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Sexual gender roles and stereotypes and the sexual double standard in sexual satisfaction among Portuguese college students: an exploratory study
Publication . Delgado Amaro, Helena; Alvarez, Maria-João; Ferreira, J. A.
Research on sexual satisfaction in Portugal is still limited; what exists,
however, highlights barriers preventing optimal realisation of this dimension of sexuality and sexual health. Physical and relational barriers have
been consistently evidenced, whereas social and cultural barriers have
been less studied. Using focus groups, we aimed to explore perceptions of
Portuguese college students (N = 47) about sexual satisfaction – more
specifically, about gender differences and about how sexual gender roles
and stereotypes and the Sexual Double Standard may influence sexual
satisfaction. We found that sexual satisfaction is perceived to be suboptimal, especially for women in casual sexual relationships, and that
the differences are attributed by both male and female to the constraints
imposed by sexual gender roles, sexual gender stereotypes, and the
sexual double standard. Deconstructing these socio-sexual beliefs is
needed in order to achieve a higher, egalitarian level of sexual satisfaction
and to promote sexual health.
Still Striving After All These Years: Between Normality of Conduct and Normativity of Evaluation in Casual Relationships among College Students
Publication . Alvarez, Maria-João; Pegado, Ana; LUZ, RITA; Delgado Amaro, Helena
Gender similarities have been detected in various sexual behaviors and attitudes in young adults, but persistent diferences
remain regarding casual sexual relationships (CSRs), with women feeling diferent external pressures than men. We set out
to study the spontaneous references made to gender similarities and diferences towards CSRs in eight focus group interviews (N=35 college-students, aged 18–28) about the characteristics of CSRs within a social-role framework. The thematic
analysis led us to the interpretation that there is an ongoing change in the acceptability of these relationships, leading to
the emergence of a single sexual standard – mostly liberal, but at times also conservative. However, diferent expectations
remain, derived from a deep-rooted traditional sexual double standard still perceived in society. Challenges to the unequal
standards and social constraints in CSRs is desired by many women, defended by men, and admired in those women whose
striving contributes to the normalization of this conduct and of how it is evaluated.
A Fertile Ground for Ambiguities: Casual Sexual Relationships Among Portuguese Emerging Adults
Publication . LUZ, RITA; Alvarez, Maria-João; Godinho, Cristina Albuquerque; Pereira, Cicero Roberto
Casual sexual relationships (CSRs) are frequent relationship experiences in young
adulthood that provide opportunities for many to explore sexual relationships and to
construct their sexual identity. Empirical research on casual sex is still lacking outside
North-American countries, despite evidence pointing to the need to contextualize sexual
interactions in their own sociocultural context. In order to better understand casual sexual
relationships, these should be examined in with novel samples in other countries where
a “hookup culture” as it is described in the North-American university campus is apparently
absent. Through a qualitative study, we explored what casual sexual relationships consist
of according to the perceptions of Portuguese college students (N=35). The thematic
analysis of eight focus group interviews resulted in the generation of six themes, three of
which are presented here: (1) What CSRs are, regarding features and types of CSRs, (2)
Why individuals engage in CSRs, focusing on positive and negative motivations, and (3)
What one gets from CSRs, focusing on positive and negative outcomes of CSRs. Our
findings showed that Portuguese emerging adults are familiarized with CSRs, particularly
with one-night stand, friends with benefits and “curte”/hookup. Sexual interactions
associated with other CSRs, such as booty call or fuck buddies, were mentioned but
rarely associated with a distinctive label and established characteristics. Participants
described the CSRs in a partially overlapping manner presenting some areas of ambiguity,
such as with regard to sexual exclusivity and still-unlabeled sexual interactions. CSRs are
generally evaluated as positively motivated and mainly beneficial. This study adds to the
literature around casual sexual relationships by exploring and describing CSRs in a different
sociocultural context, as well as indicating directions for future research in order to better
prepare and empower young adults in their sexual and relational trajectories.
Development and evidence of validity of the new sexual double standard scale
Publication . Delgado Amaro, Helena; Alvarez, Maria-João; Ferreira, J. A.; Pereira, Cicero Roberto
The Sexual Double Standard is a complex multi-layered construct that functions as an organizing principle of heterosexual
behavior. It is a dynamic, ubiquitous, two-dimensional sexual gendered norm, the quantitative exploration of which requires
up-to-date assessment tools to better capture both personal endorsement and social recognition of the SDS. This study
develops a New SDS Scale to assess personal SDS, which is easily adapted to measure societal SDS, with demonstration of
its validity and gender invariance. College students (N=481) completed the New SDS Scale, plus convergent-divergent and
concurrent validity measures. Exploratory analysis indicated an eight-item two-factor structure. Confrmatory factor analysis
showed the better adjustment of a bifactor structure combining a general factor of SDS and the subscales Sexual Relationships and Actions/Activities. In addition to factorial validity, results were also demonstrative of convergent, discriminant,
and concurrent validity, and reliability and gender invariance were demonstrated. The new scale may be a useful tool to
briefy assess personal endorsement of the SDS or of alternative standards, and it can easily be adapted to measure perceptions about the social existence of the SDS. Beyond the potential for practical application to individual or group assessment
in clinical and educational settings, the New SDS Scale updates our knowledge on the types of sexual conduct that elicit the
SDS, identifying critically gendered activities for which permissiveness continues to be markedly diferentiated, despite the
openness and sexual freedom of recent years.
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Entidade financiadora
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Programa de financiamento
Concurso para Financiamento de Projetos de Investigação Científica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Todos os Domínios Científicos - 2017
Número da atribuição
PTDC/PSI-GER/28530/2017