Five-year-old children have inherent sexism that wears off as they grow up – but this process takes longer in little boys, according to a new study.

US researchers found that negative views of women held by children disappear with age – but 'benevolent' sexism diminishes only for girls.

'Hostile' sexist perceptions decline for both boys and girls as they get older – however, boys maintain benevolent or seemingly 'positive' sexist views aged 11.

Boys who think they are being chivalrous may actually view women as weak and helpless – attitudes that last throughout childhood and possibly into adulthood.

The study investigates the children's 'hostile' sexism and 'benevolent' sexism, which may seem inoffensive but still undermines women.

Boys are slower to recognise that their benevolent, or ambivalent, attitudes toward women are actually patronising, the researchers report

Most people understand sexism to refer to openly negative attitudes towards women, the researchers note, but benevolent sexism can be undermining, patronising and often overlooked.

BENEVOLENT SEXISM VS HOSTILE SEXISM Benevolent sexism (also classed as ambivalent or 'positive' sexism) describes attitudes and viewpoints that may appear positive, but are actually still undermining and patronising towards women. Examples include women 'should be warm, caring, pure and deserve to be admired' or 'men need to protect women from danger'. The theory of benevolent sexism has largely been developed by social psychologists Peter Glick and Susan Fiske. Benevolent sexism contrasts with hostile sexism, which, as the name suggests, is less well-meaning or deliberately hurtful. An example of hostile sexism is 'women get more upset than men about small things'. Advertisement

'It might seem cute when a boy acts in chivalrous ways toward girls, or when a girl pretends to be a princess who's waiting for a prince to rescue her,' said study author Dr Andrei Cimpian from New York University.

'Many times, this is just play, with no deeper meaning.

'But other times, these behaviours – even though they may seem inoffensive – might signal that children view women in a negative light, as weak, incompetent and unable to survive or thrive without a man's help.'

Previous studies have shown adults who hold hostile sexist views also possess ones that are benevolent.

But psychologists had been unsure whether children also hold these perceptions – and whether or not these change through childhood.

To find out more, researchers studied the attitudes of more than 200 children aged five to 11 in New York City and Urbana-Champaign in Illinois, US.

The children were asked if a series of statements – classified as indicators of either benevolent or hostile sexist views – were right or wrong.

Researchers recorded the attitudes of more than 200 children, aged 5 to 11, in New York City and Urbana-Champaign, Illinois

For example, 'men need to protect women from danger' was a benevolent statement and 'women get more upset than men about small things' was defined as a hostile statement.

The results showed that if a child agreed with a hostile statement they were more likely to agree with a benevolent one.

'This is something we did not know before about young children's gender attitudes,' said Dr Cimpian.

The findings also revealed children's hostile sexism decreased with age for both boys and girls, but benevolent sexism declined only for girls.

This may be due to being surrounded by these social norms through early childhood, said Dr Cimpian.

Benevolent sexism is often overlooked. In males, it can directly or indirectly generalise women as weak, incompetent or unable to survive or thrive without a man's help

'Boys may be less likely to recognise that their benevolent attitudes toward women are, in fact, patronising,' he said.

'For instance, they may hold on to the belief that men ought to protect women because this view is in line with social norms and may be reinforced throughout their upbringing.'

To remedy this, the authors suggest the current coronavirus lockdown could be a good opportunity to outline the potentially harmful effects of benevolent sexism.

'Parents and kids are spending a lot of time together these days, so there are plenty of opportunities for conversation,' said study first author Dr Matthew Hammond at Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand.

'It could be worthwhile to spend a few minutes discussing what they think men and women should be.'

The research has been published in the journal Sex Roles.