Story perspectives

Study Reveals Age-Old Sexual Stigma Persists Across Generations

11/6/2025

Summary

Story summary

Gabriella Petruzzello and colleagues studied how disgust influences sexual stigma across age and gender.
The study finds negative attitudes toward sexually expressive individuals are common among both younger and older adults.
Participants rated sexually open women more negatively than romantically expressive women, while men showed the opposite.
The findings suggest sexual stigma transcends age and gender and reinforces harmful double standards.

History

Historical Context

The Sexual Revolution of the 1960s transformed societal attitudes toward sexuality, driven by the women's liberation movement and the introduction of the birth control pill in 1960. This era saw increased acceptance of premarital sex and homosexuality, alongside the rise of organizations like Planned Parenthood. Despite these advances, stigma against sexually expressive individuals, particularly women, persists, highlighting ongoing challenges in sexual rights advocacy.

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Story summary

Gabriella Petruzzello and colleagues studied how disgust influences sexual stigma across age and gender.
The study finds negative attitudes toward sexually expressive individuals are common among both younger and older adults.
Participants rated sexually open women more negatively than romantically expressive women, while men showed the opposite.
The findings suggest sexual stigma transcends age and gender and reinforces harmful double standards.

1 / 2