Why Smart, Sexist People Are Popular

Most people condemn sexism, but not necessarily smart sexists. When a sexist is intelligent and successful, many people don’t question beliefs or bad behavior. In fact, they may desire to cultivate a closer relationship with a sexist individual due to the allure of other attractive traits. Research explains.

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The seduction of smart sexists

Elena Agadullina (2021) studied the impact of sexism and intelligence on the willingness to interact.[i] She began by acknowledging the importance of appreciating the factors that contribute to a willingness to interact with sexist people because of the impression it can give to others—that sexism is not a problem. In two studies, she found that people preferred to form friendships or other relationships with intelligent people, regardless of whether they were sexist or committed sexist behavior. The positive impact of perceived high intelligence was confirmed whether the sexist individual was male or female and whether the sexism was operationalized as mere beliefs or as sexual harassment.

Agadullina notes that these results indicate that although sexism is considered to be a negative characteristic and socially undesirable, its significance in the formation of impressions is minimized when a person has other positive characteristics. The result is that people are willing to form and maintain close relationships with smart sexists—which can downplay the seriousness of sexism and promote gender inequality.

The benefits of intelligence

In addition to cognitive effects, Agadullina offers three additional explanations for her findings.

First, she notes that prior research shows that an impression is affected to a large extent by behavioral information that can have serious consequences. Because sexism has both negative and positive components (for example, believing women are both beautiful and weak—thus in need of protection), its consequences might not be seen as serious. Intelligence, however, is associated with positive outcomes, including complex problem-solving ability and socioeconomic status, giving it higher importance within impression formation and a desire to interact—even when an intelligent person is sexist.

Secondly, she notes that social exchange theory involves an attempt to maximize benefits and minimize costs, and people pursue social benefits by partnering with intelligent people. Such benefits might include an expected increase in social status, a chance to land a better job, and, for women, more resources to support children. After comparing the costs and benefits of interacting with an intelligent sexist, some might conclude that the benefits may outweigh the costs.

The third explanation deals with perceptions of intelligence and sexism. Agadullina explains that sexism can be perceived as a more malleable characteristic than intelligence. Sexist beliefs can improve, but intelligence is consistently positive.

Sexism is always harmful.

One could argue being smart and being sexist are not mutually compatible traits because of the knowledge of societal dangers that stem from sexist beliefs and behaviors. Unfortunately, Agadullina’s research found that sexism can be maintained if sexist people have socially desirable characteristics such as high intelligence, which creates a positive halo effect that attracts others, potentially validating sexist beliefs.

Agadullina suggests that a helpful strategy would be to promote the view that not even positive traits and characteristics should justify sexist beliefs or behavior. Perhaps through such proactivity, some smart sexists will come to recognize the harmfulness of holding sexist beliefs.