Sapphires and Superwomen: The Role of Ambivalent Sexism, Religiosity and Internalized Racism on Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence

Grounded in misogynoir and ambivalent sexism theories, this study explores how gendered stereotypes (Sapphire and Superwoman), internalized racism, sexist beliefs and religiosity are associated with attitudes toward intimate partner violence (IPV) among African individuals. Despite growing research on IPV, less is known about how stereotypes specific to Black women relate to IPV attitudes in sub-Saharan African contexts, where postcolonial dynamics and religiosity may shape these associations differently from Western contexts. This study addresses that gap by examining how both hostile and benevolent forms of sexism, as well as internalized racism and religiosity, are associated with more permissive attitudes toward IPV. We surveyed 184 students hailing from regions in sub-Saharan Africa, predominantly Nigeria (55.4% women, 44.6% men). Correlational and gender-stratified hierarchical regression analyses indicated that internalized racism was consistently associated with more permissive IPV attitudes among both men and women. Hostile sexism remained a significant predictor among men, whereas religiosity was associated with less permissive IPV attitudes and remained significant among women. By extending racialized gender stereotype research beyond Western contexts, the study highlights the importance of cultural specificity in understanding the complex ways oppression manifests within Black communities.