Backlash From the Bedroom

TLDR

The sexual double standard describes harsher judgments toward women than men for similar heterosexual sexual activity. The study examined whether the sexual double standard in casual sex is driven by a desire to avoid counterstereotypical behaviors due to fear of backlash. The authors conducted four studies with nearly 3,000 participants to examine how stigma influences men’s and women’s reactions to casual sex, integrating sexuality and backlash research. Across these studies, women faced greater stigma and were less likely to accept casual sex offers, with fear of backlash mediating gender differences and the concept of backlash extending to other social choices.

Abstract

Harsher judgments toward women (relative to men) for engaging in similar heterosexual sexual activity have been termed the sexual double standard. Within heterosexual casual sex scenarios, we examined whether the sexual double standard can be explained by desire to avoid counterstereotypical behaviors for fear of social repercussions (i.e., backlash effects). Study 1a showed that female casual sex accepters received more opprobrium than male accepters. Study 1b demonstrated that women were less likely to accept casual sex offers than men and that the gender difference was partially mediated by the more negative judgments women anticipated for accepting the casual sex offer. In Study 2a, participants recalled real-life sexual proposals; women expected to be perceived more negatively than men for accepting an offer of casual sex. Finally, in Study 2b, we demonstrated that fear of stigma mediates gender differences in acceptance of actual recalled casual sex offers. Across the four studies and nearly 3,000 participants, ranging in age from 18 to 74, we examined the role of stigma in men and women’s reactions to casual sex and successfully integrated two relatively independent research domains: that of sexuality on one hand, and research on the backlash effects on the other. We were also able to extend the concept of backlash to help us understand a wider range of social choices.