Abstract

Research suggests that objectifying TV programs in which women are shown as sexual objects may convey social norms that condone harassing conduct. However, no study has investigated whether other TV portrayals of women may promote the accessibility of masculine norms that condone harassing conduct, as well as encourage proclivity to engage in sexual harassment. Therefore, male participants (N = 88) were exposed to one of three TV clips characterized by the presence of women (i) as sexual objects, (ii) portrayed in genderstereotyped roles, or (iii) who do not conform to gender stereotypes. Results showed that participants exposed to objectifying TV reported greater harassment proclivity and manifested higher conformity to masculine norms regarding non-relational attitudes toward sex as compared to the other two conditions. In turn, participants' conformity to non-relational attitudes towards sex mediated the relation between experimental condition and harassment proclivity.