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Traditional "stereotypic" gender role socialization has been associated with increased risk for involvement in sexual aggression for both men and women (Check & Malamuth, 1983; Weis & Borges, 1973). Mosher and Sirkin (1984) developed the Hypermasculinity Inventory to measure men's adoption of a "macho" personality style. Murnen and Byrne (1991) designed the Hyperfemininity Scale (HF) to identify women, labeled hyperfeminine, who present an extreme version of the traditional female gender role.
Murnen and Byrne (1991) were particularly interested in examining the relationship between hyperfemininity and violence against women. Hyperfemininity is defined as an "exaggerated adherence to a stereotypic feminine gender role" (Murnen & Byrne, 1991, p. 480). Murnen and Byrne described the hyperfeminine woman along three dimensions: (a) the importance of relationships with men, (b) the use of sex to gain or maintain a romantic relationship, and (c) the preference for traditional male behavior in partners. The hyperfeminine woman is portrayed as someone who is committed to maintaining a relationship, will manipulate men and expect and tolerate coercion to stay in the relationship, and would rather seduce a man than communicate openly about the relationship.
The purpose of the current study was to examine the validity of the concept of hyperfemininity and the appropriateness of the label by exploring the relationship between hyperfemininity and rationalization for men's sexually aggressive behavior, sexual attitudes and sexually consenting and coercive experiences, age of first intercourse, use of contraceptives, antisocial tendencies, psychological symptoms, assertive behavior, and age.
Only a few researchers have examined the concept of hyperfemininity and then only with a limited range of measures. Thus far, the predominant focus has been on the sexual behavior of hyperfeminine women, perhaps because Murnen and Byrne centered the concept around hyperfeminine women's sexuality and relationship with men.
Murnen, Perot, and Byrne (1989) examined women's ability to cope with unwanted sexual activities. When women wrote detailed descriptions of their most recent unwanted sexual experience, hyperfeminine women were more likely to blame themselves for a sexual attack, and self-blame was associated with a willingness to continue in an assaultive relationship.
Murnen and Byrne (1991) explored the construct of hyperfemininity and also attempted to determine the nature of the relationship between hyperfemininity and sexual victimization. They found that hyperfemininity was negatively correlated with...