Tara's boss always calls her "Miss," but refers to his other employees by name. He also goes out of his way to hold open a door for her, and has asked her a number of times to bring in some of her fabulous cookies for the office. Tara is experiencing __________ sexism from her boss.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tara's boss is showing benevolent sexism, which is a form of sexism that appears to be positive or chivalrous towards women, but is still rooted in gender stereotypes and reinforces unequal gender roles. Examples of this include treating women like delicate or fragile creatures who need to be helped or protected, or assuming that women are naturally better at certain tasks like cooking or cleaning. The fact that Tara's boss is singling her out for special treatment based on her gender, and using gendered language to address her (i.e. "Miss"), suggests that he may hold these kinds of attitudes towards women.

Tara's Boss Always Calls Her "Miss," but Refers to His