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Predicting Attitudes Towards Transactional Sex : The Interactive Relationship Between Gender and Attitudes on Sexual Behaviour

Hansen, Michael A. LU and Johansson, Isabelle LU (2022) In Sexuality Research and Social Policy p.91-104
Abstract

Introduction: This article explores explanations for attitudes towards the acceptability of transactional sex. The sparse research investigating attitudes towards transactional sex uncovers a link between gender equality, or feminism, and a lack of support for the trade in sex. However, there are no research agendas that attempt to explain variance in attitudes towards transactional sex where support for gender equality is widespread throughout a population. Methods: We estimate regression models utilizing the 2017 Danish Values Survey (Den Danske Værdiundersøgelse) in order to predict views on the acceptability of transactional sex. Results: While the trade in sex is legal in Denmark, we find that a majority of respondents hold... (More)

Introduction: This article explores explanations for attitudes towards the acceptability of transactional sex. The sparse research investigating attitudes towards transactional sex uncovers a link between gender equality, or feminism, and a lack of support for the trade in sex. However, there are no research agendas that attempt to explain variance in attitudes towards transactional sex where support for gender equality is widespread throughout a population. Methods: We estimate regression models utilizing the 2017 Danish Values Survey (Den Danske Værdiundersøgelse) in order to predict views on the acceptability of transactional sex. Results: While the trade in sex is legal in Denmark, we find that a majority of respondents hold negative attitudes towards transactional sex, which conveys a lack of congruence between public opinion and policy. Further, gender is a powerful predictor of attitudes towards transactional sex, with women finding it less acceptable. In addition, the analysis uncovers that general attitudes towards sexual behaviour are the largest predictor of views on the acceptability of transactional sex. That being said, we find that men’s views on the acceptability of transactional sex are more of a function of their general attitudes towards sexual behaviour than they are for women. Conclusions: The findings indicate that, unlike men, women appear to differentiate between their attitudes towards general sexual behaviour and their views on sexual behaviour that they may associate with negative societal implications.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Denmark, Gender gaps, Prostitution, Public opinion, Sexual behaviour, Transactional sex
in
Sexuality Research and Social Policy
issue
19
pages
91 - 104
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85099643008
ISSN
1868-9884
DOI
10.1007/s13178-020-00527-w
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
08d8de62-5569-444b-85eb-36274f046ab7
date added to LUP
2021-02-02 08:58:13
date last changed
2022-04-27 00:11:49
@article{08d8de62-5569-444b-85eb-36274f046ab7,
  abstract     = {{<p>Introduction: This article explores explanations for attitudes towards the acceptability of transactional sex. The sparse research investigating attitudes towards transactional sex uncovers a link between gender equality, or feminism, and a lack of support for the trade in sex. However, there are no research agendas that attempt to explain variance in attitudes towards transactional sex where support for gender equality is widespread throughout a population. Methods: We estimate regression models utilizing the 2017 Danish Values Survey (Den Danske Værdiundersøgelse) in order to predict views on the acceptability of transactional sex. Results: While the trade in sex is legal in Denmark, we find that a majority of respondents hold negative attitudes towards transactional sex, which conveys a lack of congruence between public opinion and policy. Further, gender is a powerful predictor of attitudes towards transactional sex, with women finding it less acceptable. In addition, the analysis uncovers that general attitudes towards sexual behaviour are the largest predictor of views on the acceptability of transactional sex. That being said, we find that men’s views on the acceptability of transactional sex are more of a function of their general attitudes towards sexual behaviour than they are for women. Conclusions: The findings indicate that, unlike men, women appear to differentiate between their attitudes towards general sexual behaviour and their views on sexual behaviour that they may associate with negative societal implications.</p>}},
  author       = {{Hansen, Michael A. and Johansson, Isabelle}},
  issn         = {{1868-9884}},
  keywords     = {{Denmark; Gender gaps; Prostitution; Public opinion; Sexual behaviour; Transactional sex}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{19}},
  pages        = {{91--104}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Sexuality Research and Social Policy}},
  title        = {{Predicting Attitudes Towards Transactional Sex : The Interactive Relationship Between Gender and Attitudes on Sexual Behaviour}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13178-020-00527-w}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s13178-020-00527-w}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}