The sexual double standard refers to the general perception that males who engage in casual sexual exploits are studs whereas women who do the same are sluts. Where does this double standard come from? Past work pinned it on females, who are responsible for protecting their “mate value” in the “mating marketplace.” However, new research by Dr. Laurie Rudman, Janell Fetterolf, and Dr. Diana Sanchez (Rutgers University) indicates that male’s perceptions of sexually permissive women are the primary contributor to this persistent sexual double standard.
Read more about this study in a post by the researchers here.
joseph santus says
Is one of the significant motives for MCT the male competitiveness for sexual partners?
That is, since a woman's warranting "social stigma" may be interpreted as a signal of her "willingness to engage in extra-relationship/non-commital sex", then does MCT function to reduce threats to himself by discouraging women from mating with others besides himself?