Ambivalent sexism and intimate partner violence

Sexism is a problem of great relevance in the social sphere, especially because culturally these beliefs have been normalized, maintaining conditions of inequality and discrimination between the sexes. Different theoretical contributions have given way to the emergence of new theories that explain sexism; ambivalent sexism combines two antagonistic positive and negative elements that give way to the coexistence of two ideologies: hostility and benevolence, towards women. Most studies have focused on analyzing gender violence against women, establishing a permanent dichotomy of female victim and male aggressor; however, violence is a human and relational phenomenon that presents men and women as both victims and aggressors. Considering that hostile or benevolent sexist attitudes predict episodes of violence that could be received or exercised by men and women, it is important to obtain information to generate a new approach to mental health prevention and specifically to violence prevention, trying to orient in a different way the way men and women relate to each other in a couple relationship.