“A Giant Leap for Mankind”, but What About Women? The Role of System-Justifying Ideologies in Predicting Attitudes Toward Sexist Language

Douglas, Karen, Sutton, Robbie M. (2014) “A Giant Leap for Mankind”, but What About Women? The Role of System-Justifying Ideologies in Predicting Attitudes Toward Sexist Language. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, . ISSN 0261-927X. (doi:10.1177/0261927X14538638)

Abstract

Sexist language excludes, trivializes or diminishes either gender. Despite efforts by many professional bodies to encourage the use of nonsexist alternatives, sexist language use persists across many languages. Further, research has shown that men are less supportive of nonsexist language alternatives than women, and that this effect is mediated by attitudes toward women. We propose that broader ideologies related to the perceived legitimacy of dominance hierarchies and existing social systems also explain this gender gap. British undergraduate participants completed measures of attitudes toward women, gender-specific system justification, and social dominance orientation. They also completed an inventory of attitudes toward sexist language. There was a strong gender difference in attitudes toward sexist language that was significantly mediated by gender-specific system justification and social dominance orientation. The relationship between gender and attitudes toward sexist language therefore appears to be driven by broader ideologies that serve to keep women “in their place”.

Item Type:	Article
DOI/Identification number:	10.1177/0261927X14538638
Uncontrolled keywords:	sexist language, sexism, attitudes toward women, system justification, social dominance orientation
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Faculties > Social Sciences > School of Psychology Faculties > Social Sciences > School of Psychology > Social Psychology
Depositing User:	Karen Douglas
Date Deposited:	15 May 2014 09:44 UTC
Last Modified:	29 May 2019 12:35 UTC
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/41076 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)