Elizabeth Gass
Research Mentor(s): Terri Conley
Mentor Department: Psychology
Authors: Elizabeth Gass, Ariel Yang, Terri Conley
Session: Session 3 (11:00am – 11:50am)
Presentation Type: Oral
Abstract
Gender differences in casual sex acceptance are widely assumed, with women believed to accept casual sex offers less frequently than men. Prior research has attributed this gap to evolutionary and emotional factors, such as men having higher sex drives or women being too emotionally invested to enjoy casual sex. These explanations suggest that gender differences in casual sex acceptance are biologically predetermined, overlooking social and psychological influences. This research challenges these assumptions by examining whether the anticipation of orgasm—the expectation of sexual pleasure—can eliminate the gender gap in casual sex acceptance. We hypothesize that women’s lower acceptance of casual sex is not due to an inherent disinterest but rather to disparities in sexual pleasure. Participants in this research engaged in a hypothetical dating app scenario, selecting a potential partner and evaluating their willingness to engage in casual sex along with their expected level of pleasure. Results indicate that when controlling for the expectation of orgasm, gender differences in casual sex acceptance disappear. When women anticipated orgasm, their acceptance rates matched those of men, erasing the gender gap. These findings challenge traditional sexual scripts and highlight the need to reframe discussions about gender and casual sex by centering the role of pleasure.
