Perfect match: sexist men and sexist women

24 August 2011
Perfect match: sexist men and sexist women
by George Atkinson

A new study in the journal Sex Roles shows that sexist women with a preference for casual sex are more likely to respond to aggressive pick-up strategies from men.

Specifically, the researchers looked at men with negative sexist attitudes towards women who are more likely to use aggressive courtship strategies. These men compete with other men who are also interested in the woman, tease the woman, and isolate her away from her friends. In response, women with a preference for "no strings attached" sex and negative attitudes towards other women are more likely to respond to these strategies.

The researchers, Jeffrey Hall and Melanie Canterberry, from the University of Kansas, set out to understand the characteristics of men who use aggressive courtship strategies, based on speed seduction techniques described in the bestseller book "The Game," by Neil Strauss. They also investigated the characteristics of women who find such approaches appealing.

The study results showed that men who were keen on "one-night stands" were more likely to use aggressive strategies when flirting with women, and women who were also open to casual sex were more likely to respond to this type of aggressive courtship.

In addition, men with negative, sexist attitudes towards women, justifying male privilege, were more likely to use assertive strategies, which may serve to "put women in their place" in a submissive role during courtship. Women with sexist attitudes towards members of their own gender were more likely to be responsive to these assertive strategies. This suggests, say the researchers, that they find men who treat them in a dominant way during courtship more desirable.

"Our results suggest that assertive courtship strategies are a form of mutual identification of similarly sexist attitudes shared between courtship partners. Women who adopt sexist attitudes are more likely to prefer men who adopt similar attitudes. [They] prefer courtship strategies where men are the aggressors and women are the gatekeepers," conclude the researchers.

Related:
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Pick-up routines enhanced with right music
Study finds no damaging psychological impacts from casual sex

Source: Sex Roles