Do you think non-feminist women feel inadequate? Could that contribute towards their hostility to other women?

Question

In 2006, Cowan and Ullman conducted a study trying to find out if a woman's feeling of personal inadequacy contributed to their rejection of other woman. The results were printed in the peer-reviewed journal, Psychology of Women Quarterly.The researchers found that a woman's sense of personal inadequacy and their tendency to stereotype predicted women's hostility toward women. In turn, their hostility toward women predicted victim-blaming attitudes and less intimacy with their best female friend. The study's results provided evidence that fostering a sense of competency and self-worth among women may contribute to women's identification and liking for other women. In turn, women's liking of other women may mitigate female victim blame among women and possibly help cement the bonds that provide social support among women.

Do you think non-feminist and anti-feminist women's personal feelings of inadequacy could lead to hostility towards other women? Why or why not?

Further researcher's definitions: "Hostility toward other women can be defined as a generalized tendency of women to hold negative stereotypes of women as a group and to experience feelings of hostility toward and rejection of women. The proclivity of subordinated group members to devalue their own group and to internalize negative stereotypes about their own group has been termed "false consciousness" (Jost & Banaji, 1994), horizontal hostility, or ingroup rejection. Jost and Banaji (1994) defined "false consciousness" as "the holding of beliefs that are contrary to one's personal or group interest and which thereby contribute to the maintenance of the disadvantaged position of the self or the group". False consciousness serves the purpose of preserving the status quo and upholding the notion of a just world in which the members of the disadvantaged group justify their own group subordination."

Other researcher comments: "In the case of women's hostility toward women, scapegoating can be directed toward one's own group, especially because socially acceptable prejudices about women already exist. Instead of boosting her ingroup or derogating outgroups, a person with a chronically threatened sense of self may choose to derogate her own group. The proposed path between personal inadequacy and hostility toward women is consistent with studies showing a relationship between high self-esteem and ingroup favoritism (Aberson, Healy, & Romero, 2000; Rubin & Hewstone, 1998).
Conversely, a sense of personal inadequacy or low self-esteem may be related to ingroup rejection. When women experience a personal sense of inadequacy, other women may be viewed as "the enemy".

In addition, women who are hostile toward other women may take political positions that are not in the best interests of women as a group and may support candidates whose platforms are contrary to women's interests."

The study concerned women's hostility to women; nowhere was hostility of women towards men or their husbands mentioned.

Nor did the study concern any relationship choices between heterosexual couples, such as who was dominant or obedient.

I really didn't have an opinion one way or the other, I thought it was an interesting study. But based on the comments, I'm starting to see there may be some basis for the study's premise-there certainly has been evidence of hostility shown by non-feminists here. Clearly many of you are happy, confident and self-actualized.

Answer 1

Okay, chiming in. This is an interesting study about women. It's also interesting to me how quickly this became an ad hominem attack on waswisgirl.

Maybe I'm the exception to the rule, since I've chosen to be a full-time mom (for now) and I also describe myself as a feminist. I've always thought that feminism was about being allowed to choose whichever life you want, not about having to work outside the home or having to stay in it. I derive a fair amount of satisfaction from running a nice home my children's friends are welcome to visit, and also from giving them experiences of the rest of the world. This isn't something my husband decided I should do; it's something I decided. I used to be a teacher, which I also loved and will probably go back to someday. Before that I was the assistant in a financial firm. I was really good at the job but it just wasn't terribly satisfying.

Anyway, the point to all this is that I'm really happy and satisfied now. Maybe it's because of age, but I'm much more secure now than I have been before. I'm also closer to my female friends and to my mom (who worked full time) than I have been before. So, I agree with the findings of the study.

As far as feminism goes, I'm hesitant to label all non-feminist women as feeling inadequate. The most conservative woman I know (who really ought to leave her husband) also is the most all-girls-together woman I know. I think any woman's personal inadequacy makes her more hostile, independent of her political views.

Answer 2

I wish you wouldn't of marked this question with "Do you think non-feminist women feel inadequate?" if you turn around and ask at the end "Do you think non-feminist and anti-feminist women's personal feelings..." just a little bias aren't you?

Anyway, I wouldn't think an extensive study would need to be done to prove that insecure females don't have friends.

And I am wondering why you add feminist or non-feminist at all? As I am taking from this it was a study of women, not feminist against non-feminist. If your train of though was that feminist have a group of friends and non-feminist don't have a group of Friends, then it would seem you are narrow minded. And has it ever occurred to you that a women can strive for equality and justice without labeling herself a feminist?

