Dressing for the Occasion: Affordance-Management Theory and Women's Appearance Choices Based on Gender of the Threat

Affordance-management theory suggests that changes in human behavior are based on the identification and management of potential threats in the environment with these assessments of threat largely based on stereotypes. Therefore, this study examines how heterosexual women would choose to alter their physical appearance (e.g., makeup, hair, clothing) if a person they perceive to be threatening (i.e., someone who has made unwanted sexual advances) or a potential mate is present in a social setting. Since perceptions of threat can be influenced by stereotypes, this study also explores if the specified gender (man versus woman) of the threatening person makes a difference in a woman’s clothing, hair, and makeup choices. Additionally, questions pertaining to participant’s sociosexual orientation, relative fear of rape, perceived mate value, and demographics are considered. Knowing a participant’s background as well as sexual behaviors and attitudes can help better understand how they may respond to situations where a threatening individual (man or woman) or potential mate are present. Data collected can also be used to indicate if gender of a threatening individual does make a difference in how a heterosexual woman chooses to alter her physical appearance in comparison to situations where a potential mate is present. Furthermore, results of this study could be especially useful in understanding if threat of rape is a stereotype more strongly associated with men compared to women.