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THE SEXUAL DOUBLE STANDARD AND ADOLESCENT PEER ACCEPTANCE
Derek A Kreager1, Jeremy Staff1
1The Pennsylvania State University.
Social Psychology Quarterly
|December 9, 2014
Summary
Research shows adolescent sexual double standards persist. More sexual partners increase boys
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Adolescent Psychology
- Gender Studies
Background:
- The sexual double standard, where male sexual permissiveness is accepted and female sexual permissiveness is stigmatized, is a widely believed social norm.
- Previous research on the sexual double standard has yielded mixed results, with older studies supporting its existence and newer experimental designs often failing to find evidence.
- The social status and peer acceptance associated with sexual behavior among adolescents require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between the number of sexual partners and social status among adolescents.
- To examine whether this relationship differs between adolescent boys and girls.
- To explore the influence of socioeconomic background on the sexual double standard in adolescence.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.
- Measured adolescents' self-reported number of lifetime sexual partners.
- Assessed peer acceptance using a network measure of social status.
Main Results:
- A significant gender difference was found: higher numbers of sexual partners correlated positively with boys' peer acceptance but negatively with girls' peer acceptance.
- For sexually permissive boys, socioeconomic background moderated the relationship with peer acceptance; those from disadvantaged backgrounds had more friendships.
- These findings support the existence of an adolescent sexual double standard.
Conclusions:
- The study provides evidence for an adolescent sexual double standard, indicating that peer acceptance for sexual behavior differs significantly by gender.
- Socioeconomic factors also play a role, influencing how sexual permissiveness impacts social standing among adolescent boys.
- Sexual norms among adolescents are shaped by both gender and socioeconomic origins.
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