Ambivalent Sexism and Neosexism: Examining the Role of Affirmative Action Attitudes in Sustaining Workplace Gender Inequality

Abstract Gender-based affirmative action (GAA) in the workplace, despite targeting gender discrimination, elicits negative reactions. Few studies have explored socio-cognitive factors sustaining critics towards GAA. In this study we aim to fill the gap, asserting that individuals can simultaneously hold neosexist beliefs and positive attitudes towards GAA, forming an attitudinal combination that perpetuates workplace gender inequality. We argue that ambivalent sexism precedes adherence to this combination and that ambivalent sexists, high on both hostile and benevolent sexisms, endorse this combination more than other sexists. In a sample of 792 participants ( n = 555 employed in public and private institutions; n = 237 college students), results showed that, men displayed higher levels of hostile and benevolent sexism, as well as neosexism, and supported GAA less than women. Additionally, hierarchical cluster analysis identified four sexist profiles, with an analysis of variance revealing that these profiles were linked to varying levels of neosexism endorsement and support for GAA. Overall, ambivalent sexists reported significantly higher levels of both neosexism and support for GAA compared to hostile, benevolent, or nonsexist participants.