Internalized Sexism and Well-Being in the United States

Abstract

Although structural sexism in state-level institutions is harmful to women's and men's health, less is known about how micro-level structural sexism relates to well-being. Using the 2017 and 2021 Gallup Values and Beliefs of the American Public surveys (N = 1,501 in 2017; N = 1,248 in 2021), we investigate diverse approaches to internalized sexism. Although we find no significant associations with self-rated health, gender traditionalism is linked to greater depressive and anxiety symptoms for women and men, providing the first population evidence for its universal harm in the United States. Although benevolent sexism shows no associations with mental well-being, hostile sexism is linked to greater symptoms among men. A diminished sense of mastery consistently accounts for these relationships, showing promise as a potential mechanism. These findings are suppressed by political conservatism and religious involvement, both of which lead to reporting greater-rather than diminished-well-being.

Keywords: United States; health and well-being; internalized sexism; structural sexism.