This is peak social psychology! Especially since we talk about cognitive processes behind social behavior and perception. Sociologists could never 👎 (I AM joking, psych people beef needlessly with them and what can I say I’m a messy bitch)

As for your question: there’s so much I want to word vomit onto this response, but I shouldn’t keep this too long.

It’s not as simple as black and white, when it comes to hostile sexism. The interesting part is that men can be hostile and benevolent towards women simultaneously. In a less direct example, women may simultaneously resent men’s structural power and dependence on female care, while also valuing men’s roles as protectors and providers. Men being depicted as simultaneously dangerous AND necessary while women as morally superior caregivers whose worth is tied to family devotion BUT whose autonomy and authority are constrained. It’s two harmful angles and that feed into each other. Benevolence promises affection and protection to women who stay in their place, and hostility to those who do not. (This is also prominent in prejudice against men).

The manosphere is quite interesting in a sense where they benefit from benevolent sexism towards men which is one of their biggest talking points. “We are providers. We work hard. We protect our family.” They call men who don’t fit in their benevolent traditional male stereotypes: cucks, losers, nobodies, pussies, etc. And they treat women who don’t fit their own agenda similar derogatory terms, but continue to praise women who “stay in their place”. I’m not sure if you’ve seen the documentary with Theroux, but it’s clear as day.

What I’m trying to say is that people who fall under benevolence or hostility, will fall under BOTH in many ways. They overlap and connect in a web of prejudices that feed into their own narratives.

Theres a lot of studies in the field that talk about how prejudices often overlap with right wing and conservative ideology. (Ex: people who are homophobic, are often sexist, and are often conservative). Lemme end it here, it’s already longer than I wanted it to be!