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An Experimental Investigation of Sexual Scripts by Partner Gender: Anticipated Clitoral Stimulation and Partner
Grace M Wetzel1, Carly Wolfer2, Cheryl L Carmichael2,3
1Department of Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 53 Avenue E, Tillett Hall, Piscataway, NJ, 08854-8040, USA. grace.wetzel@rutgers.edu.
Archives of Sexual Behavior
|June 17, 2025
Summary
Bisexual women expect more clitoral stimulation and orgasm with female partners. Modifying sexual scripts with male partners to include clitoral stimulation increases orgasm expectations, addressing the orgasm gap.
Area of Science:
- Sexuality and Gender Studies
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- The orgasm gap, a documented disparity in orgasm rates between heterosexual men and women, is a significant area of research.
- Bisexual women report different orgasm expectations based on partner gender, highlighting the influence of social and interpersonal factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate "perceived partner orgasm pursuit" as a mechanism explaining orgasm expectation differences in bisexual women.
- To demonstrate that altering sexual scripts with male partners to include clitoral stimulation can increase women's orgasm expectations.
Main Methods:
- Study 1: Hypothetical scenarios comparing orgasm expectations of bisexual/pansexual women with female vs. male partners (N=457).
- Study 2: Hypothetical scenarios manipulating sexual scripts with male partners (clitoral stimulation vs. vaginal intercourse only) (N=362).
- Statistical analysis examining the predictive relationships between sexual scripts, perceived partner orgasm pursuit, and orgasm expectations.
Main Results:
- Bisexual/pansexual women expected greater clitoral stimulation, partner pursuit of orgasm, and orgasm likelihood with female partners compared to male partners.
- Including clitoral stimulation or reliable orgasm routes in hypothetical scenarios with male partners increased partner orgasm pursuit and orgasm expectations.
- Vaginal intercourse alone in hypothetical scenarios with male partners resulted in the lowest orgasm expectations.
Conclusions:
- Sexual scripts significantly influence orgasm expectations, explaining gender-based differences in partnered sexual experiences.
- Interpersonal sexual scripts can be modified to include sufficient clitoral stimulation and pursuit of female orgasm, potentially reducing the orgasm gap.
- Findings underscore the importance of specific sexual behaviors and partner attentiveness in achieving orgasm for women.
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