The prestigious scientific journal Social Psychological and Personality Science has just published the results of a study conducted in 62 countries by a team led by dr hab. Natasza Kosakowska-Berezecka, prof. UG from the Institute of Psychology at the University of Gdańsk.
Over 160 researchers from 62 countries participated in the study, which was conducted as part of the Towards Gender Harmony project. This international team analysed the contemporary understanding of masculinity and femininity using quantitative and qualitative methods and conducted their research on all continents - it is the first such comprehensive and broad study in the history of social research on this topic.
The published results show that gender equality brings comprehensive benefits and that sexism is harmful to everyone - women, men, and the national economy.
What is sexism? It is the unequal treatment of others only because they are women or men. Sexism affects both women and men and is quite ambivalent in its nature - that is, it can take forms and manifest itself in behaviours that can be socially accepted and even valued; therefore, it is said that sexism can be both hostile and benevolent. Hostile sexism, i.e. unflattering, offensive comments or even open hostility, is most often encountered by women who are in positions of power, dominant and independent. Benevolent sexism, on the other hand, most often manifests itself in indulgence towards women, treating them as weaker; it puts them on a pedestal, appreciating their beauty more than their competence or intelligence - it rewards adoration, but only for those women who stick to traditional roles: mothers, carers, homemakers.
The data collected by an international team led by a scientist from the University of Gdańsk and analysed together with the whole team by dr Magdalena Zawisza from Anglia Ruskin University in the UK confirm the results from 2000, but on a larger sample of respondents from 62 countries. They indicate that hostile and benevolent sexism are strongly correlated in all countries studied, meaning that the adoration of women in traditional roles goes hand in hand with hostility towards non-stereotypical women who are independent and seek power.
Moreover, treating women in this way has negative consequences for entire nations and societies - countries with high levels of sexism have more gender inequality and more anti-democratic practices. Higher levels of sexism in a country were also correlated with lower GDP, indicating lower economic productivity, as well as with a lower ‘global peace index’, which means the presence of more internal and international conflicts, greater militarisation of the country and generally lower security for women and men. Finally, it even predicted a shorter healthy life expectancy for women and men, measured by the life expectancy according to the WHO (World Health Organisation). For example, the data obtained show that a one-point increase in sexism (measured on a scale of 0-5) is associated with a reduction of 9.12 months in life expectancy for men and 8.88 months for women.
The results obtained therefore clearly indicate that men, as well as the economies of entire countries, can benefit from supporting equality and counteracting sexism.
The research was financed by a grant from the National Science Centre in Poland awarded to Natasza Kosakowska-Berezecka (2017/26/M/HS6/00360).
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