Among heterosexual women, self-rated masculinity is linked to a higher number of reported sexual partners, while self-rated femininity correlates with fewer partners, according to recent research published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior. Interestingly, this pattern did not hold for heterosexual men or individuals identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or pansexual.
The motivation behind the study stemmed from a longstanding puzzle in sexual behavior research: why do heterosexual men in Western societies consistently report having more lifetime sexual partners than heterosexual women, despite the mathematical expectation that the averages should be similar? This discrepancy has been attributed to several factors, including the sexual double standard that views men with many partners more favorably than women, social desirability bias where men might overreport and women underreport their number of partners, and differences in reporting techniques between genders.
However, previous research primarily focused on the overall gender differences in reported sexual partners rather than exploring variations within each gender group. The new study aimed to fill that gap by examining how self-rated masculinity and femininity influence the number of sexual partners reported by individuals within the same gender but across different sexual identities.
Another motivation for the study was to address the limited research on how masculinity and femininity relate to reported numbers of same-sex partners within LGBTQ communities. Previous studies have explored sexual behaviors and attitudes within these communities, but few have specifically examined how self-perceptions of masculinity and femininity influence the reporting of sexual partners.
“I am interested in how masculinity and femininity are associated with different types of beliefs and behaviors, including sexual behaviors. How people understand their masculinity and femininity can affect their attitudes and behaviors. Similarly, attitudes and behaviors can affect how people perceive their masculinity and femininity,” explained study author Tony Silva, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of British Columbia.
Silva conducted a web-based survey using a large sample of 2,117 Canadians. This sample included four distinct groups: heterosexual men, heterosexual women, gay and bisexual/pansexual men, and lesbian and bisexual/pansexual women. Participants were recruited through the online panel of Leger, a Canadian research company, which ensured a diverse and stratified sample based on region, gender, age, and recent survey participation.
Self-rated masculinity and femininity were measured using a scale where participants rated themselves from “not at all” to “very” masculine or feminine. This method was chosen to allow individuals to self-assess rather than being judged by a set of predefined characteristics or behaviors. They were also asked to report the number of sexual partners they had since age 18, considering all types of sexual activity involving genital contact.
The study’s findings revealed significant associations between self-rated masculinity and femininity and the number of reported sexual partners among heterosexual women. Women who rated themselves as more masculine reported having more sexual partners, while those who rated themselves as more feminine reported fewer. These associations remained significant even after adjusting for various demographic factors.
Among heterosexual men, however, no significant associations were found between self-rated masculinity or femininity and the number of reported sexual partners. This suggests that heterosexual men’s self-perceptions of masculinity or femininity do not influence their reported number of sexual partners.
“I was surprised that there was no association between self-rated masculinity and reported numbers of lifetime sexual partners for heterosexual men. There may not be a relationship because most men rated themselves as highly masculine regardless of how many sexual partners they had,” Silva told PsyPost.
Similarly, no significant associations were found among gay and bisexual/pansexual men or lesbian and bisexual/pansexual women. This indicates that other factors may play a more substantial role in shaping sexual behaviors and reporting practices within these communities.
“The lack of any significant associations among LGBQ women and men may be because other factors more strongly shape reported numbers of lifetime sexual partners in these communities, such as subcultural norms,” Silva said.
While the study provides valuable insights, it has some limitations to consider. For instance, the study relied on self-rated measures of masculinity and femininity, which, though beneficial for capturing individual perceptions, may not encompass the full range of behaviors and attitudes associated with these traits. Future research could combine self-rated measures with behavioral and attitudinal assessments to provide a more comprehensive understanding.
The study, “Self-Rated Masculinity and Femininity and Reported Number of Lifetime Sexual Partners Among Cisgender Heterosexual and LGBQ Men and Women,” was published December 14, 2023.