Final answer:
Men tend to interpret gestures in a more sexual way compared to women, which can be influenced by cultural and societal norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that men impute more sexual meaning to gestures that women perceive as friendly and innocent is true. This is a reflection of cultural and societal norms that dictate how men and women are expected to behave and interpret certain actions.
For example, in the United States, women can express nonsexual regard for people of the same sex through hugging, handholding, and physical closeness. These gestures are seen as friendly and innocent. On the other hand, men are more cautious about engaging in these gestures as they fear being perceived as having sexual intentions.
It's important to note that this is a generalization and not all men and women fit into this pattern. Additionally, cultural and societal norms vary across different countries and contexts.