SEXISM AND RACISM - OLD-FASHIONED AND MODERN PREJUDICES

Prejudice and discrimination against women has become increasingly sub tle and covert (N. V. Benokraitis & J.R. Feagin, 1986). Unlike researc h on racism, little research about prejudice and discrimination agains t women has explicitly examined beliefs underlying this more modern fo rm of sexism. Support was found for a distinction between old-fashione d and modern beliefs about women similar to results that have been pre sented for racism (J.B. McConahay, 1986; D. O. Sears, 1988). The forme r is characterized by endorsement of traditional gender roles, differe ntial treatment of women and men, and stereotypes about lesser female competence. Like modern racism, modern sexism is characterized by the denial of continued discrimination, antagonism toward women's demands, and lack of support for policies designed to help women (for example, in education and work). Research that compares factor structures of o ld-fashioned and modern sexism and racism and that validates our moder n sexism scale is presented.