Benevolent Sexism In The Housewife

There is a perpetuating cycle of benevolent sexism that reinforces damaging stereotypes of women. According to benevolent sexism, woman is defined in relation to what man can do for her, in return for behaving in certain stereotypical ways. Benevolent sexism insidiously enhances inequalities between men and women, white women and women of color. Specifically, it rewards women for their servitude to men, white men specifically. Women serve men for protection, and black women serve white women for a place to live or for payment. It is not just in the work that women do, rather it exists in personal interaction and social hierarchy. There are ways that women can, however, usurp benevolent sexism for their advantage.
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In using the positive qualities of the “housewife”, i.e. caring, loyal, hard working, women can expand their terrain into careers, using the same characteristics. Instead of being homemakers, women can pursue other ventures with the same vigor and concern as they would for their families and homes. The first step in combatting benevolent sexism, however, is to acknowledge where it exists, which is difficult, as “women, as compared with men, consistently reject hostile sexism but often endorse benevolent sexism” (Glick and Fiske 109). Hostile sexism is explicit sexism, such as cursing and abuse of women. Women must find reward in other places that are not damaging, such as in the love of their children or the security and success of a job. This is not to say that being a homemaker is always detrimental to women. If a woman finds empowerment and independence in her household duties, then good for her. It is, however, vital for women to analyze their situations and break free from stereotypes that may be oppressing them from personal, intellectual, and civil growth, or even harming their physical or mental