Sex Role Orientation Research Articles

Sex Role Orientation and Romantic Relationship Satisfaction: A Study in Turkey

The purpose of the present study is to examine the relationship between the sex role orientation and the relationship satisfaction in Turkish dating couples. Seventy dating couples completed Bem Sex Role Inventory, theRelationship Assessment Scale and a demographic information form. The results indicated that while perceived sex role orientation of the partners was related to relationship satisfaction, actual sex role orientation of the partner was not related. That is, individuals who perceived their partners as androgynous reported higher levels of relationship satisfaction than the other perceived sex role classifications. The results were discussed in terms of earlier studies, sample characteristics and bias in close relationships.

Anal Sex Role, Circumcision Status, and HIV Infection Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Chongqing, China

Men who have sex with men (MSM) in China face a rapidly expanding HIV epidemic. Anal sex role plays a significant role in HIV infection. Research has already begun in China investigating the potential for circumcision-based interventions to slow the rise of HIV among Chinese MSM. Using peer referral recruitment, we sampled 491 men who reported anal sex role preference. We analyzed preferred anal sex role, enacted sex role during recent sexual behavior, and circumcision status and HIV infection among MSM in one Chinese city. Men reported on their anal sex role preference and reported on up to three male sexual partners. Men were asked to report on whether they were "top" or "bottom" with each of the partners. Those that preferred being bottom and versatile were significantly younger than those who preferred being top. Men who preferred bottoming and those that preferred the versatile role were significantly more likely to be HIV-infected than those who preferred to be tops. There was no significant association between circumcision and HIV infection among men who maintained their preferred top role. In terms of anal sex role behavior, prevalence was not statistically different across anal sex roles. Circumcision conferred no additional protection to men who preferred and who engaged the top role during anal sex. HIV interventions will need to address anal sex roles in more sophisticated ways than perhaps originally thought. Simplistic assumptions that anal sex role is a fixed behavior undermines interventions such as circumcision among MSM.

Predictors of Relationship Power Among Drug-Involved Women

Gender-based relationship power is frequently linked to women's capacity to reduce sexual risk behaviors. This study offers an exploration of predictors of relationship power, as measured by the multidimensional and theoretically grounded sexual relationship power scale, among women in outpatient substance abuse treatment. Linear models were used to test nine predictors (age, race/ethnicity, education, time in treatment, economic dependence, substance use, sexual concurrency, partner abuse, and sex role orientation) of relationship power among 513 women participating in a multi-site HIV risk reduction intervention study. Significant predictors of relationship control included having a non-abusive male partner, only one male partner, and endorsing traditional masculine (or both masculine and feminine) sex role attributes. Predictors of decision-making dominance were interrelated, with substance use × partner abuse and age × sex role orientation interactions. Results contribute to the understanding of factors which may influence relationship power and to their potential role in HIV sexual risk reduction interventions.

Psychographic Segmentation by Feminine Role Orientation

Abstract The use of the personality construct of a woman's sex role orientation was employed as the means to psychographically segment lifestyle behavior and attitudes towards advertising. The results suggest that it can differentiate women along this continuum and be a potentially useful new tool in consumer research.

The Effect of Gender on Perception of Glass Ceiling, Mediated by SRO and Attitude toward Women as Managers

Purpose: The purpose of this research paper is to determine the effect of Gender on Perception of Glass Ceiling, mediated by Sex Role Orientation and Attitude towards Women as Managers. Design/methodology/approach: An online survey was floated to 189 B-School students via email and social networking sights, out of which a total of 153 responses were collected and analyzed. The respondents were surveyed on their Sex Role Orientation, Attitude towards Women as Managers and Perception of Glass Ceiling. Available scales were used to measure each of these constructs. Findings: Sex Role Orientation fully mediated Gender in relation to Perception of Glass Ceiling. However Attitude towards Women as Manager does not have any effect on Perception of Glass Ceiling or Gender. Moreover SRO has a greater effect on Perception of Glass Ceiling than Gender has. It is also seen that females have a higher SRO i.e., a more modern outlook than men who have a lower value of SRO i.e., a more traditional outlook. It is also seen that higher the value of SRO, lower is the perception of glass ceiling and that females have a lower perception of glass ceiling as compared to males. Research limitations/implications: The sample space of respondents was limited to MBA School students. It does not take into account the respondents’ work experience. The current study could therefore only provide tentative conclusions. Practical implications: Once the factors affecting Perception of Glass Ceiling are determined, organizations can work accordingly to eliminate this perception of glass ceiling among its employees. Originality/value: This research has been done in the Indian Context. The scales we used to determine SRO and Perception of Glass Ceiling were designed specifically for the Indian Context. Since SRO differs widely from country to country, this research will enable us to find the link between Gender and Perception of Glass Ceiling specifically in the Indian context.

