Wow. You're really making me think. I always thought sexism hurt women. But in the Amy Cooper example and in some lynchings, women weaponized sexism to make them powerful. I guess I've noticed this before, but never really analyzed it. Ultimately, I would say even benevolent sexism hurts women by convincing them they must use others rather than stand up for themselves--corrupting their integrity. (Not that Amy Cooper had anything to stand up about.) Now I'm going to read up on benevolent sexism and the woman who started the "campaign against chivalry" back in the day--demanding men stop using women as excuses for lynching.

Update: Research on the “Campaign Against Chivalry” ultimately led me to Ida B. Wells, a woman I never learned about in school. Down the rabbit hole I go…