He is a Stud, She is a Slut! A Meta-Analysis on the Continued Existence of Sexual Double Standards
Joyce J. Endendijk https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8149-912X [email protected], Anneloes L. van Baar, and Maja DekovićView all authors and affiliationsVolume 24, Issue 2
https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868319891310
“He’s the stud and she’s the slut” Young people’s attitudes to pornography, sex and relationships
6. Issues for young women
Given the findings outlined above, it is unsurprising that the research fagged up distinct issues for boys and
girls in relation to pornography, sex and relationships.
As discussed, girls’ exposure to sexualized media appears to be more incidental than deliberate. Only 12%
of participants said that most or all girls their age look at pornography, compared to 48% who said they are
exposed to overtly sexualised imagery every day.
As noted, girls were several times more likely than boys to use words such as ‘shock’ and ‘disgust’ in their responses to the scenario on viewing pornography, and many
young people felt that girls and boys would respond very differently.
In both survey and focus groups, young women saw pornography as something that is aimed at men, and
gives a negative representation of women.
“Pornography is usually geared towards male viewers.”Female, 18, survey
“[In porn] all women are made out to be sluts.”Female, focus group
The words ‘slut’ or ‘slutty’ were used frequently by survey and focus group participants to describe both female behavior that was seen as negative, and the general impression that was given of women by their portrayal in pornography and sexualized media.
In the survey we asked participants to select, from a list of 15 words, which three best described a set of images from popular culture (page 7).
‘Slutty’ was the most popular word, selected by 65% of respondents; twice as many as the second most popular word [4]
. In focus groups it was used often in describing pornography:
“[The women are] quite slutty.” Female, focus group
“Like slutty bitches one and two.”Male, focus group
“He’s the stud and she’s the slut.” Female, focus group
Participants differed somewhat as to the meaning of ‘slut’ but overall it seemed that the word is invariably applied to women, often to describe perceived sexually attention-seeking behavior rather than actual promiscuity.
“Someone who shows their tits on Facebook.” Male, focus group
“Someone who dresses provocatively and just wants all the guys…wants sexual attention.” Female, focus group
Although ideas about ‘slut-shaming’ and double standards were not the focus of the research nor addressed directly, discussions on these issues arose frequently and were often stimulated, as illustrated by the quotes above, by questions about porn and sexualized media.
Both boys and girls suggested, implicitly and explicitly,that women’s ‘inappropriate’ sexual behavior could have negative consequences for the woman.
One survey scenario asked participants whether ‘Ashley’ should ask ‘Bri’ for a nude picture (N.B. many misread the scenario as Ashley deciding whether or not to send Bri a nude picture.
“…it would just make her seem like desperate and like she isn’t respecting her body.” Female, 16, survey
“Don’t ask him for it makes you sound like a slut.” Female, 18, survey
“No in case they show everyone.”Female, 18, survey
Although the names Ashley and Bri were intended to be gender-neutral, most negative commentary was focused on a ‘she’ – whether this meant Ashley or Bri.
This idea of negative consequences for girls – from name-calling to sexual assault – recurred within focus groups. (discussion starts about sharing naked pictures)
Researcher: “So it’s ok to show pics if you’re in a relationship?”
Young man: “No, after the relationship, hahaha, after it breaks down… like go back out with me or I’ll put it on Facebook.”
Young man 2: “To show everyone, look you’re a fool…”
“If [girls] are going to leave the house [in short skirts] then they need to think about the consequences.” Female, focus group
The latter comment, made about what girls wear to parties, was followed by a discussion about who would be responsible if a young woman at a party was sexually assaulted. The participants debated whether it would be the girl herself or the host of the party, and made no mention of the perpetrator.
Young woman 1: I've had a couple of parties in the last month… and I take full responsibility for them,
I had to drag [a girl] out a car because she decided it was a good idea to go home with somebody who she just met…
Young woman 2: And it wouldn't be very fair to you, if anything did happen you've got that guilt…
Young woman 1: Exactly, which is why I couldn't let that girl leave with that guy. Because I thought no, that’s not what she would want if she was sober, she’s not doing it.
Young woman 2: If anything had happened to her you would know…
Young woman 1: Exactly, that would be my fault.
Young woman 3: It wouldn’t be your fault, it would be her fault, she chose to go.
Researcher: In that scenario who would you all see as being responsible if something did happen?
Young woman 3: The person.
Young man: The party organizer.
Young woman 3: No, the person should be.
Researcher: But if it was a girl say, getting into the car, if something had happened like she ended up having sex or if there was a sexual assault?
Young woman 3: I think that should be her responsibility because she’s the one that got herself into that position…
Young woman 1: But if she’s completely out of it, if she has no idea what she’s doing, and I see that she’s about to do that and she would not want to do that normally I feel like I’ve got a responsibility to stop that happening.
It is interesting to see here how the perpetrator is made ‘invisible’ and not even considered as potentially responsible.
It is also surprising given that one of the young women taking part in the exchange above (Young woman 1) had strongly asserted earlier in the discussion that a victim is never to blame for a sexual assault.
Participants’ perceptions of adult attitudes showed that many feel they agree with double standards about sex:
This suggests that, at least from many young people’s point of view, double standards are not only perpetuated
by the media but by the adults around them.
While too much sexually-attention seeking behavior in girls was seen as negative and ‘slutty’, survey answers suggested that dressing and grooming their bodies in sexualized ways are nevertheless considered normal behavior for young women.
72% of participants said that most or all girls their age wear tight or revealing
clothing to be more attractive and 56% said that most or all girls their age remove all pubic hair. This compares to only 8% and 12% for boys respectively.
Discussion in focus groups suggested that this focus on physical appearance is more about conforming to pressure to t a certain stereotype of beauty than making ‘empowered’ or sexually liberating choices. Young women compared themselves negatively to the images they see in pornography and the media:
“The [picture] of Rihanna, looking at that, even though you know she probably doesn’t look like that it makes you feel quite bad about yourself.” Female, focus group
“[in porn] all the girls are beautiful and immaculate.” Female, focus group
“If that’s what attractive, I must not be attractive because I don’t look like that.” Female, focus group
TL;DR: Noncontextual
