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The Danger in Sexism: The Links Among Fear of Crime, Benevolent Sexism, and Well-being

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Abstract

In two studies utilizing undergraduate students at a large public university in the Northeastern U.S., we examined how fear of crime negatively impacts psychological well-being and gender relations. In Study 1, students (N = 216, 105 female) who indicated higher levels of fear of crime also indicated greater endorsement of benevolent sexism (but not hostile sexism) as well as higher levels of behavioral inhibition and lower self-esteem. In Study 2, fear of crime was manipulated and participants (N = 115, 73 female) in the crime condition indicated greater endorsement of benevolent sexism, greater behavioral inhibition and lower self-esteem, as compared to participants in a control condition. The implications of the findings for gender relations and psychological well-being are discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, 53 Avenue E, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA

    Julie E. Phelan & Diana T. Sanchez

  2. Department of Behavioral Sciences, Mitchell College, 437 Pequot Ave., New London, CT, 06320, USA

    Tara L. Broccoli

Authors
  1. Julie E. Phelan
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  2. Diana T. Sanchez
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  3. Tara L. Broccoli
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julie E. Phelan.

Appendix

Appendix

Please indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statements or engage in the following behaviors on a scale from 1 (Never) to 5 (Always) scale.

  1. 1.

    Before I go to bed at night I double check to make sure the doors are securely locked.

  2. 2.

    When someone rings/knocks at my door I ask who it is (or look through the peephole) before I open the door.

  3. 3.

    I think twice before going out for a walk late at night.

  4. 4.

    If I have to take the subway/bus alone at night I feel anxious.

  5. 5.

    I avoid going out alone at night.

  6. 6.

    I ask friends to walk me to my car / the subway if it is late at night.

  7. 7.

    I think about the shoes / clothes I am wearing in terms of my ability to run in a dangerous situation.

  8. 8.

    In general, I feel safe at night (reverse-coded).

  9. 9.

    When I am walking alone I think about where I would run if someone came after me.

  10. 10.

    I have turned down invitations / opportunities because I didn’t want to risk coming home alone afterwards.

  11. 11.

    I feel confident walking alone late at night (reverse-coded).

  12. 12.

    I am especially careful of wearing the ‘proper’ clothes.

  13. 13.

    If I was waiting for an elevator and it arrived with one man alone inside, I would wait for the next one.

  14. 14.

    I am afraid of being assaulted physically.

  15. 15.

    I feel safe walking to my car alone if it was parked in an underground parking lot (reverse-coded)

  16. 16.

    The possibility of physical assault affects my freedom of movement.

  17. 17.

    If I have to walk outside late at night I take precautions.

  18. 18.

    If it was dark and I had to walk to my car, I would make sure I was accompanied by someone I trusted.

  19. 19.

    If I was driving alone and I had to park my car, I would try to park on a well lit street.

  20. 20.

    I feel safe going into public washrooms in subways or malls (reverse-coded)

  21. 21.

    I feel safe in my apartment / house when I am home by myself (reverse-coded)

  22. 22.

    I carry objects (keys, knife, something sharp) when I walk alone at night.

  23. 23.

    When I’m walking out alone at night I am very cautiuous.

  24. 24.

    If I heard that someone had been assaulted in my neighborhood, I wouldn’t leave the house unless I really had to.

  25. 25.

    When I am choosing a seat on the bus or subway I am conscious of who is sitting nearby.

  26. 26.

    I feel very safe being out alone in my neighborhood at night (reverse-coded).

  27. 27.

    If I am going out late at night, I avoid certain parts of town.

  28. 28.

    When I get on the bus / streetcar / subway I take a seat that allows me to keep an eye on those sitting nearby.

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Phelan, J.E., Sanchez, D.T. & Broccoli, T.L. The Danger in Sexism: The Links Among Fear of Crime, Benevolent Sexism, and Well-being. Sex Roles 62, 35–47 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-009-9711-8

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