Institutional, Subcultural, and Individual Determinants of Same-Sex Sexual Contact Among College Women

J Sex Res. 2019 Oct;56(8):1031-1044. doi: 10.1080/00224499.2019.1607239. Epub 2019 May 1.

Abstract

While the collegiate hookup literature identifies the prevalence and conditions under which women engage in same-sex sexual behaviors, less is understood about the macro- and mesolevel features of universities predictive of women's engagement in these behaviors. How do predictors of same-sex contact differ for women who report engagement in nongenital versus genital sexual acts? Using the Online College Social Life Survey (OCSLS), this study examined 5,069 women from 21 U.S. colleges and universities who reported at least one same-sex encounter in their lifetime to empirically evaluate how same-sex sexual histories are predicted by university structure and membership in student subcultures. Results find subcultural participation to have a regulative effect on what types of sexual behaviors women engaged in with other women. While Greek-affiliated women were significantly more likely to have engaged in solely nongenital sexual behavior, women in team-based athletics were more likely to report a genital sexual history with women. This study's focus on women's sexual behaviors as opposed to sexual identity affirms the influence of institutional contexts, subcultural dynamics, and their variability across U.S. campuses in producing the conditions and opportunities for varied forms of sexual interactions among college women.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Athletes / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Homosexuality, Female / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Sexual Behavior / statistics & numerical data*
  • Students / statistics & numerical data*
  • United States
  • Universities / statistics & numerical data*
  • Young Adult