Perceived experiences with sexism among adolescent girls

This study investigated predictors of adolescent girls ’ experiences with sexism and feminism. Girls (N5 600;M5 15.1 years, range 5 12 – 18), of varied socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds, completed surveys of personal experiences with sexual harassment, academic sexism (regarding science, math, and computer technology), and athletics. Most girls reported sexual harassment (90%), academic sexism (52%), and athletic sexism (76%) at least once, with likelihood increasing with age. Socialization influences and individual factors, however, influenced likelihood of all three forms of sexism. Specifically, learning about feminism and gender-conformity pressures were linked to higher perceptions of sexism. Furthermore, girls ’ social gender identity (i.e., perceived gender typicality and gender-role contentedness) and gender-egalitarian attitudes were related to perceived sexism. Gender-based discrimination during adolescence can include both sexual harassment as well as gender bias in academic and athletic contexts. Sexual harassment oc-curs in the form of unwanted sexual behavior and sexist comments (see American Association of University Women [AAUW], 2001). Repeated sexual harassment can negatively affect girls ’ self-esteem, body image, adjustment, achievement, and beliefs about other