Sexual scripts for women

M & F undergraduates (N = 14 & 88, respectively) were exposed to written & tape-recorded stimulus materials describing one of four target women: a feminine or masculine woman with heterosexual or homosexual feelings. Subsequent ratings of the woman's sex-role characteristics & sexual orientation indicated that information about either aspect of the woman's sexuality influenced Ss' perceptions of the other aspect. The woman who was described as masculine was also perceived as more homosexual, & vice versa. Additional measures indicated that the two women who did not fit this pattern -- the masculine/heterosexual & feminine/homosexual targets -- were perceived as having confused, unstable sexual identities. The results are discussed in the context of two sexual scripts for women: one that associates sexual orientation & sex-role characteristics, & one that associates unconventional F sexuality with sexual identity confusion. 1 Table, 1 Figure. AA.