NONTRADITIONAL GENDER-ROLES AND THE SEXUAL EXPERIENCES OF HETEROSEXUAL COLLEGE-STUDENTS

The purposes of this study of heterosexual college students were (1) t o specify gender differences and similarities in sexual beliefs and ex periences, (2) to determine the prevalence of women enacting tradition al male roles in dating and sexual interactions, and (3) to examine th e relationship between women's enactment of traditional male roles and their sexual experiences. Findings for this predominantly Caucasian s ample indicated that there were no significant gender differences in a ge of first intercourse, frequency of intercourse, oral sex participat ion, prevalence of coitus and anal sex, rating of how often sex partne rs satisfied their sex needs and desires, and reactions to recent inte rcourse. Although less than men's frequencies, sizable proportions of women acknowledged they had multiple sex partners and sex without emot ional involvement. Support for an increased proportion of females enga ging in the traditional male roles of initiating sexual involvement an d dates and paying date expenses was also found. Findings also suggest ed that there are no simple patterns between women's sexual experience and nontraditional roles but that this association depends on the spe cific role as well as the status and quality of a woman's current sexu al relationship. Findings were discussed in terms of their potential t o contribute to women's sexual decisions.