Use of Perceptions of Female Dress as an Indicator of Role Definition

The purpose of this study was to compare 60 male and 59 female responses to social and business female dress. Suits and dresses were selected as stimuli to represent a social‐to‐ business continuum. A semantic differential instrument was adapted for use from a previous study. Use of word pairs was similar in nature for male and female responses, although there was a difference in relative influence. Separation of responses was mostly evaluative in nature. The social‐to‐business continuum was a key parameter in male‐female differences in response. Commonality in female response led to the conclusion that females accepted the business image represented by the stimuli. The male response was more diverse for business and social images. 1983 American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences