Primary Submission Category: Gender
Gendered Expectations to Perform Oral Sex in a National Survey Experiment
Authors: Michelle Eilers
Presenting Author: Michelle Eilers*
Gender inequality exists in performing oral sex in the United States: women are more likely than men to perform and less likely to receive oral sex, following a traditional status characteristics model of gendered labor. However, less is known about the expectations that underlie this behavioral inequality. Using original survey experiment data from a national sample of women and men in the United States, I investigate expectations to perform oral sex when requested by a different-gender partner in a heterosexual, sexual relationship. Overall, 80% of women and men report feeling an expectation to perform oral sex when asked. Though women and men report similar expectations, large gender disparities emerge in related dimensions of expectations, including the likelihood of agreeing or refusing to perform, and of reciprocating the request. Men are more likely than women to agree to a request to perform oral sex, and correspondingly less likely to refuse a request. Men are also highly likely to reciprocate a request for oral sex in return. When reporting expectations for the opposite gender, however, women and men report fairly consistent expectations to perform, indicating that women and men are aware of gendered norms about sexual labor. These findings suggest that men are highly supportive of performing oral sex as long as they can request it in return. As a result, women may be able to receive oral sex if they want, potentially reducing gendered sexual labor and pleasure gaps.