Sexually overt approaches in singles bars.

Abstract: This study analyzed attitudes toward and the use of sexually overt approach behaviours (SOAB) in the context of singles bars. Naturalistic observations in five Ontario bars were conducted to obtain examples of the types of SOABs occurring there. Additionally, university women (N = 155) ranging in age from 18 to 28 (M = 19.4) were surveyed to measure their attitudes toward and experiences with SOABs in singles bars. Most of the women had experienced SOABs, yet most held attitudes that were not accepting of them. Groping behaviours were the least accepted. Most behaviours were judged as unacceptable, but not as sexual harassment. Using Pearson correlations, five variables, namely Number of Partners, Personal Normative Beliefs Regarding Casual Sex, Cognitive Attitudes toward SOABs, Affective Attitudes Toward SOABs, and Attitudes Toward SOABs were significantly related to experience with SOABs. However, in the regression analysis, only two of the predictor variables, Number of Partners and Attitudes Toward SOABs, were significantly related to experiencing SOABs.

Key words: Sexual approaches, singles bars.

Introduction

During the past three decades, research has been conducted on the ways that heterosexual men and women court and approach each other in bars and singles clubs (e.g., Cunningham, 1989; Glenwick, Jason, & Elman, 1978; Kleinke, Meeker, & Staneski, 1986; Moore, 1985; Nida & Koon, 1983; Perper, 1985; Walsh & Hewitt, 1985). In focusing on traditional courtship behaviours, the research literature suggests that the use of actions such as gazing (Walsh & Hewitt, 1985), pickup lines (Cunningham, 1989; Kleinke et al., 1986), asking to dance, and hair tossing (Moore, 1985) are some of the means by which men and women court each other. One area where there has been limited discussion is in the use of sexually overt approaches to secure romantic or sexual partners. The use of sexually overt approaches, such as groping or grinding with an unacquainted partner, would generally be regarded as harassing or predatory in most environments. However, there has only been brief mention made in the research literature indicating that in some specific types of singles bar environments, such approaches are used (Mewhinney, Herold, & Maticka-Tyndale, 1995). The purpose of this study was to examine the use of and attitudes toward sexually overt approaches in the context of singles bar settings.

Much of the previous research on how people meet each other in a singles bar setting has centred on such topics as pickup lines (e.g., Cunningham, 1989; Kleinke et al., 1986), ratings of physical attractiveness (e.g., Glenwick, Jason, & Elman, 1978; Nida & Koon, 1983; Pennebaker et al., 1979), and gazing (e.g., Walsh & Hewitt, 1985). Cunningham (1989) suggested that success with potential partners was not based on the type of pickup line used but, rather, was dependent on evaluations of brightness, sociability, and sexiness of the person delivering the fine. Overall, women demonstrated less willingness to stay and talk with a stranger delivering a pickup line than did men (Cunningham, 1998). Thus, women have greater success with pickup lines than do men, as they are more likely to be successful in socially engaging their potential partners (Cunningham, 1998).

Perper (1985) observed the following sequence of successful courtship behaviours in bars: (1) the approach of one stranger to another, (2) turning, first with the head, followed by the shoulders and torso, and finally the whole body, (3) touching, at first quickly withdrawn, then perhaps lingering longer and with increasing frequency, and (4) synchrony. In this last step, the two people begin to move in unison with each other, as if they were mirroring each other's movements. According to Perper, synchrony is the best indicator of mutual involvement.

One approach behaviour that has only briefly been noted in the research, however, is that of the sexually overt behaviour as a "pickup" technique. In contrast with traditional pickup behaviours such as gazing, hair-tossing, pickup lines, asking to dance or buying drinks, sexually overt behaviours may involve such actions such as breast, buttock or genital groping as well as grinding--dancing while pressing one's pelvis into another. Moore (1989), in observing nonverbal courtship patterns used by women in a singles bar setting, described some behaviours that might be regarded as sexually overt, such as breast touching and frontal body contact. However, she noted that these behaviours rarely occurred in her observations. Mewhinney et al. (1995) described the phenomenon of grinding as occurring in some bars among students on Spring Break in Florida. While most of the women in that study were not bothered by the approach, not all were accepting of it (Mewhinney et al., 1995).