Development and validation of the Benevolent Sexism in the Workplace scale

Abstract

AbstractBenevolent sexism is a set of attitudes towards women that are paternalistic and condescending but superficially kind, resulting in a host of negative intrapersonal and interpersonal consequences for its targets. While researchers have investigated benevolent sexism in general contexts for decades, only recently have researchers begun to explore the context of the workplace. This new focus on the workplace requires scale development and validation to appropriately measure the construct in this context. In line with this goal, the purpose of the study was to develop and validate the Benevolent Sexism in the Workplace (BSW) scale. Results from three studies indicated that the 19‐item BSW scale demonstrated robust initial evidence of reliability and validity. Specifically, Study 1 indicated that the BSW demonstrated the evidence of internal consistency and reliability across time, confirmed the predicted two‐factor structure through exploratory factor analysis and demonstrated that the scale predicted theoretically‐linked criterion variables. In Study 2, the results of the confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated the BSW factor structure found in Study 1 among a sample of working students, as well as examined additional, theoretically‐linked workplace criterion variables. Finally, in Study 3, the results of the confirmatory factor analysis and concurrent validity analyses provided additional support for the BSW factor structure and validity in a sample of working adults. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.