Sex Role Orientation and Female Sexual Functioning

Abstract

This study investigates the differences among women in four sex-role categories—Feminine, Masculine, Androgynous, and Undifferentiated—with regard to sexual behavior and attitudes. The sample consists of 300 undergraduate and graduate women enrolled in 27 classes during the spring of 1978. Four criterion instruments are used: (1) the Bem Sex Role Inventory, (2) the Sexual Arousability Inventory, (3) the Sexual Behavior Inventory, and (4) the Sexual Data Form. Eight null hypotheses are tested. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed significant differences ( p < .05) on three of the eight comparisons. A post hoc analysis revealed the source of significance to be between Undifferentiated women and women in the other three sex-role categories on satisfaction with sexual responsivity and frequency of an orgasm with partner.