The Presence and Effects of the Sexual Double Standard Regarding Condom Use Among Chinese Adults: The Moderating Effects of Gender and Condom Use Power

Abstract

The current set of two studies examined the presence and effects of the sexual double standard regarding condom use in China. Study 1 (between-subjects experiment) examined the existence of traditional sexual double standard in people's attitudes toward men's and women's condom use behaviors. Participants (197 women and 157 men; M age 29.8 ± 6.77 years) were randomly assigned to one of three scenarios that described a sexual encounter in which either a woman or a man provided condoms, or no condoms were used. Participants needed to rate the woman and man in terms of their behavior and maturity. The results showed that people evaluated the woman more positively when she provided condoms during the sexual encounter, compared with a man providing condoms and a no-condom-use situation. Second, when no condoms were used (vs. a woman or a man providing condoms), the man's behavior was rated as the most negative. Moreover, the man's behavior was rated as more negative than that of the woman in the no-condom-use condition. Study 2 (cross-sectional study) examined how individuals' endorsement of the traditional sexual double standard was associated with their condom use frequency and whether their perceived power in condom use in a sexual relationship moderated this association. A total of 1457 participants (859 women and 598 men; M age 30.2 ± 6.12 years) completed an online survey. Results showed that, for both men and women, endorsement of the traditional sexual double standard was negatively associated with their condom use frequency. Furthermore, when people perceived power in condom use in a sexual relationship increased, their traditional sexual double standard endorsement was more strongly associated with a decrease in condom use frequency. The findings also showed that women who perceived themselves as more empowered in using condoms reported a higher frequency of condom use. Sexuality education in China should stress gender equality and the regular use of condoms.