Ambivalent sexism and gender stereotyping in male adolescents aged 12 to 16 years

Abstract

Discrimination and violence against the female gender are associated with distorted representation of women. This paper aims at measuring the existence of prejudice in the manifestations of ambivalent sexism and gender stereotypes in male adolescents aged 12 to 16 years. Three questionnaires (socio-demographic, Gender stereotyping, Ambivalent Sexism Inventory) were applied to 787 students of 11 public schools in a cross-sectional study. The results pointed out to the presence of gender stereotypes. There was a significant difference between students of state and city schools and also between those who studied in neighborhoods presenting a higher economic status in comparison to the others. Sexism presented itself significantly more benevolent than hostile. The score to the benevolent component varied according to the attended school, while the hostile one was not influenced by the studied variables. These results corroborate the existence of gender stereotypes and ambivalent sexism in male adolescents and the necessity of developing actions and policies to their eradication.