Sex Roles and Social Perception

Abstract

Recent research by Abbey (1982) revealed that men are more likely to perceive the world in sexual terms and to make sexual judgments than women are. The present investigation focused on the comprehensiveness of Abbey's findings, drawing from the theories of androgyny and gender schema. Males and females viewed a 5-minute videotaped conversation of a male-female dyad. They then completed questionnaires concerning the interaction, providing ratings for both actors on various trait terms. Male participants were then separated into androgynous, undifferentiated, and masculine sex-typed groups, using the Bem Sex-Role Inventory. Results revealed that undifferentiated males rated the male actor significantly higher, on specific sexual terms, than the other groups rated him. The findings are discussed in terms of gender roles as distinct social skills. They support the view that masculinity and femininity, as measured by the Bem Sex-Role Inventory and similar instruments, are actually social competencies that contribute to an individual's personal and social effectiveness.