Sexual Scripts

          Relationship standards for sexual behavior differ for men and women. Women prefer to have sex during dating or a committed relationship. This contrasts the men’s acceptance of casual sex. Each gender role is based off their socio-cultural contexts. So it is possible to generate a sexual script that details culturally accepted norms about sexuality.  The scripts specify appropriate sexual goals that interact on a cultural, interpersonal, and intrapsychic level. The cultural level revolves around the creation and maintenance of social norms on sexual conduct. Intrapersonal refers to the structural patterns of interaction and intrapsychic refers to an individual’s feelings and fantasies.

          Individuals tend to rely on scripts to tell them how to behave sexually. For example, there is the traditional heterosexual script that supports an aggressive and emotionally insensitive male that is applauded for sexual conquest. Females are expected to be passive and restrict her sexuality yet maintain their looks and concerns for a man’s needs. A further narrowed script focuses on college students. These include one night stands and all the steps leading to it following expectations of when, where, how, why and with whom.

          These sexual scripts have been diluted in recent years. Men and women’s sexual interactions are becoming increasingly similar even though their expected behavior still differs. The similarities between their experiences diverges from the traditional sexual script. However, the different expectations still align with scripts showing its persistence.

          While I don’t like to admit it, the scripts still exist. With the progression of equality, formal gendered roles have eroded away. But the perceptions of the social norms still apply. Those are what the scripts illustrate. Will those scripts will eventually become obsolete? How are we going to accomplish it? Old habits die hard and I probably won’t see it in my lifetime. It is up to successive generations to remove those social constructs for a better tomorrow.

Greene, Kathryn, and Sandra L. Faulkner. "Gender, Belief in the Sexual Double Standard, and Sexual Talk in Heterosexual Dating Relationships." Sex Roles 53.3-4 (2005): 239-51. Web. 8 Dec. 2014.