Previous research suggests that benevolent sexism is an ideology that perpetuates gender inequality. But despite its negative consequences, benevolent sexism is a prevalent ideology that some even find attractive. To better understand why women and men alike might be motivated to adopt benevolent sexism, the current study tested system…

The relationships of cohabiting lesbian couples and cohabiting heterosexual couples were compared on three dimensions - Durability, Interdependence, and Equality. The lesbian relationships tended to be somewhat less durable and interdependent but more equal. Reasons for these differences are discussed. (Author)

Interviewed currently married or widowed women aged 60-75 (N=719), either childless or with one or more children, about advantages and disadvantages of childlessness and about other family-related and social areas. Results indicated that childless older women did not conform to a stereotype of unhappiness and dissatisfaction. (BH)

Examined the effect of wives' employment on the mental health of husbands. Findings reveal that wives' employment has negative effects on husbands' job and life satisfaction. These results suggest that the overall negative mental health effect may derive, in part, from the occupational domain. (Author/BL)

Although previous research has linked sexual harassment to negative psychological outcomes, few studies have focused on moderators of these relationships. The present study surveyed Black (n = 88) and White (n = 170) female undergraduates who endorsed experiences of sexual harassment to examine whether traditional gender attitudes differentially…

This study explored college women's ideas regarding how their lives would change if their appearance were consistent with a media-supported female beauty ideal. Participants rated self-generated life changes they associated with looking like a media ideal in terms of likelihood and positivity. Women's tendency to link positive and likely life…

Examined the impact of the husband's death on the psychological well-being of older widows. Positive affect was related to widows' religious involvement, number of siblings, and support from children and their families. Negative affect was associated with other deaths (in addition to that of the husband), housing dissatisfaction, and,…

Investigated whether a physical attractiveness stereotype exists when "attractive" is defined in terms of physique and "positive" is defined in terms of sex role characteristics and future life happiness. Sex role and life happiness were rated highest for those of intermediate attractiveness. Results for somatic beauty are discussed. (Author/BL)

This research tested predictions about the association of identity support and identity devaluation with psychological well-being (self-esteem, life satisfaction, and depression). Lesbian women completed baseline surveys (N=42), then provided daily experience reports during a 2-week period (n=38), and completed a 2-month follow-up survey (n=34).…

Surveyed married professional women (N=232) about their attitudes toward their roles and how they cope with role conflicts. A majority of women stated that they often experienced strains between these roles. Coping strategies such as having family members help with chores, and reducing standards, were significantly related to satisfaction.…

Investigates the relationship of women's current role choices, role satisfaction, and self-esteem to their perceptions of the earlier relationship with their mothers and to their perceptions of their mothers' role choices and role satisfaction. (Author/ABB)

Bem's Sex Role Inventory (Bem, 1974) was employed to categorize 101 older adults into masculine, feminine, androgynous, and undifferentiated sex role orientations. Relationships among these sex role orientations and cognitive flexibility and life satisfaction were explored. No significant relationships were found. Methodological considerations are…

The diverse life experiences of contemporary lesbians are shaped by women's differing ties to two social worlds, the majority heterosexual society and the minority subculture of the lesbian or sexual-minority world. This article presents a detailed conceptual analysis of a dual-identity framework that emphasizes lesbians' simultaneous affiliations…

Investigated race and sex differences in sex role attitudes of southern college students (N=5,750). Black and white men shared similar sex role orientation; black and white women shared a similar world view. Blacks were more likely than whites to feel that woman's real fulfillment comes from motherhood and that it was appropriate for mothers with…

Surveyed 150 rural employed mothers to determine family and job predictors of satisfaction with the dual-work role. Findings indicated the saliency of job satisfaction variables in determining role satisfaction among this group of women as opposed to hypothesized reference group support variables and nontraditional value orientation variables.…