Discrimination against Women
Prevalence, Consequences, Remedies
- Hope Landrine - Center for Health Disparities Research, East Carolina University, USA
- Elizabeth A. Klonoff - University of Central Florida, USA
August 1997 | 280 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
How frequently do women experience sexist discrimination? Is it widespread or concentrated in specific populations? Does sexism have any effect on womenÆs mental or physical health? How can we measure the impact of sexism, both blatant and subtle, on women exposed to it? In Discrimination Against Women, authors Hope Landrine and Elizabeth A. Klonoff offer the first empirically validated scale for measuring the health effects of sexism and present their findings from using the scale on a large sample of women they surveyed. The authors report on their studies assessing the frequency of discrimination against women and examining the physical and mental health impact of that discrimination. They found both that sexist discrimination is rampant in America and that it contributes significantly to physical and psychiatric symptoms among women. To make their scientific findings more accessible across disciplines and professions, the authors have included contributions from leading psychologists on what women can do about discrimination in their lives. They then present a review of the laws regarding discrimination against women to provide women with basic information on the legal status of discrimination suits. An appendix offers a guide through the methodological issues underlying the authorÆs sexism scale and findings and provides a primer for readers unfamiliar with scientific research and statistics.
This volume is ideally suited to inform clinical workers and trainers, deepen discussions in womenÆs studies, and enrich the perspectives of professionals who work with women and those who establish policies that have an effect on them.
PART ONE: PREVALENCE AND CONSEQUENCES OF SEXIST DISCRIMINATION
Introduction
Measuring Sexist Discrimination
Social Status Differences in Experiencing Sexist Discrimination
Physical and Psychiatric Correlates of Sexist Discrimination
Replication and Extension of the Schedule of Sexist Events
Appraisal v Frequency of Discrimination in Women's Symptoms
Theoretical Model and Interim Summary
PART TWO: REMEDIES FOR SEXIST DISCRIMINATION
Phyllis Bronstein
Coping with Sexist Discrimination
Bernice Lott and Lisa Rocchio
Individual and Collective Action
PART THREE: THE LAW AND SEXIST DISCRIMINATION
Lynne Wurzburg and Robert H Klonoff
Legal Approaches to Sex Discrimination