Sex-Role Orientation and Attachment Styles of Sex Offenders

Given the increase of individuals who have a history of sexual offenses, there has been an increase in research on the etiology of sex-offending behavior. The present purpose was to evaluate the relationship between sex-role orientation and attachment styles of males who were sex offenders. Analysis yielded statistically significant differences between comparison (n = 22) and clinical groups (n = 21) in gender roles, with little sign of the androgynous gender type for sex offenders. The offender group showed significantly lower frequency of androgyny scores and significantly higher scores on feminine and undifferentiated orientations, supporting the theoretical view of sex offenders as being "cross-sex-typed." In addition, the sex offender group had a significantly higher mean score on anxious-avoidant relationship attachment. Based on the present findings, there appears to be a need to help sex offenders explore how their gender roles may relate to their sex-offending behavior and assist sex offenders in the development of adaptive relationships with reduced anxiety and ambivalence.

Gender Differences in Dream Content: Related to Biological Sex or Sex Role Orientation?

Despite the large number of studies addressing gender differences in dream recall and dream content, research regarding whether these differences might be affected by sex role orientation is rather scarce. The present online-survey included a large sample of most recent dreams. The results clearly indicate that sex role orientation (femininity/expressivity and masculinity/instrumentality) affect the same dream characteristics that show marked gender differences (e.g., sexual dream content, physical aggression). Whereas the effect of sex role orientation on dream content support the continuity hypothesis of dreaming, the effect of biological sex on dream content does not exclude that other variables (such as, for example, the amount of sexual fantasies during waking) have an effect on dream content in addition to sex role orientation. Thus, future studies have to elicit more waking-life variables in order to model the varying daytime experiences of men and women in order to investigate whether these daytime differences sufficiently explain gender differences in dreaming or whether biological factors are also of importance.

Empirical Test of an Integrative Model Explaining Higher Prevalence of Subclinical Depression in Women: A Normative Sex‐Role Orientation Approach

Women are twice as likely to be affected by unipolar depression as men. In a sample of 137 German college students it is shown that normative sex‐role orientation (SRO) moderates gender differences in subclinical depression, using multivariate analysis of variance. Higher levels of depression in women exist only among those with traditional SRO, while women and men with liberal SRO do not differ in the amount of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, an integrative model to explain the higher amount of depression in women is tested empirically by path analysis. The model shows that gender does not have a direct effect on depression, but rather an indirect one through SRO, stressful life events and locus of control.

“Gender, sex role orientation and dream recall frequency”: Correction.

“Gender, sex role orientation and dream recall frequency”: Correction.

RELATION OF SUCCESS AND NONTRADITIONAL CAREER CHOICE TO SELECTION FOR DATING AND FRIENDSHIP1

Women who succeed in traditionally male-dominated fields have previously been found to experience lower social acceptance, both from men in romantic contexts and from women in platonic contexts. The present study examined whether such preferences continue to exist. Participants were 256 university students (110 men, 146 women) with an average age of 21.4 yr. (SD = 3.6). They answered the Bem Sex Role Inventory and the Modern Sexism Scale and also responded to four descriptions of stimulus persons which represented the variables of traditional versus nontraditional field and successful versus nondescribed academic performance. Results indicated that men preferred to date women in traditional careers (independent of their success). This finding was unrelated to men's scores on sex role orientation or egalitarianism and sexism. However, in platonic relationships, women favored women in nontraditional careers as friends.

Relation of Success and Nontraditional Career Choice to Selection for Dating and Friendship

Women who succeed in traditionally male-dominated fields have previously been found to experience lower social acceptance, both from men in romantic contexts and from women in platonic contexts. The present study examined whether such preferences continue to exist. Participants were 256 university students (110 men, 146 women) with an average age of 21.4 yr. (SD = 3.6). They answered the Bem Sex Role Inventory and the Modern Sexism Scale and also responded to four descriptions of stimulus persons which represented the variables of traditional versus nontraditional field and successful versus nondescribed academic performance. Results indicated that men preferred to date women in traditional careers (independent of their success). This finding was unrelated to men's scores on sex role orientation or egalitarianism and sexism. However, in platonic relationships, women favored women in nontraditional careers as friends.

