Gendered Language in Sexual Psychology: Insights from a New Study

A recent study published in the *Archives of Sexual Behavior* reveals significant gender differences in the use of the phrase "feeling sexy" across millions of published books. Researchers Anthony F. Bogaert, Jessie E. Hernder, and Jessica R. Johnson aimed to explore how language reflects underlying sexual interests and social roles, particularly focusing on the psychological concept of "object of desire self-consciousness." This term describes the awareness of being romantically or sexually desirable, which can trigger sexual arousal.

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To investigate their hypothesis, the researchers utilized the Google Books Ngram Viewer, analyzing over 5 million English-language books published between 1800 and 2022. They specifically searched for grammatical variations of "feel sexy" alongside male and female pronouns. The study ensured accuracy by including control phrases to rule out general tendencies in language use. Out of 28 qualifying phrases, 25 (89%) referred to women, indicating a pronounced gender bias in the language surrounding sexual desirability.

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The analysis revealed that phrases related to women feeling sexy appeared approximately ten times more frequently than their male counterparts. The most common phrases included "her feel sexy," "she felt sexy," and "woman feels sexy." This trend began to emerge in the late 1970s and gained momentum after the 1990s. In contrast, phrases describing men feeling sexy were less prevalent and featured a more diverse range of genres, including general fiction and self-help.

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While the study highlights a strong gender divide in language use, the researchers caution against interpreting these findings as exclusive to women. Male-oriented phrases do exist but are less commonly emphasized in literature. Additionally, the reliance on published books as the sole medium of analysis presents limitations, as it does not account for everyday conversations or other forms of communication. The study's authors noted that the popularity of romance novels could amplify the cultural impact of female-oriented language.

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The findings suggest that while men and women communicate about sexuality in similar ways, notable differences exist in how they express feelings of desirability. The researchers propose that future studies could explore the impact of "feel sexy" language on readers' moods and self-perception in real-time settings, as well as investigate similar patterns in other languages.

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• “Also, that our language can evolve relatively quickly to reflect our interests, desires, and cognitive structures, including our sexual scripts.” — Anthony F. Bogaert, Corresponding Author

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• “Although books are an important form of communication, there are other forms of language/communication—for example, everyday conversations, social and other media—that we did not analyze,” — Anthony F. Bogaert

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This study underscores the evolving nature of language in relation to gender and sexuality, providing a foundation for further exploration into how these dynamics manifest across different media and cultures.

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