The Psychology of Gender 4th Edition

162 Chapter 5

TABLE 5.2 HETEROSEXUAL SCRIPT

1. Sexual double standards
   a. male: Sex is a defining component of masculinity.
   Men always want to have sex and are always thinking about sex.
   Men are preoccupied by women’s bodies.
   b. female: Women are passive in sexual relations.
   Women are judged by their sexual conduct.
   Good girls are women who do not have sex.
   Women set the limits on sex.


2. Courtship
   a. male: Men initiate courtship behavior.
   Men use dominant and powerful strategies to attract women.
   Men are valued for their strength, wealth, and power.
   b. female: Women are passive and alluring.
   Women use indirect strategies to attract men.
   Women are valued for their appearance.
   Women use appearance and bodies to attract men.


3. Commitment attitudes
   a. male: Men avoid commitment and emotional attachment.
   Men want independence.
   Men prefer sex over emotional commitment.
   b. female: Romantic relationships are a priority for women.
   Women need a man to be fulfilled.
   Source: Adapted from Tolman et al. (2007) and Kim et al. (2007).

amounts of money from a series of scantily

clad women. Some shows actually poke fun at

the stereotypes and counterstereotypes of men

and women, as in the womanizer and the sen-

sitive chiropractor onTwoandaHalfMen.

However, an analysis of men’s and

women’s roles on television in 2005–2006

showed that not much has changed (Lauzen,

Dozier, & Horan, 2008). Men are still more

likely to be depicted in work-related roles, and

women are more likely to be depicted in in-

terpersonal roles. One way in which television

reflects gender stereotypes in female–male re-

lationships is the extent to which it displays the

heterosexual script. The heterosexual script,

shown in Table 5.2, reflects three themes:

(1) sexual double standards (i.e., it is okay for

2006). The cross-sectional nature of these

studies, however, makes it unclear whether

viewing television increases sex-role stereo-

types or whether those who hold sex-role

stereotypes are more likely to be attracted to

television or RDPs, in particular.

In some ways, but not all, gender roles

are certainly less stereotyped on television

today than they were 50 years ago. Although

gender roles are somewhat traditional onFam-

ily Guyand 90201 , they are less so onScrubs

andModern Family. Roles are less traditional

on the popular showHouse,butavastmajor-

ity of doctors are still men and a vast majority

of nurses are women. One of the most popular

game shows,Deal or No Deal, involves view-

ers choosing briefcases that contain varying

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