Stereotyping Yourself: Are Adolescents’ Stereotypes About the Sexual Double Standard Related to Their Own Sexual Behaviors?

Abstract

The sexual double standard (SDS), which prescribes that boys should be sexually active and dominant, and girls should be sexually reactive and submissive, is still present in today’s society. To gain insight into the role the SDS plays in adolescents’ sexual behavior, this study investigated how the SDS-stereotypes of Dutch adolescents (aged 16–20, N = 566, 58% girls) were related to their sexual experience, intention to have sex in the coming year, and sexy online self-presentation. This study also examined whether these associations were different for boys and girls. Data were collected through an online survey that adolescents completed at school. Hierarchical linear regression analyses showed that for both boys and girls, having more SDS-stereotypes was associated with a higher level of sexual experience. In adolescents who did not have sexual intercourse yet, only for boys, more SDS-stereotypes were related to having a higher intention to have sex in the coming year. Furthermore, only for girls, more SDS-stereotypes were related to less sexy online self-presentation. The results indicated that SDS-stereotypes were associated with adolescents’ sexual behaviors. As a next step, experimental and longitudinal research is necessary to inform whether and how sex education programs can focus on educating adolescents on the SDS.