1. The Casual Sex Culture
of College Students
By Casey Jordan

2. The Concept of Casual Sex
O De-personalized, convenient, “hookup sex” is not a new concept.
O The line between liberation and promiscuity has become blurred
over time.
O Does explicit exhibitions of sexuality, sex-acts, or sexual
discussion demonstrate a sexual liberation? Or is sex being used
as a substitute or pathway to relationships?
O A definitive indicator of equal representation in the bedroom is
whether or not the individual is achieving orgasm.
O By ensuring sexual needs are met the individual establishes
themselves as equally entitled to the benefits part of a friends-
with-benefits arrangement.

3. The First Study: 2005-2008
12,925 quantitative online surveys among 17 universities + Qualitative
interviews conducted at 2universities
O Significant gap between the rates of orgasm for males versus females;
O decreased for females only in instances of subsequent relationships
O Why were women’s sexual needs being underserved?
O Majority of women could only reach orgasm through the direct clitoral
stimulation involved in oral sex
O In situations of casual sex the men were less inclined to consider
their partner’s satisfaction a priority.
O The women did not feel comfortable asking for what they needed in
order to be satisfied (unless it was within the context of a relationship)

4. The Second Study: 2012
O 60 students at 2 Houston community colleges
O Much smaller gap between males and females (progress inconclusive)
O Both men and women believe they are experiencing pleasure equally
O Significant gap - orgasm rates during penetration
O males climaxing in 93% of hookups
O females climaxing from penetration in only 48% of hookups
O Interesting pattern - orgasm rates during oral sex
O In 43% of hookups oral sex was either performed or received, or
both, but orgasm was only achieved later through penetration
O Equally noted between both male and female responses
Suggests that the attitudes are shifting towards oral sex as a segue
to penetration orgasm only. Selfless acts of pleasure are no longer
offered up or sought after. The norm is now a “warm-up” for both
partners, but the primary goal is to mutually climax from penetration

5. Wild Behaviors
O Sorority girls engaging in lesbian sexual behaviors for group
entertainment purposes, although, none of the girls
identified themselves as lesbians
O Spring Break takes exhibitionism to the furthest degree.
O Foam Hookup party
O Bra and Panties Optional party
O An anything goes attitude where young adults get
intoxicated, engage in uninhibited hedonism, and blame
behavior on alcohol without regret

6. Reciprocity in
Casual Sex Culture
O Varies by gender and rejects the “everybody wins” theory
O 1st Study
O Negative reciprocity on behalf of the males due to the fact that
they were not prioritizing their partner’s satisfaction.
O Females practiced generalized reciprocity in that they
believed their satisfaction would come in time either through a
subsequent relationship, repeat sexual encounters, improved
social status, or a damaged reputation for partners who failed
to deliver.
O 2nd Study
O Demonstrated a more ideal, balanced reciprocity, in which
both partners gave and received pleasure in at least one or
more way.

7. Q: Have women settled on promiscuity and exhibitionism as
an acceptable substitute for sexual freedom?
“We are still so uneasy with the vicissitudes of sex we need to surround ourselves
with caricatures of female hotness to safely conjure up the concept “sexy”. When
you think about it, it’s kind of pathetic. Sex is one of the most interesting things we
as humans have to play with, and we’ve reduced it to polyester underpants and
implants. We are selling ourselves unbelievable short. […] If we are really to be
sexually liberated, we need to make room for a range of options as wide as the
variety of human desire. We need to allow ourselves the freedom to figure out
what we internally want from sex instead of mimicking whatever popular culture
holds up to us as sexy. That would be sexual liberation. (Levy, 2010, pp.198-200)”

8. Female Pleasure
“There is no one right way for women to feel sexual pleasure; rather
there is an infinite variety of female sexual response”
O Even with many published studies, the research in the area of the
female orgasm is slow-moving and far behind that of the male
erection
O Interestingly, if a male experiences erection problems and cannot
achieve orgasm it is considered a medical issue; but there does not
seem to be the same urgency regarding sexual satisfaction for
women
O Perhaps the female genitalia has adapted from a prehistoric gender
gap created out of the necessity of the male orgasm for procreation.
O Could explain variety within female sexual response – it simply had
the luxury of evolving to suit individual and emotional needs rather
than functioning exclusively as a biological event

10. Survey Demographics
Adult college student participants 59 total
Females 54%
Males 46%
Not sexually active 9%
Females 60%
Males 40%
Sexually active 92%
Female 54%
Male 46%
Have engaged in a casual hookup 87%
Female 53%
Male 47%
Heterosexual 94%
Non-Heterosexual 6%
Have not engaged in a casual hookup 13%
Female 57%
Male 43%

11. College “Hookup” Activities
100%
89%
90%
81%
80%
70%
70%
60%
60%
50%
40%
30%
19%
20%
10%
0%
Penetration Fellatio Cunnilingus Had Orgasm No Orgasm

12. Female vs. Male
Females Males 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
60%
Received Oral Sex
70%
40%
Did Not Receive Oral Sex
30%
76%
Orgasm: Penetration +/- Oral
86%
48%
Orgasm: Penetration
93%
28%
Orgasm: Oral Sex
34%

13. Limitations of
Quantitative Research
The research did not account for orgasms which may have occurred
as a result of performing oral sex (vs. receiving it).
The research did not account for broad interpretations of the term
“orgasm”. For example:
• those that consider sex pleasurable and (at least equally)
satisfying, even without physical climax. Or,
• those that find sexual satisfaction through denying themselves,
or being denied, physical climax within the context of fetishism.

14. Take Away’s
O Casual sexual hookups are prevalent and socially
accepted in the college setting.
O Both men and women have room to improve
upon partner sexual satisfaction.
O Sexual satisfaction is the responsibility of both
the partner and the individual
O When your partner enjoys themselves, you will too
O Know what you need in the bedroom and be
comfortable asking for it