Karl King, Jack O. Balswick and Ira E. Robinson performed a study in 1977 at a southern university based on their beliefs and findings that from the mid 60s-early 70s there was a “dramatic liberalization in both premarital sexual behavior and attitudes for college females” (King et al 1977: 455). The sample of students taken represented a fair population that was representative of the entire student population. Their findings showed that the amount of premarital sex in females doubled in occurrence between 1965 and 1970 as opposed to the previous five years. Similarly, in previous years and studies, “three out of every four males engaged in heavy petting while only approximately one out of three females did so; by 1975 the difference between male and female petting behavior had become almost indistinguishable” (King et al 1977: 456). The students were also asked to answer whether or not they thought that participation in premarital sex was immoral. Between 1965 and 1975 the female population who believed it was immoral decreased from 70 to 20 percent, while “the same attitude among males had changed much less” (King et al 1977: 457).
As a result of the findings in this study, they came to the conclusion that “the difference between male and female behavior and attitudes has greatly diminished” (King et al 1977:458). Since the views of both sexes seem to be so close together and along the same lines, the authors believed that “society is approaching a single premarital sexual standard” (King et al 1977:458). Though their findings are statistically true, and though females’ views and attitudes on sex in general (not just premarital) had certainly liberalized at the time and have ever increasingly over the 30 years since this was published, the fact still remains that despite people’s own personal views and beliefs, men and women will always be viewed differently by one another. Yes, perhaps females are more likely to participate in premarital sex and are more open to the idea of it, however, they are also more likely to be viewed as “sluts” or “promiscuous” by men or even other women who do not share in their same views or behaviors.
The study also presented the idea that their findings only represented the college educated population and that those of lower socioeconomic situations may not share the same new attitudes and “may continue to hold to and practice more of a double sexual standard” (King et al 1977:458). Since people with lower social and economic status would not necessarily have been involved in protests and the feminist movement it makes sense that the differences between males and females attitudes would still hold strong. However, over the past few decades, as premarital sex in itself has become more socially acceptable among most groups (besides in religious and extremely conservative circles), I believe that the difference does not necessarily matter, as men and women will still always be viewed differently.
The fact of the matter still is, and always will be, that even if women are liberalized and continue to grow more comfortable with and accept premarital sex and other sexual behaviors, just the thought of this on their part will be viewed by the rest of the population as “slutty,” promiscuous, or not otherwise accepted. Yes, not only men, but women, enjoy to have sex in college and before they are married (not necessarily just the person that they will spend the rest of their lives with), but to many people, these liberalized women are simply committing sins and wrongdoings, while men are expected to do so and it is easily overlooked and forgiven. This aspect of society will never change…even if women have and continue to do so.
Source: King, Karl, Jack O. Balswick, and Ira E. Robinson. "The Continuing Premarital Sexual Revolution Among College Females." Journal of Marriage and the Family 39 (1977): 455-459. JSTOR. 6 Mar. 2008.
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