Relationships among Gender, Sex-Role Attitudes, Sexual Attitudes, Thoughts, and Behaviors

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to determine if there are differences among sex-role attitudes, sexual attitudes, and behavior of men and women. The Attitudes towards Women scale and the Sexual Attitudes and Behavior Survey were administered to 190 undergraduates. A series of analyses of variance indicated that women had more liberal attitudes toward their sex roles while men had more liberal sexual attitudes and behavior. However, without regard to gender, those with more liberal sexual attitudes and behavior also had more liberal attitudes toward sex roles of women and vice versa. Separate analyses of the items concerning attitudes toward homosexuality showed that men were more accepting of females' homosexuality than women, and profeminists were more accepting of homosexuality than traditionalists. There were no differences in homosexual behavior based on either gender or sex-role status.