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Some women adopt a sexist worldview even though they know it disadvantages them – simply because they agree with gender inequality.

New research claims certain women believe their gender’s lower status is legitimate, making them “benevolent sexists”.

This means they view the genders as unequal but don’t actively hate women, and believe a hierarchical relationship with men is a good thing.

According to a study for the Australian Journal of Psychology, this could be because the worldview obligates men to be protectors and look after them.

Researchers surveyed more than 10,000 women from New Zealand and 269 American women, measuring “social dominance orientation”, the extent to which someone judges women’s inferior social position to be legitimate.

They found those with social dominance orientation are more likely to adopt a benevolently sexist worldview.

Lead author Helen Radke told Vice: "We wanted to know why these women internalise this form of sexism.

"One possible explanation for why women endorse an ideology that obligates men to cherish and protect them—i.e. benevolent sexism—is because they believe that the social hierarchy is natural and good.

"They endorse what we call a 'social dominance orientation' and perceive that women's lower-status position in the social hierarchy is legitimate."

Co-author Fiona Barlow told Business Insider their research helps explain why some women support restrictions on what women can do.

“Benevolent sexism concerns revering traditional women, provided that they do not violate traditional norms, like being an outspoken feminist or an ambitious career woman,” she said.

“This ideology also concerns the idea that it is men’s obligation to look after and protect ‘good’ women.

“This helps to explain how some women can support, or even fight for, limitations on what women are allowed to do.”