Gender roles and sexual behavior among young women

This study investigates the hypothesis that 'non-traditional' gender role attitudes and 'masculine' gender role traits or dating behaviors are associated with unsafe sexual behaviors such as having a high number of sexual partners, the non-use of condoms and the use of alcohol or drugs before or during intercourse. A self-report survey was completed by 400 sexually active Australian women aged between 16 and 24 who attended two metropolitan Family Planning clinics in Queensland, Australia. The findings show partial support for the hypothesis. Women with a higher level of 'masculine' personality traits and egalitarian gender role attitudes were more likely to have multiple partners and to use alcohol or drugs with their most recent non-steady partner: The multivariate relationships between gender roles and sexual behaviors are not as extensive as would be proposed by gender role theory and previous research