Effect of Gender Role Norms on Feelings about Virginity Status in Women
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Authors
Templer, Alyssa
Issue Date
2009
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Gender role norms influence men and women to behave in ways that are considered socially
acceptable in society. Similar to gender role norms, sexual norms influence the sexual behavior
and attitudes of men and women in society, with one of the most influential norms being the
sexual double standard. However, the sexual double standard appears to be changing, in that the .
age of first intercourse is roughly the same between men and women, and women have begun to
adopt masculine gender roles. Despite this, women's attitudes and feelings toward their sexual
activity are still reportedly negative. Therefore, a possible explanation that women are adversely
affected by gender role norms because their social network supports such norms was examined
(Crawford & Popp, 2003). This study measured the effect of traditional versus non-traditional
gender norm messages on young women's feelings regarding their own virginity status. Data
came from a longitudinal study using undergraduate students at a Midwestern university. A
secondary analysis was done using 82 heterosexual single women, age 18 to 22 years. The
hypothesis that women who were non-virgins and received traditional messages would
experience higher negative feelings and lower positive feelings was not supported. A main effect
of feelings was found indicating that the majority of virgins and non-virgin participants had
overall higher positive than negative feelings. A second analysis done on the effect of receiving
the "ladylike/proper" message found a main effect of this message, indicating that women who
received the message had significantly higher negative feelings than those who did not receive
the message. The results indicate that women are emotionally influenced by the
"ladylike/proper" message, but not as a result of their virginity status. Future studies should
better define "virginity" and "virginity loss."
Description
vi, 46 p.
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