“Petersen & Hyde (2010). A meta-analytic review of research on gender differences in sexuality, 1993 – 2007.” – Article summary

Changes in sexual culture appear to be paralleled by changes in sexual behaviour and attitudes. Nonetheless, there are gender differences with regards to sexual behaviour and attitudes. Men have more permissive sexual attitudes (1), use more pornography (2) and report more masturbation compared to women (3). However, this may be a result of social stigma rather than actual gender differences. Furthermore, men are more negative towards homosexuals but not towards lesbians and men more strongly adhere to gender roles.

Gender differences appear to decrease with time. The magnitude of gender differences for some sexual behaviours but not for sexual attitudes is moderated by gender empowerment in a nation. Countries with larger gender differences often hold a double standard and this may influence differences in reporting of sexual behaviours rather than actual differences. Furthermore, there are gender differences across ethnic groups which may be due to differences in power between males and females within that ethnic group.

The gender empowerment measure (GEM) assesses the extent of gender equality in countries. According to the social structural theory, countries with higher scores on the GEM would have smaller gender differences in sexuality compared to countries with lower scores on the GEM. Data supports this hypothesis.

There are several theories regarding gender differences:

1. Evolutionary psychology (supported)
   This theory holds that gender differences in sexuality are the result of evolution (i.e. strategies between men and women for genetic success).
2. Cognitive social learning theory (supported)
   This theory holds that learning takes place by observing others’ behaviours (e.g. through modelling). This implies that exposure to media (e.g. sexual behaviours in the media) influences sexuality.
3. Social structural theory (supported)
   This theory holds that gender differences are a result of the division of labour by gender and gender disparity in power. Gender inequality of power contributes to the idea that women are less valuable than men and are appropriate objects of male sexual satisfaction, leading to gender differences in sexual attitudes.
4. Sexual strategies theory
   This theory holds that women focus on ensuring the survival of each offspring by choosing a mate who will provide resources for their family.
5. Gender similarities hypothesis (supported)
   This theory holds that men and women are similar in most psychological variables.

The evolutionary psychology theory would predict that men are more likely to engage in casual sex (1), engage in extra-relational sexual behaviours (2), would be more accepting regarding attitudes requiring little sexual commitment (3) and that the desire for short-term mating decreases with age (4). The cognitive social learning theory would predict that women obtain more permissive attitudes towards sex as media exposure increases. Evidence from the gender similarities hypothesis comes from the fact that most gender differences are small or trivial