Women’s Sexual Compliance with Male Dating Partners: Associations with Investment in Ideal Womanhood and Romantic Well-Being

Abstract

Sexual compliance involves willing acquiescence to unwanted sex for the good of the relationship. Northeastern U.S. undergraduate women in exclusive relationships (N = 193) anonymously reported on their sexual behaviors and motives, investment in ideal womanhood, and romantic well-being. About 37% (n = 72) reported sexual compliance. As expected, sexually compliant women reported greater investment in ideal womanhood than non-compliant women, although unexpectedly, they reported less overall satisfaction and similar commitment. Women’s compliance was motivated more by pursuing relationship enhancement than by avoiding conflict. Regardless, only avoidance motives were associated (negatively) with relationship satisfaction. Compliant women who reported more frequent compliance motivated by conflict avoidance reported particularly low satisfaction. These findings challenge conceptualizations of women’s sexual compliance as beneficial.