Reasons for having and avoiding sex: Gender, sexual orientation, and relationship to sexual behavior

TLDR

Sex‑role stereotypes suggest that men and women are motivated by different reasons for sex, with women more emotionally driven and men more physically driven. The authors surveyed heterosexual and homosexual respondents, asking them to rate the importance of various reasons for having and not having sex. Results revealed gender differences in emotional versus physical motives across both groups, practical motives such as reproduction and disease fear separating homosexuals from heterosexuals, and relationship status influencing motivations, indicating that while similarities exist, gender differences in motivations for sex persist. Keywords: sexual behavior, gender, sexual orientation.

Abstract

Traditional sex‐role stereotypes suggest that men and women engage in sex for different reasons. Previous studies have supported the notion that women are more motivated by emotional expression in having sex, and men are more concerned with physical gratification. In a survey of sexual behavior, heterosexual and homosexual respondents were asked to rate the importance of a variety of reasons for having sex and not having sex. The results showed that men and women differed in the importance attached to emotional and physical motives, with gender differences appearing in both heterosexuals and homosexuals. Certain practical motives (e.g., to reproduce, fear of AIDS, fear of pregnancy) differentiated between homosexuals and heterosexuals. Motivations predicting frequency of sexual behavior in the last month depended on the relationship status of the respondent. These findings, although suggesting that gender differences in motivations for sex persist in all kinds of relationships, point to many similarities among gay and straight men and women in reasons for having sex and limiting sexual activity. Key words: Sexual behaviorgendersexual orientation