MEASURING “WHAT COUNTS”: A NOVEL APPROACH TO EXAMINING BIOLOGICAL SEX AND ORIENTATION BASED DIFFERENCES IN HOW SEX AND LOSS OF VIRGINITY ARE SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED

Abstract

Several studies have explored which sexual behaviors constitute having sex and losing virginity. These studies have examined participants’ definitions of sex and virginity across gender, age, and religiosity using a variety of methodologies. However, few have explored these behaviors across sexual orientation. This study adds to the current body of knowledge by utilizing hypothetical heterosexual, gay, and lesbian actors to explore which sexual behaviors constitute having sex and virginity loss. Article one covers the design, creation, and implementation of the survey tool—The Sexual Behaviors Scenario Questionnaire (SBSEQ). Previous studies have used qualitative and quantitative survey tools that require participants to place themselves directly in the sexual scenario. However, the SBSEQ is a quantitative tool designed to (1) limit pressure placed on participants during the survey by providing hypothetical actors and (2) explore definitions of sex and virginity for a heterosexual couple, male couple, and female couple. To our knowledge, this is the second study to use hypothetical actors in the survey tool and the first employ multiple sexual orientations. Article two is a quantitative study that utilized the SBSEQ. The purpose of the study was to examine which behaviors (e.g., penile-vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse, oral intercourse, manual stimulation, and penetration with a sex toy) participants counted as having sex or virginity loss across couples with varying sexual orientations. Results suggest that (1) female participants hold slightly broader definitions of sex than male participants across all couples as well as sexual behaviors outside manual stimulation and (2) female participants hold a broader definition of virginity loss than male participants across all sexual behaviors and couples. Additionally, resulted suggest participants who self-identified as members of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB+) community hold broader definitions of sex and virginity loss than heterosexual participants across all sexual behaviors and hypothetical couples.