This study aimed to investigate the impacts of hostile and benevolent sexism - which typically exert opposing influences - on women's leadership aspirations, and explored the effect of relative differences in competence. Female participants expected to carry out a task with a male partner, wherein one person would be the leader. The partner, who was either equally or less competent, made a comment that was hostile sexist, benevolent sexist, or non-sexist. It was predicted that women faced with hostile sexism would have greater leadership aspirations, compared to those having encountered benevolent sexism or no sexism, particularly if they were more competent than their partner. In contrast, benevolent sexism was expected to undermine leadership aspirations...