Abstract
Orgasm coercion involves pressuring a partner to orgasm by implying that not orgasming will have negative consequences. In the present study, we used mixed methods to explore (1) how various individual and contextual factors—i.e., frequency of orgasm coercion, orgasm frequency, gender/sex, sexual identity, the orgasm coercion tactics used, and perceptions of the perpetrator’s intention—affect relationship and psychological outcomes associated with orgasm coercion, and (2) how different individuals characterize these outcomes. Cisgender women, cisgender men, and gender/sex minority participants (N = 308, M age = 30.44 years, SD = 8.16) described the most recent encounter in which they experienced orgasm coercion and then rated and described the positive and negative relationship and psychological outcomes associated with the incident. Quantitative results showed that the following predicted significantly higher negative relationship and psychological outcomes: a higher frequency of experiencing orgasm coercion, lower frequency of orgasming with partners in general, and experiencing orgasm coercion via physical or emotional threats. Believing that the perpetrator was motivated by altruism or social pressures mitigated these effects. And, experiencing orgasm coercion via implied fault predicted significantly higher negative relationship outcomes only for cisgender women. Additionally, being a sexual minority predicted higher negative relationship (but not psychological) outcomes, whereas being a gender/sex minority predicted higher negative psychological (but not relationship) outcomes. Qualitative results showed that relationship and psychological outcomes varied; for example, participants discussed making a partner happy, disappointment with their partner’s behaviors, ending the relationship, and lasting feelings of anxiety, guilt, and abuse. Together, findings offer new insights into how orgasm coercion affects those who experience it.
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Questions about data and materials should be directed to the corresponding author, SMvA.
Notes
Typically, we might expect sexual minority participants to have more orgasms overall (Frederick et al., 2018). But, our sexual minority sample was comprised mostly of bisexual/pansexual women, who orgasm at similar rates to heterosexual women.
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Acknowledgements
This research was conducted as a part of Sara B. Chadwick’s dissertation in the Departments of Psychology and Women’s and Gender Studies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
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This research was supported by the International Academy of Sex Research via a Student Research Development Award to SBC. This research was also undertaken, in part, thanks to funding from the Canada 150 Research Chairs program to SMvA.
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Chadwick, S.B., van Anders, S.M. Orgasm Coercion and Negative Relationship and Psychological Outcomes: The Role of Gender, Sexual Identity, Perpetration Tactics, and Perceptions of the Perpetrator’s Intentions. Arch Sex Behav 51, 653–671 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02162-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02162-x