GENDER AND SEXUAL STANDARDS IN DATING RELATIONSHIPS

This study explored the current status of sexual standards for dating relationships. A sample of 148 male and 148 female U.S. college studen ts read a brief vignette describing a couple, Bob and Cathy, who were involved in either a causal or serious romantic/sexual relationship. S ubjects then completed several scales as they thought Bob or Cathy wou ld have answered them. The measures included love attitudes, sexual at titudes, and items on dating and marriage desirability. The study was a 2 (gender of subject) x 2 (gender of target) x 2 (casual vs. serious relationship) factorial design. Perception of a casual or serious rel ationship affected the love attitudes, sexual attitudes, and dating an d marriage desirability attributed to the stimulus person. There were few effects for gender of the stimulus person or gender of the subject . The data suggest that relationship context is extremely important in evaluating sexual activity.