The Effects of Clothing and Dyad Sex Composition on Perceptions of Sexual Intent: Do Women and Men Evaluate These Cues Differently¹

Abstract

The effects of clothing revealingness and dyad‐sex composition on perceptions of male‐ and female‐stimulus persons' sexuality were examined. Based on Abbey's (1982) findings, we hypothesized that men would attribute more sexuality to both male and female targets than women would. Furthermore, we predicted that the difference between men's and women's sexuality ratings would be most divergent when a male‐female dyad was presented and when the female stimulus person wore revealing clothing. A laboratory study was conducted in which subjects viewed a photograph of two students in a classroom. As predicted, male subjects rated female targets as more sexy and seductive than did female subjects. Also as predicted, female targets who wore revealing clothing were rated as more sexy and seductive than those wearing nonrevealing clothing. Female targets were rated higher on sexual traits regardless of the gender of their partner. Men did not consistently perceive male stimulus persons more sexually than women did. Finally, both female and male targets were perceived as more kind and warm when they wore nonrevealing clothing. The implications of these findings for person perception and date rape research are described.

Sex as a source of power? Backlash against self-sexualizing women

“…On the contrary, there is evidence that women risk backlash for self-sexualization. For example, women are judged more negatively by both genders when wearing provocative (e.g., low-cut blouse, high-heeled shoes) compared with conservative clothing (e.g., buttoned-up blouse, flat shoes; Abbey, Cozzarelli, McLaughlin, & Harnish, 1987;Cahoon & Edmonds, 1989), and they are perceived as more qualified for secretarial rather than managerial roles (Glick et al, 2005;Wookey, Graves, & Butler, 2009). How might backlash against self-sexualizing women be explained?…”

The influence of victim intoxication and victim attire on police responses to sexual assault

“…That must mean she's sexually attracted to me'; 'She's willing to have a nightcap in my apartment. That must mean she's really sexually attracted to me ' Abbey et al, 1987).…”

“…A study of college students' perceptions of sexuality based on revealing attire showed that females were rated as more fl irtatious, sexy, promiscuous, and seductive when wearing revealing compared with non-revealing clothing (Abbey, Cozzarelli, McLaughlin, & Harnish, 1987). Students rated the likelihood that members of male-female dyads were romantically involved and sexually attracted to each other higher when the female wore revealing as opposed to non-revealing clothes.…”

Intolerance of sexy peers: intrasexual competition among women

“…Consistent with the idea that the sexy confederate from Study 1 was in fact viewed as a sexual rival, we hypothesized that women would be less willing to introduce her to their current or future boyfriend(s), or have their current or future boyfriend(s) spend time alone with her than the attractive conservative confederate or the sexy-fat confederate. We also hypothesized that compared to the conservatively dressed confederate, women would not want to introduce their partner or allow him to spend time with the sexy-fat woman because her sexy clothing would be perceived as an indicator of sexual availability and hence would be threatening 1 [Abbey et al, 1987].…”