Faculty Publications

The Sexual Vocabularies Of Heterosexual And Homosexual Males And Females For Communicating Erotically With A Sexual Partner

Document Type

Article

Keywords

erotic communication, gender, sexual orientation

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Archives of Sexual Behavior

Volume

19

Issue

2

First Page

139

Last Page

147

Abstract

This study explored what terminology constitutes an erotic or arousing language for male and female, heterosexual and homosexual, and the extent to which that language is used with a sexual partner. Five sexual references were included: male genitalia, female genitalia, lovemaking/coitus, oral-genital contact, and hand-genital contact. Respondents consisted of 120 urban midwestern university students, 30 in each gender and sexual orientation category. Sexual orientation was as powerful a predictor as gender for language that was considered erotic. Lesbians and gay males more often than heterosexual females and males used erotic or arousing vocabulary with a spouse or lover. Gay males more often used slang with a spouse or lover than did heterosexual males and heterosexual females. Implications for sexual arousal based upon communication are discussed. © 1990 Plenum Publishing Corporation.

Department

Department of Home Economics

Original Publication Date

4-1-1990

DOI of published version

10.1007/BF01542228

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