We hypothesized that men with relatively sexist attitudes would be more likely to allow their facial hair to grow than men with less sexist attitudes. After controlling for demographic variables, men with facial hair were significantly higher in hostile sexism than clean-shaven men; hostile sexism was a significant predictor of facial hair status over and above demographic variables; and facial hair was more frequent among ambivalent and hostile sexists than among benevolent and non-sexists. The hostile statements include derogatory remarks patriarchal views, for example the view women perceive innocent remarks as being sexist. A Mask of Masculinity 
 
 The researchers speculate that men who already hold sexist views may choose to grow out their beards because a hairy face highlights the differences between the sexes: “Facial hair may appeal to hostile sexist males because it maximizes facial masculinity and augments perceived dominance."
– A study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior found men with beards—or any other type of facial hair—were more likely to hold sexist attitudes. Australian researchers gave online surveys to more than 500 men between the ages of 18 and 72 from the US and India, Psychology Today reports. After controlling for everything from nationality to education level to sexual orientation, researchers found men with any type of facial hair scored "significantly higher" in hostile sexism. A hostile sexist would agree with statements such as "Women are inferior to men" and "Women want to keep men on a leash," per Psychology Today. That's opposed to a benevolent sexist, who would agree with statements such as "Women should be protected" and "Men should always pay for dinner." Researchers found no connection between beards and benevolent sexism. Researcher Julian Oldmeadow theorizes "hostile sexist men" grow beards because of what they represent, the Independent reports. “Men holding more patriarchal views may be inclined to reinforce their masculinity and dominance by growing facial hair,” he says. Only one-third of respondents in the study didn't express any sexist attitudes. (But how sexist are men who get a beard transplant?)