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Lay Beliefs About Gender and Sexual Behavior: First Evidence for a Pervasive, Robust (but Seemingly Unfounded)
Jaimie Arona Krems1, Ahra Ko2, Jordan W Moon2
1The Oklahoma Center for Evolutionary Analysis (OCEAN), Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University.
Psychological Science
|May 4, 2021
Summary
People wrongly assume women who have casual sex have low self-esteem. This study found no evidence linking casual sex to lower self-esteem in women, challenging common stereotypes.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Sociology
- Gender Studies
Background:
- Negative stereotypes persist regarding women engaging in casual sex.
- Media often portrays women with casual sex partners as having low self-esteem.
- Limited empirical research exists on lay theories about women and casual sex.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate lay theories about the self-esteem of women who engage in casual sex.
- To determine if stereotypes about women's casual sex and self-esteem are empirically supported.
- To examine factors influencing these stereotypes.
Main Methods:
- Six experiments were conducted with 1,469 U.S. adults.
- Stereotypes were measured using explicit and semi-implicit measures.
- Correlations between sexual behavior and self-esteem were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Both men and women stereotype women (not men) who engage in casual sex as having low self-esteem.
- This stereotype is explicit, semi-implicit, and not explained by religiosity, conservatism, or sexism.
- The stereotype persists even when women are described as choosing casual sex.
- No significant correlation was found between participants' sexual behavior and their self-esteem.
Conclusions:
- The pervasive stereotype linking women's casual sex to low self-esteem is unfounded.
- Societal perceptions do not align with empirical data on sexual behavior and self-worth.
- Further research may explore the origins and maintenance of these inaccurate stereotypes.
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