This article first reviews the historical rise and the developments of psychological research on sexism which led to the differentiation between biological sex and cultural gender, and highlights commonalities between gender relations and other status-based intergroup relations. Old-fashioned, overt and explicit forms of sexism are then distinguished from contemporary, more subtle, and implicit forms. The latter are characterized by ambivalence of hostility and benevolence toward women. The final section discusses major behavioral consequences of the different forms of sexism, emphasizing the harmful impact of benevolence on women's feelings of self-worth and competence, and actual performances.