Nightmare Frequency and Femininity/Masculinity

Several large-scale studies showed that women tend to report nightmares more often than men. Despite this robust finding, empirically tested interpretations of these sex differences are lacking. Levin and Nielsen put forward the hypothesis that sex-specific socialization might be one of the risk factors for nightmare occurrence. The present findings of an online survey indicate that expressivity/femininity and instrumentality/masculinity were related to nightmare fre quency and, thus, supported this hypothesis. Since the sex difference in nightmare frequency was not fully explained by these two variables, future studies should investigate other variables--in addition to sex-role orientation--like depressive symptoms, history of sexual and/or physical abuse, ruminative coping styles, and physiological measures of processing emotional stimuli within the brain.

Sex role orientation and conflict resolution in the joint purchase decisions of spouses

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate how the effects of sex role orientation (SRO) on conflict resolution strategies vary across ethnic groups.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire was used with a sample of 295 husbands and 288 wives of British White, Indian and African Black origin residents of London and Manchester in the UK.FindingsThe results showed that SRO had a significant impact on conflict resolution strategies for both husbands and wives across the three British ethnic groups. A modern SRO encourages bargaining within all the three ethnic groups and playing on emotion, disengagement and assertiveness for Indians and African Black husbands. In addition, a modern SRO increases bargaining for African Blacks wives and playing on emotion, supplication and assertiveness for British Whites wives.Research limitations/implicationsOverall, the paper provides substantial evidence of differences in the use of conflict resolution strategies by husbands and wives from the three ethnic groups.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to knowledge about differences in the effects of SRO on conflict resolution strategies used in joint purchase decisions for major household durables in a multicultural country.

Digit ratio (2D:4D) and sex-role orientation: Further evidence and meta-analysis

Three new studies ( N = 132, 623, 1112) did not yield hypothesized associations between digit ratio (2D:4D), an assumed negative correlate of prenatal testosterone, and psychometrically measured sex-role orientation (positive association with femininity, negative ones with masculinity and masculinity-femininity difference scores) among heterosexuals of either sex. Meta-analysis of the pertinent literature ( N = 6311, 28 studies from 10 countries, 46% unpublished) showed only men’s (but not women’s) left-hand (but not right-hand) 2D:4D reliably related as expected (positively) to femininity. This effect was tiny (0.14% attributable variance) and possibly non-robust (crucially dependent on one large study included). Hence, the cumulative evidence does not support systematic, robust, noteworthy within-sex correlations between 2D:4D and the masculinity/femininity personality dimensions.

Preference for and Maintenance of Anal Sex Roles Among Men Who Have Sex with Men: Sociodemographic and Behavioral Correlates

Self-labeling of, and preference for, anal sex roles is an important aspect of identities and cultures among men who have sex with men (MSM) populations. In this article, we examined sociodemographic and behavioral correlates of preference for and maintenance of anal sex roles, and risk for HIV infection. Using time-location sampling, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of racially diverse MSM in San Francisco. Of the 386 men who reported an anal sex role preference, 41% preferred being "versatile" while 21 and 37% preferred being "bottom" and "top" only. Lower educated men, Asian/Pacific Islander men, and men born in Asia/Philippines were more likely to prefer being "bottom." Among all racial/ethnic groups, men in general did not maintain their preferences 100% of the time in their reported sexual behavior, and none of the racial/ethnic groups maintained their preference at greater or lesser levels than any other group. There were no significant differences in all the behavioral risks between men who maintained their preferences and those who did not. Yet, prevalence of HIV infection was two times higher among men who were strictly "bottom." Linguistically and/or culturally appropriate HIV prevention information/interventions at an appropriate educational level should be provided to those from the developing world and those of lower socioeconomic status, who may lack the knowledge of differential risks associated with anal sex activities.

