Male Role Norm Endorsement and Sexism Predict Heterosexual College Men’s Attitudes Toward Casual Sex, Intoxicated Sexual Contact, and Casual Sex

Abstract

This study examined whether gender roles, particularly male role beliefs and sexism, may underlie self-reported attitudes toward and participation in casual sex and intoxication prior to sexual contact in a sample of heterosexual undergraduate men from the United States. We utilized online survey methods to examine whether men's (N=223 from a large mid-Atlantic University) endorsement of traditional masculinity (power and status, toughness, and antifemininity) and sexist attitudes regarding women's roles (hostile, benevolent) were related to engagement in casual sex (i.e., number of one-time-only sex partners), and whether masculinity was related to intoxicated sexual contact (i.e., propensity to consume alcohol prior to sexual contact). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) revealed that, as expected, endorsement of the toughness male role norm was positively associated with favorable attitudes toward casual sex, and endorsement of benevolent sexism was negatively associated with favorable attitudes toward casual sex. Favorable attitudes toward casual sex, in turn, were positively associated with men's reported number of casual sex partners, as partially mediated by intoxicated sexual contact. Further, toughness endorsement was positively associated with number of casual sex partners via its positive association with intoxicated sexual contact; whereas power and status demonstrated the opposite, negative pattern. We discuss the contribution of this research to the broader literature on gender roles and sexual behavior and the utility of the findings for interventions aimed at reducing men's casual sex behavior and intoxication prior to sexual contact.

Growing Up, Hooking Up, and Drinking: A Review of Uncommitted Sexual Behavior and Its Association With Alcohol Use and Related Consequences Among Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States

“…Further, public drinking spaces and alcohol consumption, coupled with gender and alcohol norms, have been implicated in both sexual victimization (Kavanaugh, 2013) and sexually aggressive experiences (Becker and Tinkler, 2015). It should be noted that there is little work that focuses on hooking up and unwanted sexual contact with men as the victims and how masculinity norms affect men’s hookup behavior or ambivalence of continuing sex acts within hookup occurrences (see Kalish, 2013; Danube et al, 2014; Ford, 2017; for exceptions), especially in conjunction with alcohol use. Further, despite the limited research on consent, alcohol, and hooking up, researchers have not yet followed up with more in-depth studies of how hooking up and alcohol use may lead to sexual assault.…”

How to Foster Male Engagement in Traditionally Female Communal Roles and Occupations: Insights from Research on Gender Norms and Precarious Manhood

“…Moreover, men are less likely to recognize they have psychological problems and to seek help and support when they do (Addis & Mahalik, ; Blazina & Watkins, ; De Visser & McDonnel, ; Mahalik et al., ; Wong, Ho, Wang, & Miller, ). Men will more often suffer in silence until the problems become too overwhelming and present through other more extreme outlets that offer a display of masculinity (Danube, Vescio, & Davis, ; Hayes & Mahalik, ; Möller‐Leimkühler, ; Vandello & Bosson, ). These outlets include excessive drug use, drinking, casual sex, and violence; outcomes with obvious serious personal, relational, and societal consequences (e.g., De Visser & McDonnel, ; European Commission, ; Locke & Mahalik, ; Mahalik, Burns, & Syzdek, ; Mahalik, Lagan, & Morrison, ).…”

Gender Role Norm Conformity and Sexual Assault Risk among Male and Female University Students

“…For example, a study of Leech (2010) among 520 sexually active American 18-19-year-old women, found that both egalitarian and traditional gender role attitudes are associated with risky sexual behaviors (measured in this study as relationship with most recent sexual partner and number of partners in the past year). In the case of men, a study from Danube et al (2014) among 233 undergraduate men from a mid-Atlantic university, showed that endorsement of traditional masculinity and sexist attitudes were related to the number of casual sex partners and intoxicated sexual contact.…”