Swedish or American heterosexual college youth: Who is more permissive?

Abstract

Theories of human sexuality have proposed that two factors reduce the double standard of sexuality and lead to a convergence of male and female sexual behavior: the degree of social benefits and amount of power women have in basic societal institutions and the extent to which a society accepts permissive sexual norms. As these factors increase, the strength of the double standard will decrease and the convergence between male and female behaviors will increase. Compared to the United States, Sweden has instituted more policies to promote gender equality and has been thought to accept more permissive premarital sexual attitudes. The focus of the research reported here is to examine country and gender differences in sexual attitudes and sexual behavior for a sample of university students in the United States (N = 407) and Sweden (N = 570). Results indicate that Swedish students endorsed more similar sexual standards for women and men and reported more accepting attitudes than did American students. For sexual behavior, American men reported the most sexual experience, Swedish men the least, with the women of both countries generally in the middle category. Notwithstanding this more permissive behavior on the part of American men, gender convergence with respect to sexual behavior is stronger in Sweden on several of the dimensions examined: age of first engaging in partner-related sexual activities for those who were sexually experienced, relationship with first partner, number of partners both in the last year and in their lifetime, and affective reactions to first coitus. Gender convergence, however, is weaker in Sweden than in the United States with respect to the incidence and frequency of various sexual activities and the degree of satisfaction with current sex life. Findings are discussed with respect to the questions they raise about the current theories that framed this research and the differential amount of sex education provided in the two countries.

Does country context matter? Investigating the predictors of teen sexting across Europe

“…In particular, the north-western European countries, such as Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, are characterized by more sexual permissive attitudes (Arnett & Balle-Jensen, 1993;Weinberg, Lottes, & Shaver, 1995) than southern European countries, such as Italy, and some Eastern European countries, such as Poland (Widmer et al, 1998). These value differences are, for example, displayed in different sex education programs at schools (Parker, Wellings, & Lazarus, 2009).…”

“…In sexually restrictive countries, traditional gender roles promote sexual passiveness for women, and dominance and agency for men (Kiefer & Sanchez, 2007;Marston & King, 2006). In these countries, the sexuality of women is subjected to more social restrictions compared to the sexuality of men (Weinberg et al, 1995). In contrast, in more sexual permissive countries, such as in the Scandinavian countries, it is normative for women to express their sexual wishes and desires (Weinberg et al, 1995).…”

“…In these countries, the sexuality of women is subjected to more social restrictions compared to the sexuality of men (Weinberg et al, 1995). In contrast, in more sexual permissive countries, such as in the Scandinavian countries, it is normative for women to express their sexual wishes and desires (Weinberg et al, 1995). In these countries, female sexuality is characterized by more active sexual behaviors of women.…”

“…In traditional, sexual restrictive countries, teenage sexuality may be perceived as inappropriate. In less traditional countries, teenage sexuality is perceived as part of normal adolescent development and may therefore be less restricted (Weinberg et al, 1995;Widmer et al, 1998). In these countries, adolescents may thus engage in sexual behaviors at younger ages.…”

Atitudes e comportamentos sexuais de mulheres universitárias: A hipótese do duplo padrão sexual

“…Quanto ao julgamento pessoal dos inquiridos relativamente a determinados comportamentos sexuais praticados por ambos os géneros podemos dizer que os resultados encontrados na maioria das investigações referenciadas (Gentry & College, 1998;Hendrick & Hendrick, 1987;Mark & Miller, 1986;Milhausen & Herold, 1999;Milhausen & Herold, 2001;Sprecher, 1989;Sprecher, McKinney & Orbuch, 1991;Weinberg, Lottes & Shaver, 1995;Weinberg, Lottes & Shaver, 2000) apontaram para a presença de um script caracterizado por um padrão de comportamento sexual singular aplicado a ambos os géneros, embora o modelo de permissividade sexual esteja assente em valores morais conservadores. Contudo é possível, tal como tínhamos referido anteriormente, encontrar nestas mesmas investigações resultados que mostram a presença (ainda que por vezes seja muito ténue) de atitudes pessoais que aprovam o duplo padrão sexual.…”