Gynocentrism as a Narcissistic Pathology
Abstract
Gynocentrism is defined as the practice of prioritizing the needs, wants and desires of women. Examples of gynocentrism are found in the culture of social institutions, and within heterosexual relationships where men are invited to show deference to the needs, wants and desires of women, a practice otherwise referred to as chivalry or benevolent sexism. This study compares gynocentric behaviors with clinical descriptions of narcissism to discover how closely, and in what ways, the two concepts align. The investigation concludes that narcissistic behavior is significantly correlated with behaviors of gynocentrically oriented women, and that gynocentrism is a gendered expression of narcissism operating within the limiting context of heterosexual relationships and exchanges.
Keywords: Gynocentrism, chivalry, benevolent sexism, narcissism, narcissistic personality inventory, gender