Women in scary movies

I watched The Shining a few nights ago. There is a part when the woman is being chased by her crazy husband and she heads to the stares. "Oh great, she's gonna go UP the stairs," we all say. "Of course she is."

It's really strange that this action is so prevalent. Women in scary movies almost always run up the stairs. It's something we are all aware of (notice the fact that all my friends said the same thing and knew it was coming). If it's something the audience is expecting and sees as ridiculous, why do they keep doing it?

I also wonder what this stereotype is trying to say about women. I mean, there are obvious things like: women just aren't smart. However, that just seems a little too easy to me.

I think this may be the topic of my final project.