In this post I will be explaining the Sex Role Traits of Betty Cooper one of the Main Character in the teen Drama Riverdale using the Items of the Bem Sex Role Inventory.

 

Betty Cooper is one of the main character in the show Riverdale. Throughout her time on the 4 seasons we have seen her develop as the sweet and innocent girl next door always in a pink collared shirt and hair in a high curled pony, turn into a very dark and concerning character. For all she has been put through with her father and the tragedies that strike Riverdale she has some very strong traits that I’m excited to uncover.

 

Feminine

  • Sensitive to others needs- throughout the four seasons of Riverdale Betty is constantly trying to help her friends solve their problems in their own lives and the lives in danger. However, she takes little to no time to worry about her own issues and her own worries. In season 3 Betty’s Boyfriend Jughead Jones is attacked by a rival Gang the Ghoulies and is almost beat to death in the last words that she thinks she is every going to hear from him her father is being arrested for being the Black Hood (who targeted “sinners”). She very easily could have felt sorry for herself but instead was looking at the interest of her boyfriend.

 

  • Feminine – Betty is someone who is always put together she is almost always wearing pink or a pastel color even after joining her boyfriends biker gang the South Side Serpents. Her hair is always curled in a pony or down and curled. She is someone who has a very clean appearance and is someone who takes care of themselves.

 

  • Sympathetic- She tries to put herself in the persons shoes when trying to figure out crimes or mysteried that are unsolved in the community. She is sympathetic towards her boyfriend Jughead’s father after he is released from jail for being framed for a murder he did not commit. She shows sympathy when her father who is one of the worst characters throughout the show is shot and killed in front of her by Penelope Blossom.

 

Masculine 

  • Acts as a Leader- Betty is very involved in her life she is on the school newspaper, does the school plays, helps solve murder mysteries and crimes in their town and is on the debate team. She is the lead in almost every mystery they try to solve from her previous readings of the Nancy Drew books. She is also the one that makes most of the decisions and rarely ever does anyone debate or counter her ideas.

 

  • Willing to Take Risks- Betty is willing to do almost anything to get to the bottom of what is going on. Betty has joined a gang, played a board game that leads to death and put herself in very dangerous situations such as facing the black hood, going to an abandoned house to find clues and even being partially buried alive for answers. If you ask me I’m pretty sure she would do anything to get answers.

 

  • Ambitious- Betty is a very smart girl who has the dreams of attending Harvard or Yale and maybe even one day being the first female president. She is a go getter and will not let anything stop her from getting her dreams and having a good future. Even though she encounters several bumps in the road she is persistent with her dreams, decisions and attitude towards life in general.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion I think Betty leans towards the masculine side of the Items of the Bem Sex Theory. She is seen as a pretty girl on the outside in pink with her hair done but on the inside she has some very masculine traits that just most females don’t. This makes Betty a very interesting character to watch and grow and see how she develops into the young adult she is at the end of

 

 

 

Shared by: A.M.
Image Credit: https://hero.fandom.com/wiki/Betty_Cooper_(Riverdale)