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Why do men like unprotected sex?
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Gender stereotypes play a major role in sexual relations between men and women. Public opinion assigns a dominant role to men in sexual relations, however, according to the results of a study by Dr. Lisa Rosenthal from Yale University (USA) and her colleagues, this stereotype can harm both men and women and reduce the safety of sexual relations. In particular, the study showed that the dominant role of men, conditioned by public opinion, leads to the refusal of most couples to use female condoms.
The study involved 357 young women and 126 young men from Northeastern State University in the United States. They were asked to fill out a questionnaire on a computer. Baskets containing female condoms were placed next to the computers.
The researchers assessed how the students felt about the social hierarchy that had developed in society and the dominant role of men in sexual relations, as well as how confident they felt in various situations related to gender relations. In addition, the authors of the study checked how many female condoms each of the respondents took with them.
Overall, women were less likely than men to endorse the idea that men should play the leading role in intersexual relationships. Students who endorsed the existing social hierarchy often supported the idea that men play the leading role in sex. They were also found to be more likely than other respondents to feel insecure in various sexual situations and to disapprove of female condoms.
"These studies demonstrate that men's and women's attitudes toward social hierarchy may play a key role in their sexual behavior. This relationship may also determine men's and women's attitudes toward different methods of ensuring safer intercourse," the team of researchers concludes in an article published in the journal Sex Roles.
"According to the results of the study, the social attitude towards male dominance in heterosexual relationships harms not only women, but also men, whose sexual behavior is limited by the framework imposed by stereotypes."
Dr. Lisa Rosenthal adds that the focus on male dominance in sex limits methods of ensuring safe intercourse. An example of this phenomenon is the rejection of female condoms.