Abstract
This study examined the relations of gender and three aspects of gender roles — self concept, behavior, and sexual attitudes — to three aspects of sexual behavior — sexual experience, reasons for intercourse, and contraceptive use. Gender was strongly related to all three aspects of sexual behavior. For both men and women, sex role behaviors were related to sexual experience and to reasons for intercourse, but not to contraceptive use, and sex role self-concept was unrelated to any of the aspects of sexual behavior. The results indicate that sexual behavior is influenced both by societal gender role norms and by individual differences in the acceptance of those norms.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abramson, P. R. Implications of the sexual system. In D. Byrne & W. A. Fisher (Eds.), Adolescents, sex, and contraception. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum, 1983.
Adler, N. E. Sex roles and unwanted pregnancy in adolescent and adult women. Professional Psychology, 1981, 12, 56–66.
Allgeier, E. R. The influence of androgynous identification on heterosexual relations. Sex Roles, 1981, 7, 321–330.
Allgeier, E. R., & Allgeier, A. R. Sexual interactions. Lexington, MA: Heath, 1984.
Angrist, S. A. The study of sex roles. Journal of Social Issues, 1969, 25(1), 215–232.
Basow, B. A. Gender stereotypes, 2nd ed. Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole, 1986.
Bauman, K. E., & Wilson, R. R. Premarital sexual attitudes of university students. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 1976, 5, 29–37.
Becker, M. A., Larson, J. E., & Gaeddart, W. P. Gender, sex-role orientation, and sexual experience. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, New York, April 1984.
Bem, S. L. Androgyny and gender schema theory: A conceptual and empirical integration. In T. B. Sonderegger (Ed.), Nebraska Symposium on Motivation, Vol. 32. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1984.
Berscheld, E. Emotion. In H. H. Kelley et al. (Eds.), Close relationships. New York: Freeman, 1983.
Betz, N. E. Use of discriminant analysis in counseling psychology research. Journal of Counselling Psychology, 1987, 34, 393–403.
Biddle, B. J. Role theory. New York: Academic Press, 1979.
Bray, J. H., & Maxwell, S. E. Multivariate analysis of variance. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage, 1985.
Carroll, J. C., Volk, K. A., & Hyde, J. S. Differences between males and females in motives for engaging in sexual intercourse. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 1985, 14, 131–139.
Chilman, C. S. Adolescent sexuality in a changing American society, 2nd ed. New York: Wiley, 1983.
Cvetkovich, G., Grote, B., Bjorseth, A., & Sarkassian, J. On the psychology of adolescents' use of contraception. Journal of Sex Research, 1985, 11, 256–270.
Dawes, R. M., & Smith, T. L. Attitude and opinion measurement. In G. Lindzey & E. Aronson (Eds.), Handbook of social psychology, 3rd ed., Vol. 1. New York: Random House, 1985.
DeLamater, J. Gender differences in sexual scenarios. In K. Kelley (Ed.), Females, males, and sexuality. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1987.
DeLamater, J., & MacCorquodale, P. Premarital sexuality. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1979.
Derlega, V. J., & Chaikin, A. L. Norms affecting self-disclosure in men and women. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1976, 44, 376–380.
Derlega, V. J., Durham, B., Gockel, B., & Sholis, D. Sex differences in self-disclosure: Effects of topic content, friendship, and partner sex. Sex Roles, 1981, 433–447.
Eagly, A. H. Sex differences in social behavior. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum, 1987.
Frieze, I. H., Parsons, J. E., Johnson, P. E., Ruble, D. N., & Zellman, G. L. Women and sex roles. New York: Norton, 1978.
Gagnon, J. H., & Simon, W. Sexual conduct. Chicago: Aldine, 1978.
Gecas, V. The self-concept. Annual Review of Sociology, 1982, 8, 1–33.
Gecas, V., & Schwalbe, M. C. Beyond the looking-glass self: Social structure and efficacy-based self-esteem. Social Psychology Quarterly, 1983, 46, 77–88.
Gross, A. E. The male role and heterosexual behavior. Journal of Social Issues, 1978, 34(1), 87–107.
Haase, R. F., & Ellis, M. V. Multivariate analysis of variance. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 1987, 34, 404–413.
Hammett, V. L. The relationship between sex role identity and sexual attitudes and behavior in college students. Dissertation Abstracts International, 1979, 40, 1422B-1423B. (University Microfilms No. 7919379).
Hatfield, E. What do women and men want from love and sex? In E. R. Allgeier & N. B. McCormick (Eds.), Changing boundaries: Gender roles and sexual behavior. Palo Alto, CA: Mayfield, 1983.
Herold, E. S., & Goodwin, M. S. Adamant virgins, potential nonvirgins and nonvirgins. Journal of Sex Research, 1981, 17, 97–113.
Hopkins, J. R. Sexual behavior in adolescence. Journal of Social Issues, 1977, 33(2), 67–85.
