Objective: The present study was planned with the aim of identifying the perspectives of women toward sexism, their conception to women-related honor and violence against women, and the interrelations among these notions.
Materials and Methods: The descriptive study addressed the conceptions and attitudes of 1518 students attending a university who had consented to participating in the study. The relevant data were collected via the “Attitude Scale for Women-Related Conception of Honor” (ASWRCH), “Attitudes toward Violence against Women in the Name of Honor Scale” (AVWNHS), and “Ambivalent Sexism Scale” (ASS). Data analysis was undertaken through percentage distribution, Pearson’s correlation analysis, ANOVA, and an independent two-sample t-test.
Results: Students living in extended and broken families, married students, male students, and students with professional mothers were found to hold a more positive attitude toward violence against women in the name of honor and a higher level of protective and hostile sexism (p<0.05). With respect to women-related honor conception, students showed a higher affinity toward an egalitarian attitude in terms of their grade (4th grade), sex (female), family type (nuclear), number of siblings (1 or 2 siblings), residential location (district), area of study (health, social), mother’s profession (qualified profession), parental attitudes (non-authoritative, relaxed), and relationship status (flirt) (p<0.05). A negative correlation was established between ASWRCH and AVWNHS and between ASWRCH and ASS and a positive correlation existed between AVWNHS and ASS.
Conclusion: As the women-related honor conception moves toward an egalitarian attitude among students, they exhibit more of a negative attitude toward violence against women and a lower level of protective and hostile sexism. The presence of a positive attitude toward violence leads to a heightened level of protective and hostile sexism.
Cite this article as: Demirel G, Kaya N, Ertekin Pınar Ş, Değerli B, Gökmen E. University Students’ Attitudes Toward Sexism, Honor, and Violence Against Women. Journal of Health Science and Profession 2019; 6(3): 479-90