The Effects of Sexism on Communication in Dating Interactions
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Artist Statement
Previous research has suggested that ambivalent sexism biases individuals’ dating initiation preferences, in that individuals who score higher on measures of sexism seem to prefer gender stereotypical dating initiation behaviors (e.g., the man opens doors for the woman, the man pays for dinner; McCarty & Kelly, 2015; Glick & Fiske, 1996). Ambivalent sexism theory (Hall & Canterberry, 2011) maintains that sexism serves to disempower women, perpetuate gender stereotypes and aggressive attitudes toward women, and inhibit gender equality. Ambivalent sexism has also recently been tied to sexual harassment (Diehl, Rees, & Bohner, 2012). Previous research has focused primarily on men initiating dating interactions with women. The present study examined both men initiating dating interactions with women, and women initiating dating interactions with men. The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions of women’s dating initiations toward men, to increase understanding of the initial screening process that occurs during heterosexual dating interactions, and to determine how sexism influences perceptions of dating interactions.
A pilot study involving 45 undergraduate psychology students between the ages of 18 and 25 (M = 19.07, SD = 1.32) from Western Kentucky University was conducted to evaluate the validity of the Dating Initiation Questionnaire (DIQ), which was created for this study. In the final study, 152 undergraduate psychology students between the ages of 18 and 40 (M = 20.30, SD = 3.01) from Western Kentucky University completed measures of sexism (Ambivalent Sexism Inventory; ASI), social desirability (Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale; MCSDS), and dating initiation preference (DIQ). It was hypothesized that, for passive dating initiations, high scores on the ASI would be associated with high ratings of dating initiation effectiveness for men but not women; for aggressive dating initiations, high scores on the ASI would be associated with high ratings of dating initiation effectiveness for women but not men; for assertive dating initiations, regardless of gender, low scores on the ASI would be associated with high ratings of dating initiation effectiveness.
Results showed that gender and stronger ambivalent sexist beliefs were associated with higher effectiveness ratings for aggressive dating initiations. The model F statistic was significant for gender (B = -4.76, SE = .68, p <.001) and standardized ASI score (B = 1.54, SE = .55, p <.01), but not for their interaction term (p = .20). Independent t-tests confirmed that men reported higher preference of aggressive dating initiation than women (t(115.76) = 7.78, p<.001). In addition, higher ASI scores, regardless of gender, were associated with higher effectiveness ratings of aggressive dating initiations (t(141.69) = 3.62, p <.001). Therefore, individuals who held negative attitudes toward non-traditional women and positive attitudes toward gender stereotypical women preferred aggressive dating initiations. Importantly, men were more likely than women to endorse ambivalent sexist beliefs, which were associated with higher preference of aggressive dating initiations. Such individuals may approach others in an aggressive manner. One could argue that to prevent such harassment, individuals should be educated about communication styles and gender equality. Future research should focus on applying such interventions to men and women, and on revising the intervention to suit individuals with sexist beliefs toward women and men.
Mentor Name
Christine Fiore
The Effects of Sexism on Communication in Dating Interactions
UC 331
Previous research has suggested that ambivalent sexism biases individuals’ dating initiation preferences, in that individuals who score higher on measures of sexism seem to prefer gender stereotypical dating initiation behaviors (e.g., the man opens doors for the woman, the man pays for dinner; McCarty & Kelly, 2015; Glick & Fiske, 1996). Ambivalent sexism theory (Hall & Canterberry, 2011) maintains that sexism serves to disempower women, perpetuate gender stereotypes and aggressive attitudes toward women, and inhibit gender equality. Ambivalent sexism has also recently been tied to sexual harassment (Diehl, Rees, & Bohner, 2012). Previous research has focused primarily on men initiating dating interactions with women. The present study examined both men initiating dating interactions with women, and women initiating dating interactions with men. The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions of women’s dating initiations toward men, to increase understanding of the initial screening process that occurs during heterosexual dating interactions, and to determine how sexism influences perceptions of dating interactions.
A pilot study involving 45 undergraduate psychology students between the ages of 18 and 25 (M = 19.07, SD = 1.32) from Western Kentucky University was conducted to evaluate the validity of the Dating Initiation Questionnaire (DIQ), which was created for this study. In the final study, 152 undergraduate psychology students between the ages of 18 and 40 (M = 20.30, SD = 3.01) from Western Kentucky University completed measures of sexism (Ambivalent Sexism Inventory; ASI), social desirability (Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale; MCSDS), and dating initiation preference (DIQ). It was hypothesized that, for passive dating initiations, high scores on the ASI would be associated with high ratings of dating initiation effectiveness for men but not women; for aggressive dating initiations, high scores on the ASI would be associated with high ratings of dating initiation effectiveness for women but not men; for assertive dating initiations, regardless of gender, low scores on the ASI would be associated with high ratings of dating initiation effectiveness.
Results showed that gender and stronger ambivalent sexist beliefs were associated with higher effectiveness ratings for aggressive dating initiations. The model F statistic was significant for gender (B = -4.76, SE = .68, p <.001) and standardized ASI score (B = 1.54, SE = .55, p <.01), but not for their interaction term (p = .20). Independent t-tests confirmed that men reported higher preference of aggressive dating initiation than women (t(115.76) = 7.78, p<.001). In addition, higher ASI scores, regardless of gender, were associated with higher effectiveness ratings of aggressive dating initiations (t(141.69) = 3.62, p <.001). Therefore, individuals who held negative attitudes toward non-traditional women and positive attitudes toward gender stereotypical women preferred aggressive dating initiations. Importantly, men were more likely than women to endorse ambivalent sexist beliefs, which were associated with higher preference of aggressive dating initiations. Such individuals may approach others in an aggressive manner. One could argue that to prevent such harassment, individuals should be educated about communication styles and gender equality. Future research should focus on applying such interventions to men and women, and on revising the intervention to suit individuals with sexist beliefs toward women and men.