Gendered Heterosexism in Attitudes Toward Teen Sex, Especially by Straight Cis-Men

• In Event: 50251 - Open Topic Paper Session on Sex and Gender

Abstract

We use a survey experiment to explore whether US adults’ attitudes about teen sex reflect gendered heterosexism, and whether these cultural standards differ between groups of respondents that vary by gender, cis- or trans-gender status, and sexual orientation. Respondents read a paragraph about parents coming home to find their 17-year-old in a sexual situation with a friend the same age; they were randomly assigned to conditions of being told the child was a son or daughter and the friend is a girl or boy. Respondents are asked how unacceptable and how morally wrong the behavior is, how disappointed each parent should feel, and two questions about punishing the youth. Responses are the most accepting of a son engaging in sexual behavior with a girl, and most condemning of a son engaging sexually with a boy, reflecting heterosexism. However, the heterosexism is gendered in that the stronger condemnation of a same-sex than other-sex pairing is much stronger for a son than a daughter. Reflecting a double standard, there was more condemnation of daughters than sons in a heterosexual situation. The judgments of cis-gender straight men embody more heterosexism and a greater double standard than the judgments of other groups.

Authors

• Emily Fitzgibbons Shafer, Portland State University

• Paula S England, New York University-Abu Dhabi

• Anne Kathleen Johnson, Portland State University

• Jae Collett