The authors argue that hostile (HS) and benevolent (BS) sexism are complementary components of sexism present across cultures. HS, driven by male dominance, involves negative attitudes toward women, while BS, fueled by men's dependence on women, involves positive but patronizing attitudes that reinforce women's subordination. Research across 19 nations with 15,000 participants showed that HS and BS are coherent constructs, with HS predicting negative traits and BS predicting positive traits in women. Women are more likely to reject HS than BS, especially in high-sexism cultures. National averages of HS and BS predict gender inequality. These findings challenge the notion that prejudice is purely antipathetic, as BS reflects inequality and is a cross-culturally pervasive complement to HS. The idea that prejudice is antipathy is challenged by the existence of BS, which is affectionate and patronizing but still sexist. BS is subjectively positive but reinforces gender inequality. HS and BS are pervasive across cultures, complementary ideologies that predict opposing attitudes toward women. Women tend to reject HS but accept BS, especially in more sexist cultures. National averages of HS and BS predict gender inequality across nations. HS and BS are cross-culturally pervasive, stemming from social and biological factors like patriarchy, gender differentiation, and sexual reproduction. HS is hostile toward women, while BS is benevolent but still sexist. The 22-item Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI) measures HS and BS, with HS being more subtle and contemporary. BS is correlated with HS but has discriminant validity when controlling for HS. BS has three subfactors: protective paternalism, complementary gender differentiation, and heterosexual intimacy. Cross-cultural research shows HS and BS are positively correlated, with HS predicting negative and BS predicting positive attitudes toward women. Women are more accepting of BS than HS, especially in high-sexism cultures. National HS and BS scores predict gender inequality. HS and BS are complementary forms of sexism that maintain gender inequality. Men's sexism scores predict women's acceptance of sexist ideologies. Women are less accepting of HS than men, but more accepting of BS, especially in high-sexism cultures. Overall, BS is more accepted by women than HS, suggesting that benevolent prejudice is more acceptable to subordinate groups than hostile prejudice.The authors argue that hostile (HS) and benevolent (BS) sexism are complementary components of sexism present across cultures. HS, driven by male dominance, involves negative attitudes toward women, while BS, fueled by men's dependence on women, involves positive but patronizing attitudes that reinforce women's subordination. Research across 19 nations with 15,000 participants showed that HS and BS are coherent constructs, with HS predicting negative traits and BS predicting positive traits in women. Women are more likely to reject HS than BS, especially in high-sexism cultures. National averages of HS and BS predict gender inequality. These findings challenge the notion that prejudice is purely antipathetic, as BS reflects inequality and is a cross-culturally pervasive complement to HS. The idea that prejudice is antipathy is challenged by the existence of BS, which is affectionate and patronizing but still sexist. BS is subjectively positive but reinforces gender inequality. HS and BS are pervasive across cultures, complementary ideologies that predict opposing attitudes toward women. Women tend to reject HS but accept BS, especially in more sexist cultures. National averages of HS and BS predict gender inequality across nations. HS and BS are cross-culturally pervasive, stemming from social and biological factors like patriarchy, gender differentiation, and sexual reproduction. HS is hostile toward women, while BS is benevolent but still sexist. The 22-item Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI) measures HS and BS, with HS being more subtle and contemporary. BS is correlated with HS but has discriminant validity when controlling for HS. BS has three subfactors: protective paternalism, complementary gender differentiation, and heterosexual intimacy. Cross-cultural research shows HS and BS are positively correlated, with HS predicting negative and BS predicting positive attitudes toward women. Women are more accepting of BS than HS, especially in high-sexism cultures. National HS and BS scores predict gender inequality. HS and BS are complementary forms of sexism that maintain gender inequality. Men's sexism scores predict women's acceptance of sexist ideologies. Women are less accepting of HS than men, but more accepting of BS, especially in high-sexism cultures. Overall, BS is more accepted by women than HS, suggesting that benevolent prejudice is more acceptable to subordinate groups than hostile prejudice.