Effects of body size on courtship role, mating frequency and sperm transfer in the land snail Succinea putris

Sex role preferences in simultaneous hermaphrodites may vary with individual condition and partner quality across consecutive matings. Theoretical and empirical studies have highlighted an individual's body size and its relation with the partner's body size as potential factors that influence the preferred sex role. We studied effects of body size of focal individuals and partners on (1) mating frequency and mating interval, (2) courtship role and (3) number of sperm donated in successive copulations in the land snail Succinea putris where ‘active’ individuals mount the shell of their ‘passive’ partner before penises are intromitted reciprocally. We found body size-dependent differences in mating behaviour between small and large individuals: (1) smaller individuals of mating pairs were more likely to adopt the active role, (2) small individuals seemed to prefer inseminating larger partners, (3) a positive relation between body size and sperm number donated was found, (4) large individuals adjusted sperm number to their partner's body size, and (5) the smallest number of sperm was donated by large focal individuals to small partners. In addition, the number of sperm donated (1) increased with longer mating intervals and (2) decreased in later copulations indicating that the number of previous matings may affect male resource allocation. Our results support the view of models of sex role preferences, gender conflicts and solutions to gender conflicts that predict that the preferred sex role is variable within a species (e.g. size-dependent sex allocation models and the gender ratio hypothesis).

Gender, sex role orientation, and dream recall frequency.

Gender, sex role orientation, and dream recall frequency.

Effects of helper sex, recipient attractiveness, and recipient femininity on helping behavior in organizations

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the effects of sex, attractiveness, and sex role of helping behavior in a simulated work situation.Design/methodology/approachA 2 × 2×2 randomized experimental design was used, in which 81 participants worked on cooperative task building models. Male or female participants were asked for help from a female confederate who was either high or low in attractiveness and high or low in femininity.FindingsA three‐way interaction indicated that male participants provided equal levels of help across femininity and attractiveness conditions, but female participants provided more help to low attractive‐high feminine confederates than to high attractive‐high feminine confederates.Research limitations/implicationsThe external validity of the study may be limited, due to sample and experimental setting. Care should also be used in generalizing to situations in which the participants have longer‐term relationships.Practical implicationsDifferences in helping related to sex, sex role orientation, and attractiveness do occur, and may be related to social roles and expectations. This may help predict patterns of helping in work settings.Originality/valueThe study demonstrated that sex role orientation can be experimentally manipulated, and that this does combine with other variables to influence helping behaviors. It also indicated that attractiveness effects are not as consistent as may be expected.

Evidence for age-dependent mating strategies in the simultaneous hermaphrodite snail,Lymnaea stagnalis(L.)

In many mating systems female reproductive capacity is a limiting resource over which males will compete. As a consequence, males and females have usually different fitness optimization strategies which may give rise to sexual conflict. Since simultaneous hermaphrodites have, in theory, the option to mate as male or as female at any time, conflict will occur if partners insist in taking the same role. Several lines of evidence exists that body size influences gender choice. However, growth in many invertebrates is indeterminate and therefore age is generally a covariant of size. We therefore investigated the effect of age on mating choices in the simultaneous hermaphrodite Lymnaea stagnalis. Using fully sexually mature animals sampled from three different age groups we show that copulation frequency declines with age. Specifically, in age-matched couples the frequency of primary and reciprocal copulations declines with age. Furthermore, the younger partner tends to mate as male with greater probability in couples of unequal age. Size was never a factor in the sex role preference of Lymnaea. Thus, young Lymnaea always attempt to copulate as male independent of the age of their partner, whereas senior snails act primarily as female. The sex role choices of middle-aged snails appear to depend on their partner's age. In addition, we demonstrate that the likelihood that an animal will copulate as male is not correlated with prostate gland size but correlates with the level of afferent electrical activity recorded in the nerve originating in the prostate gland. Together, our results indicate the existence of an age- and not size-dependent mating system in Lymnaea.

Gender stereotypes and normative heterosexuality in matrimonial ads from globalizing India

Matrimonial ads serve as unobtrusive sites to observe the construction and perpetuation of normative heterosexuality through socio-cultural discourses. The current study focuses on gendered spousal expectations and sex role preferences in 1065 matrimonial ads from two popular newspapers in India. Gender differences in ad type, financial stability, physical attractiveness, fairness, slimness, personality traits, and occupational preferences were examined. Results found support for social exchange of men's financial stability for women's physical attractiveness, gender polarization in ideal spousal occupations, and the relative fluidity in gender identities of women as compared to men. A strong preference for fair and slim women was observed. Implications for sexual objectification of women and changing gender roles in globalizing India are discussed.