Because you're a woman : perceived sexism and criticism in familial, workplace and intimate relationship interactions

Abstract

Criticism is an ineluctable and pervasive element of daily interpersonal interactions, which usually leads to feelings of upset. Sexism is a widespread form of gender discrimination which also typically induces feelings of upset. However, little is known about how criticism and sexist experiences shape one’s construal of criticism from various interpersonal sources. The present study aims to investigate whether there are differences in individuals’ upset levels after receiving criticism depending on the interactions among perceived criticism (PC), perceived sexism, and relationship types from which criticism originates from (i.e. mother, father, workplace supervisors and romantic partners). Participants (N = 135) completed a set of self-report online questionnaires measuring their experiences of sexism using the Schedule of Sexist Events scale and corresponding PC ratings for the four target relationships. They also read experimental vignettes describing scenarios of criticism and praise from different sources. They were assigned randomly to eight groups where the order of relationship type described in each vignette had been randomised. Results found that there was no significant interaction effect between PC and relationship type. A significant interaction effect between PC, perceived sexism and relationship type was found. Individuals high in perceived sexism demonstrated higher levels of upset as PC levels increased across all relationship types except romantic partners, relative to individuals with lower perceived sexism. These findings contribute towards understanding how levels of PC and perceived sexism affect affective apprehension of criticism across interpersonal sources. Future research can take a cultural standpoint by examining the influences of face and power distance on the perceptions and affective experiences of criticism and sexism.