JUST “FUN?”: A GENDER DIFFERENCE IN FRAMING THAT HELPS TO EXPLAIN SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

Research Seminar

Management & Human Resources

Speaker: Jessica Kennedy

Vanderbilt University

room Bernard Ramanantsoa

Abstract: 

This research documents a gender difference in the frame placed on sexual behavior (“fun” versus “meaningful”) and investigates how the frame influences reactions and propensities toward sexual misconduct.  Study 1 establishes the causal role of frame on moral outrage toward sexual misconduct.  Study 2 tests for a gender difference in frame in two ways, first with a binary measure of gender and second with continuous measures of femininity and masculinity.  Study 3 examines frame as a mediator between gender and self-reported sexual harassment behavior.  It also explores a moderating factor that could help to mitigate the gender differences.  These findings could help to illuminate how people rationalize sexual misconduct.