EDIT: TO SIGY AND WASWAGIRL If you wanted to attack ANTI-feminist then do so, but I think it is very immature and narrow minded to attack NON-feminist, or a women that does not view things EXACTLY as you do. I am for equality for women, for men, for children, for small business, for the community. So just because I don't joint the feminist club, do not presume I am ignorant or insecure.

those that bark the loudest usually have the most to hide!


EDIT2: you state "The proposed path between personal inadequacy and hostility toward women is consistent with studies showing a relationship between high self-esteem and in-group favoritism" then you say "a sense of personal inadequacy or low self-esteem may be related to in-group rejection. When women experience a personal sense of inadequacy, other women may be viewed as "the enemy".



The point I am trying to prove is that you do not have to LABEL yourself feminist to do better (for the whole). I am not against feminist, but I also do not label myself one because of people/question like this! And now I see why feminism is hated so much.

Do I hate feminism, no. I thank it for my right to vote, do I dislike self-centered, egotistical feminist, that give this great movement a bad name, yes!

Answer 3

Hey this is very interesting waswis. Thank you :)
I'm feeling a bit inadequate just reading the abstract of the study! I'm interested in reading the paper. I really want to learn more about this subject.

To answer you .. I will read the study and see what I think of it.

Right now I agree from what I see of anti-feminist women in here and IRL.

The anti-feminist women I see can be any age but they want a traditional role and they talk as if the past situation was better than today or the future. They usually say they are Christians and use religion to justify their views.

I believe that they have low self-confidence and they are often uncomfortable with other women who don't live like they do. They feel more security in having the approval of men and in having the status quo.

They maybe do not relate well to most other women and have difficulty in friendships with women and men but I don't know this for a fact. It is possible that they are anti-feminist because they are afraid of their potential as women And feel fear that they are limited.

I would feel sory for them (hey don't we all have some social anxiety in some ways at some times?) but I'm annoyed that they want to prevent the rest of us from having our rights and our potential choices for our lives.

Answer 4

Yes, I think they do. Why - because most of them are uneducated, especially on feminism. As a result, the higlight of their day is probably talking to their other non feminist friends about what's for sale at the grocery store this week, who's sleeping with who in their favorite soap opera show, and how the baby just pooped on them and how funny that was.

Answer 5

Damn, I hope they aren't spending my tax dollars on this research.

What, exactly, is a "non-feminist" woman? Why do I have a sneaking suspician that they mean a conservative, pro-life, family oriented woman? These social science folks are so bigoted against anyone who isn't a marxist social deconstructionist.

If the above definition is correct, I suppose that would be me that they are talking about. Feeling inadequate has never been one of my shortcomings. And the only women I feel hostile towards are women who expect me to subscribe to their "group think."

Answer 6

No I dont think its got anything to do with feminism.

It might have something to do with you wanting to draw a correlation between the idea that feminism empowers women and therefore those that describe themselves as feminist are therefore feeling more empowered than their non-feminist counterparts.

I doubt they feel inadequate - I should imagine that stating supposed facts like that, which seem more based on the above presumption insult them.

Following that line of thought would lead me to the question do your feelings of inadequacy lead you to review such studies, to then create lines of thought and subsequent questions which would insult other women not aligned with your ideology cause feelings of hostility?

And for that matter why does not aligning your self automatically render a person inadequate?

Answer 7

Waswis – I don’t think it serves any great purpose to ask if non-feminists feel inadequate. Regardless of the study you’re quoting, that’s just mean.

Answer 8

In sociology when a person is oppressed they internalize these feelings and consequently they are negatively manifested not only towards others but in physical symptoms too. This would certainly explain the hostility directed towards feminists by those who claim to be happy with their position if life. Personally I am not content unless I am striving for a better understanding and further learning. As humans we all work towards self actualization and those who don't can't feel particularly satisfied with their lives.

Answer 9

I completely agree with all the information you have provided here. As one of the females above me admitted, that the boldest goal of their existence is a clean house... She must know how pathetic she sounds to the rest of us. I run an international research company in addition to taking care of my husband of 17 years, 5 yo child and a sick father. BTW, you are welcome to eat off of my floors. Smile. In short: some of us are simply more ambitious about what we want to do in life. We are also skilled to handle a lot more than just your own stove, dear. I know: it takes courage to live your dream. Not all of us have what it takes to make it in life... BTW, if you did not make your little snotty comment about successful women, I would not even know you are alive...

Answer 10

You do know that it is the feminists that are the ones who are hostile (not only to women who disagree with them; but to each other).
And I do not feel inadequate, nor do am I hostile to other women. Heck, all but three of my friends are girls (and we're JUST FRIENDS for the sick minded people out there). The only people who I dislike I avoid so I don't loose my temper.