Abstract

Sexism and gender-stereotypes have long impacted societal and criminal justice system responses to victims of violent crime. Scholarly research has demonstrated that sexism is complex and takes varying forms (i.e., ambivalent, hostile, institutional, internalized and more). Of particular interest here is benevolent sexism, which is broadly defined as holding attitudes towards women that are seemingly positive, but which ultimately increase the patronization of women and reinforce their subordination. Such examples include the cultural customs of chivalry or the act of maintaining sexist attitudes with “good intentions.” Drawing on media case studies and scholarly literature, I examine the influence of benevolent sexism on the perceptions of women survivors of violent crime and the reactions to survivors’ stories. More specifically, I analyze how high-profile cases of violence against women have been delegitimized in the broader society, therefore hypothesizing that the presence of benevolent sexism undermines the perception of legitimacy of survivors’ stories and fosters barriers for women seeking justice in criminal justice settings. Due to the prevalence of benevolent sexism within the broader society, I investigate the extent to which women face additional obstacles towards being afforded the opportunity to express their stories, their emotions, and their opinions about their own experiences. It is my hope that an analysis of this topic will contribute to a greater understanding of the extent and persistence of benevolent sexism within our society and therefore create a foundation to mitigate its impact.

Semester/Year of Award

Fall 2025

Mentor

Dr. Judah Schept

Mentor Department Affiliation

Justice Studies

Access Options

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Scholars

Degree Level

Bachelors

Department

Justice Studies

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