HYPERFEMININITY AND ATTRACTION TO MACHO AND NON-MACHO MEN

Traditional gender role socialization has been associated with involve ment in sexual aggression. The Hyperfeminininity Inventory was develop ed to measure women's adherence to a traditional gender role. College women were divided into high hyperfeminine (n = 25) and low hyperfemin ine (n = 25) groups based on their responses to the Hyperfemininity In ventory. Both groups read personality descriptions of a macho and non- macho man and rated their responses to men in three sexual scenarios i nvolving no sexual, consensual sexual, or nonconsensual sexual interac tions. As hypothesized, women low in hyperfemininity reported less att raction, liking as a husband and sex partner, and resemblance to past or current boyfriends of the macho male than did women high in hyperfe mininity. Low hyperfeminine women compared to high hyperfeminine women reported less attraction, willingness to date, more anger, and less s exual arousal to the man in the nonconsensual sexual scenario. The ris ks associated with attraction to macho and coercive men are discussed.