Research by Bearman, Korobov and Thorne describe how incidents of sexism exist on a spectrum. Mundane, everyday sexism is the background of our daily lives. These everyday experiences have a profound impact on women’s mental health and relationships. One result of day-to-day sexism is the pervasiveness of women’s feelings of unworthiness and powerlessness. The source of these harmful feelings about self are often left unexamined.
One of the dimensions of internalized misogyny identified in research conducted by Binaz Bozker in 2020 is that women devalue themselves. They judge themselves less worthy than males. When women feel they hold less value and are less worthy than their male peers, their sense of self is damaged and that may lead to feelings of incompetence and the acceptance of powerlessness.
Women’s self-targeting derogation, or value reduction, includes an internalized patriarchal sense of morality. Derogation keeps women in their place, a place that supports the disproportionate distribution of power in patriarchal systems as women believe they are exactly where they need to be and are unworthy, or unsuited, for a different position in life. This morality is oppressive in that it confines women to live within a limiting and narrow spectrum of behavior norms, creating barriers for women’s full ability for self-expression and life possibilities.
The authors of Internalized Oppression, Bearman and Amrhein, outline how in everyday conversation and situations, women’s experiences and characteristics are invalidated and trivialized. In comparison to men, patriarchal society does not value women’s values, choices, feelings, thoughts, opinions, views and preferences. When this becomes internalized, a woman does not believe in their own judgements, and she is more likely to rely on men. In this way, she abdicates her power of decision making and her life choices.
Another way that this dimension serves the aim of oppression is that when women internalize powerlessness they may self-silence their voice and avoid asserting their ideas, decisions and power. This is an obvious win for oppressors. Embodying power, being decisive and demonstrating assertiveness are traits reserved for men in patriarchal structures. There are also financial and professional consequences of internalizing these gender expectations. A woman that owns her agency traits of power and assertiveness may realize more competence and success in many professional areas, especially male dominated fields.
Women learn early that the need to be liked versus respected relates to how we hide our voice power, assertiveness and elements of self that don’t fit gender norms. Women that reject the oppression of patriarchal values asking us to act as if unworthy and powerless face social consequences. They will be perceived by people that uphold patriarchal values as less desirable. For women to be both relational and empowered, it may require she strategically seek out and maintain relationships, friendships and social networks of similarly empowered people to avoid social penalties and nurture supportive relationships that are in line with an empowered value system.
When a woman abdicates her power, she may give in to cultural pressure. In this case, women may internalize a low expectation of their capabilities and live their life accordingly. This submission may be reflected in the full spectrum of life choices and level of conformity to gender role expectations. Women may choose careers perceived as designed primarily for females even if she has other interests and unowned talents. She may design her life in alignment with women’s expected role in society. When women do achieve, they may not own their own capabilities that contributed to success.
Patriarchal society glorifies women’s extreme self-sacrifice and may idealize renouncing, ignoring and sacrificing women’s self, desires and needs in service to men, their children and other people, even if harmful to their self, and often outside of awareness. This internalizes a loss of self. Women may justify their disadvantaged position as a “choice” as a defense strategy against feeling stigmatized. Patriarchal approved “choices” for women lack the status, self-determination, security, economic advantages, and resources needed to be realistically and fully empowered in their life choices. Women learn that the perfect wife, mother and family member is self-sacrificing, devoted, obedient, forgiving and compassionate without the boundaries of a healthy self.
Acting as if weak, powerless and unassertive internalizes powerlessness. Leading a lifestyle that includes acting as if having extreme powerlessness, more than reality requires, confirms thoughts, actions, feelings and beliefs about personal powerlessness. Acting as if we don’t have needs, desires, opinions or boundaries confirms a weakened sense of self. Unfortunately, there is a holistic effect of this response and a vision of an alternative, more valuable, powerful and authentic self, is lost.