The Contextual Endorsement of Sexblind Versus Sexaware Ideologies

The current research examines the extent to which individuals endorse “sexblind” versus “sexaware” ideologies. Analogous to colorblind and multicultural ideologies, sexblindness involves ignoring sex categorization when perceiving others, and sexawareness involves recognizing and celebrating sex differences. Results revealed that participants endorsed sexblindness more (and, thus, sexawareness less) in work than in social contexts. Further, sexblindness was correlated with an internal motivation to respond without sexism, suggesting people perceive sexblindness as a way to reduce sexism. Consistent with this view, the more participants endorsed sexblindness in social settings, the less benevolent sexism they harbored. The implications of sexaware and sexblind ideologies and the difference between these ideologies and colorblind and multicultural ideologies are discussed.