Internalized Sexism is when a person absorbs sexist beliefs, stereotypes, or expectations from society and begins to apply them to themselves or other people of their own gender.
In simple terms:
Sexism from the outside becomes a belief on the inside.
Unfortunate Examples
- A woman believing that men are naturally better leaders than women.
- A woman feeling that she must be exceptionally attractive to be worthy or valued.
- A woman criticizing another woman for being “too ambitious,” or “too independent.”
- A man believing that showing sadness or vulnerability makes him “weak” or “less masculine.”
- Someone feeling ashamed for not conforming to traditional gender roles.
- Automatically assuming that certain careers, behaviors, or personality traits are “for men” or “for women.”
How it may develop
Internalized sexism may develop through repeated exposure to:
- Family and cultural expectations
- Gender stereotypes
- Media and advertising
- Peer pressure
- Workplace discrimination
- Religious or social teachings
- Repeated experiences of unequal treatment
Over time, these messages may become automatic assumptions about one’s own worth, abilities, appearance, or appropriate behavior.
Psychological effects
Internalized sexism may contribute to:
- Low self-esteem
- Self-criticism and self-rejection
- Body dissatisfaction
- Shame and guilt
- Imposter syndrome
- Restricting one’s own opportunities
- Competition or hostility toward one’s own gender
- Difficulty asserting boundaries
- Anxiety or distress surrounding gender expectations
Internalized sexism vs. external sexism
External sexism:
“Women aren’t capable of being good leaders.”
Internalized sexism:
“Maybe I’m not capable of being a good leader because I’m a woman.”
The second statement illustrates how a social stereotype may become part of an individual’s self-concept.
Importantly, internalized sexism may not simply be a person’s “bad attitude.” It may reflect learned beliefs and social conditioning, it may be operating outside conscious awareness. Recognizing those beliefs may be an important step toward developing a more autonomous and compassionate self-concept.
Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 