Power, gender, and sexual behavior

Abstract

Relationships among power, gender, and sexual behavior were investigated through a questionnaire completed by 191 college undergraduates. Results indicated that the relationship between power and sexual behavior depended on the type of sexual behavior and how power was measured. Power measured by dominance as a sexual motive was associated with sexual behavior across gender. Power measured by submission as a sexual motive was associated with engaging in usual sexual behavior for women and with abstaining from it for men. The power of both partners in the relationship and power as a sexual motive were associated with engaging in unusual sexual behavior for both men and women. Partners ‘ relative power was unrelated to sexual behavior. Results point to the value of employing multiple measures of power in research on romantic relationships and sexual behavior. Findings supported, and were discussed in terms of, the matching hypothesis, equity theory, and men's (compared to women ‘s) greater willingness to engage in sexual behavior in dating relationships.