Jessor, S. L., & Jessor, R. Transition from virginity to nonvirginity among youth: A social-psychological study over time. Developmental Psychology, 1975, 11, 473–484.
Jones, W. H., Chernovitz, M. E. O'C., & Hansson, R. O. The enigma of androgyny: Differential implications for males and females? Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1978, 46, 298–313.
Klecka, W. R. Discriminant analysis. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage, 1980.
Larson, J. E., Becker, M. A., & Gaeddart, W. P. Sex role as a predictor of sexual adjustment. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, New York, April 1986.
Lindemann, C. Birth control and unmarried young women. New York: Springer, 1974.
Milan, R. J., & Kilmann, P. R. Interpersonal factors in premarital contraception. Journal of Sex Research, 1987, 23, 289–321.
Miller, P. Y., & Simon, W. The development of sexuality in adolescence. In J. Adelson (Ed.), Handbook of adolescent psychology. New York: Wiley, 1980.
Miller, W. B. Sexual and contraceptive behavior in young unmarried women. Primary Care, 1976, 3, 427–453.
Nelson, P. A. Personality, sexual functions, and sexual behavior: An experiment in methodology. Dissertation Abstracts International, 1979, 39, 6134B. (University Microfilms No. 7913307)
Newcomb, M. D. Notches on the bedpost: Correlates of sexual experience. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, August 1984.
Orlofsky, J. L. Relationship between sex role attitudes and personality traits and the Sex Role Behavior Scale-I: A new measure of masculine and feminine role behaviors and interests. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1981, 46, 927–940.
Orlofsky, J. L., & O'Herron, C. A. Development of a short-form Sex Role Behavior Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 1987, 51, 267–277. (a)
Orlofsky, J. L., & O'Herron, C. A. Stereotypic and nonstereotypic sex role trait and behavior orientations: Implications for adjustment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1987, 52, 1034–1042. (b)
Orlofsky, J. L., Ramsden, M. W., & Cohen, R. S. Development of the revised Sex Role Behavior Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 1982, 46, 632–638.
Peplau, L. A., Rubin, Z., & Hill, C. T. Sexual intimacy in dating relationships. Journal of Social Issues, 1977, 33(2), 86–109.
Scales, P. Males and morals: Teenage contraceptive behavior and the double standard. Family Coordinator, 1977, 26, 211–222.
Simon, W., & Gagnon, J. H. Sexual scripts: Permanence and change. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 1986, 15, 97–120.
Snow, L. J., & Parsons, J. L. Sex role orientation and female sexual functioning. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 1983, 8, 133–143.
Snyder, M., & Ickes, W. Personality and social behavior. In G. Lindzey & E. Aronson (Eds.), Handbook of social psychology, 3rd ed., Vol. 2. New York: Random House, 1985.
Spence, J. T. Gender identity and its implications for the concepts of masculinity and femininity. In T. B. Sonderegger (Ed.), Nebraska Symposium on Motivation, Vol. 32. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1984.
Spence, J. T., & Helmreich, R. L. Masculinity and femininity. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1978.
Spence, J. T., & Sawin, L. L. Images of masculinity and femininity: A reconceptualization. In V. E. O'Leary, R. K. Unger, & B. S. Wallston (Eds.), Women, gender, and social psychology. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum, 1985.
Spence, J. T., Deaux, K., & Helmreich, R. L. Sex roles in contemporary American society. In G. Lindzey & E. Aronson (Eds.), Handbook of social psychology, 3rd ed., Vol. 2: New York: Random House, 1985.
Story, M. D. A comparison of university student experience with various sexual outlets in 1974 and 1980. Adolescence, 1982, 17, 737–747.
Whitley, B. E., Jr. Personality variables and college student contraceptive use. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, August 1986.
Whitley, B. E. Jr. The relationship of sex-role orientation to heterosexuals' attitudes toward homosexuals. Sex Roles, 1987, 17, 103–113.
Whitley, B. E. Jr. Masculinity, femininity and self-esteem: A multitrait-multmethod analysis. Sex Roles, 1988, 18, 419–431.
Whitley, B. E., Jr., & Schofield, J. W. A meta-analysis of research on adolescent contraceptive use. Population and Environment, 1986, 8, 173–203.
Zaneveld, J. L., Zaneveld, R. V., & Gravatt, A. E. The pregnancy protection index: A framework for the systematic study of pregnancy protection. Journal of Sex Research, 1984, 20, 279–292.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by grants from the Office of Research and the Psychology Advisory Committee, Ball State University. I would like to thank Jacquelyn Clouser, Robert Ferguson, Becki Frederick, Shauna Gatten, Ann Marie Love, and John Millar for their assistance in data collection, coding, and analysis, and Mary Kite and Michael Stevenson for their helpful comments on earlier drafts of this article.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Whitley, B.E. The relation of gender-role orientation to sexual experience among college students. Sex Roles 19, 619–638 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00289740
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00289740