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Disassembling a Stereotype: Gender Differences in the Use of Token Resistance 1
Author(s) -
O'Sullivan Lucia F.,
Allgeier Elizabeth Rice
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.1994.tb02372.x
Subject(s) - security token , psychology , resistance (ecology) , stereotype (uml) , social psychology , sexual behavior , coercion (linguistics) , developmental psychology , computer security , linguistics , philosophy , ecology , computer science , biology
Traditionally, women have been perceived as using token resistance to avoid appearing desirous of sexual activity and to gain some degree of restrictive control in heterosexual dating interactions. In the current study, we examined both men's and women's use of token resistance and the reasons they attributed for their use of this dating behavior. A total of 108 male and 199 female heterosexual college students completed the Dating Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ) used to examine the use of token resistance, as well as a number of attitudinal and behavioral measures. An ANOVA revealed that a higher percentage of men than women reported the use of token resistance. The types of reasons men and women attributed to their behavior did not differ. Token resistance reportedly served a number of functions, including an expressive game‐playing function. Most interactions were perceived by both men and women as being pleasant, despite concerns by researchers that token resistance may be associated with a partner's subsequent use of sexual coercion. Thus, token resistance does not appear to be indicative of adverserial relations. The findings are discussed in terms of the benefits for men and women of relaxing the constraints of traditional gender roles with regard to dating behavior.