The relationship of sexism and gender ideology to self-concept and self-esteem in persons with spinal cord injury / Relaciones entre sexismo e ideología de género con autoconcepto y autoestima en personas con LM

ABSTRACT

Adjustment to an unexpected physical disability is usually complex and multidimensional. Many variables may affect this adjustment, a process that would facilitate or limit adequate vital adjustment and psychological well-being. This research dealt with the specific effects that sexism and gender stereotypes have on the self-concept and self-esteem of people with spinal injuries. The research was a cross-sectional survey. The sample consisted of 127 people with long tern spinal injuries, 95 of them were men and 32 were women. MANOVAs were calculated to test for gender differences on self-esteem, self-concept, traditional sexism and neosexism. No significant differences were found. Additionally sexism measures were correlated to self-esteem and self-concept for both men and women. Results have shown that men with highest levels of neosexism had lower levels of emotional and family self-concept. That result did not hold for women, suggesting a buffer of gender on sexism and self-concept relationships. Discussion suggests the relevant role that intervention programs may play to improve gender equality in order to reduce sexism

RESUMEN

El proceso de adaptación a una discapacidad física sobrevenida es complejo y multidimensional. En él influyen muchas variables que pueden condicionar un adecuado ajuste vital y conseguir bienestar psicológico. Este estudio aborda los efectos específicos del sexismo y los estereotipos de género en la autoestima y autoconcepto de las personas con lesión medular (LM). El diseño es transversal y correlacional. La muestra está constituida por 127 personas con lesión medular de larga evolución, 95 varones y 32 mujeres. Los resultados de los MANOVAS no muestran diferencias estadísticamente significativas en función del género en las siguientes variables Autoestima, Autoconcepto, Sexismo Tradicional y Neosexismo. Las relaciones entre variables sugieren que existen relaciones negativas entre neosexismo, autoestima y autoconcepto emocional y familiar en varones con LM, pero no en mujeres con LM. La discusión plantea el relevante papel que pueden tener los programas de intervención que fomenten la igualdad de género para disminuir el sexismo