Abstract

Confrontation is a good strategy for lowering discrimination. Given that victims who confront are evaluated negatively, the role of witnesses of discrimination is crucial. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse how women who confront discrimination not directed towards them are evaluated (versus those who don't confront), by examining the role of two factors: sexist attitudes and the characteristics of the woman. In one experimental study with a general population (N = 657), we found that women who confront a racist comment are perceived more positively than women who do not confront. However, women who do not confront are more positively evaluated by sexist participants (vs less sexist individuals). The characteristics of the women do not affect the participants' evaluation of them. These results show that even though women who confront may be positively evaluated in general, prejudice towards women is a key factor in the perception of women who choose not to confront.