Research has shown that sexist behaviors could have negative effects in one’s life. According to the theory, ambivalent sexism, sexism can occur in two different forms: hostile and benevolent sexism. Hostile sexism is expressed when women do not fit into traditional female gender roles, and appears as more violent behavior, whereas benevolent sexism is expressed through ideals with more romantic and chivalric undertones by using undermining, and belittling behaviors. Hostile sexism is viewed as having more violent behaviors, and benevolent as having undermining and belittling behaviors. Benevolent sexism sometimes can go undetected because of its moderate nature. Research done on linking sexism and health behaviors, tend to focus solely on hostile sexism, leaving the link between benevolent sexism and health behaviors understudied. This research will examine if women’s self-reports on body perception, and BMI scores are related to appraisals of hostile and benevolent sexism. Undergraduate women (N=104) completed online surveys, which asked them to appraise the levels of sexism present in hostile and benevolent ideas, and their participation in certain health behaviors; body perception, and BMI scores. We expect that behaviors that are appraised as being hostile sexism will be more negatively correlated to poor body perception, and higher BMI scores than behaviors that are appraised as benevolent sexism. Measuring these variables is important so we can better understand health behaviors and how they are influenced by appraised sexism.
