerized by the tricks of benevolent sexists to realize that the chivalrous treatment I think I enjoy is actually oppressing me:
“These supposed gestures of good faith may entice women to accept the status quo in society because sexism literally looks welcoming, appealing and harmless,” researcher and professor Judith Hall said, according to an article in the Independent.
Well, Hall — you’ve got me there. Not having to drown to death on the Titanic does sound “appealing” to me. As does being asked if I want a coat when I’m shivering, especially considering the fact that it is literally scientifically true that women are more likely to feel colder than men. These are nice things; I appreciate them, and what’s really “hurting” me are articles like this that make men too reluctant to do them. (For example: I do wish a man would have helped me with my giant suitcase before it knocked me over as I was trying to drag it down the stairs by myself at a Duane Reade.)
I do agree that our society needs to view women as human beings who are just as valuable as men, and that we are in many ways not there yet — but I don’t see how lambasting both mean and nice behavior as “sexist” is going to solve anything. To suggest that I should be critical of men who listen to me when I talk is so completely backwards that it’s actually idiotic. I do appreciate these polite (and often clearly practical) “gestures of good faith” — and it’s not very feminist to tell me how I should want to be treated.
— Katherine Timpf is a reporter for National Review Online.
It’s not even time for lunch yet and I’ve committed enough “sexist” acts today to land me in Feminazi jail for the rest of my natural life...
I hold the doors for both men and women as a matter of courtesy. Does that make me bisexual?
Not in my book.
BTTT
We were in Southern California and decided to stop and visit an elderly uncle of my wife. It happened that his daughter was leaving for Europe and she had a very HEAVY suitcase and they couldn't lift it to put into the trunk. I did it and they were grateful.
RE: she had a very HEAVY suitcase and they couldn’t lift it to put into the trunk. I did it and they were grateful.
And still your’re sexist /sarc
And proud of it! :)
I read of a guy who did that and was told the same thing.
He apologized, saying, "Pardon me. I thought you were a lady."
Is that sexist?
No, but it is quite possibly racist and homophobic. );-)
I will do just that. Thanks. My impression was that the feminist authors of the piece meant every word of it. The person who posted the thread which contains the warped article didn’t buy into it, but the authors did and do.
Nope...only to the feminist idiots who make that sort of claim.
We are probably taking about the same guy LOL. It was about a couple of years ago right?
The best part starts with the “Well Hall - You’ve got me there” and extends through the next paragraph :)
Yes. I remembered that retort in case I ran into that situation, but I either get a smile and a thank you - or nothing at all - sometimes they act like they deserve it and other times like they are on another planet.
I got married in my 20’s and have been married 20 years this year. There is no way I would want to go courting/dating again. It is way to complicated now.
We used to have a laugh with the opposite sex, date them, and treat a girl good. Too confusing today.
What a completely IGNORANT article written by a woman with a chip on her shoulder the size of the grand canyon. Get over yourself Little Lady.
I should have said “study”
Apparently a man. Well, sort of.
http://www.northeastern.edu/cos/psychology/people/graduate-students/jin-x-goh/
My boy's 20-year marriage just went out the window when his wife fell in love with a country singer 15 years her junior. Luckily the divorce was amicable and he still has his hide intact.
He started checking out the dating services on the Internet and some of the tales he tells me reinforces your opinion. The whole game has changed and I would not want to be in his shoes.
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