The Relationship between the Sexual Double Standard and Women’s Sexual Health and Comfort

Abstract

The current research explores the relationship between Sexual Double Standard (SDS) endorsement and women’s sexual health and attitudes. Women (n = 705) completed an SDS endorsement scale, and then answered a variety of questions in three main categories of outcome variables: sexual comfort, sexual reputation, and sexual health. Results suggest that women’s SDS endorsement was not related to women’s sexual comfort. Further, SDS endorsement was slightly positively related to how concerned women were about their sexual reputation. Regarding sexual health, SDS endorsement was related to a shorter timespan since women’s last OBGYN screening, and unrelated to women’s discomfort discussing birth control with their OBGYN. Results suggest there is much more to explore in targeted studies on the relationship of SDS endorsement to women’s perceptions of their sexual reputations and their interactions with OBGYNs with respect to the SDS. Previous and related research is discussed, along with implications of the current research.

Keywords:

• Sexual double standard
• women’s sexual health
• sexual attitudes
• social norms
• gender norms

Institutional review board approval

This research was granted IRB approval through New Mexico State University’s IRB.

Informed consent notifications

All participants provided consent to be a part of this research.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Data availability statement

All data are available from the first author upon request.