AccessMyLibrary provides FREE access to over 30 million articles from top publications available through your library.

Sexually overt approaches in singles bars.

The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality

| September 22, 2006 | Huber, Jonathan D.; Herold, Edward S. | COPYRIGHT 2006 SIECCAN, The Sex Information and Education Council of Canada. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)Copyright

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).

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, journals, and more
Sexually Overt Approaches in Singles Bars.(study)(Brief Article)
Magazine article from: The Journal of Sex Research February 1, 2006 700+ words
Sexually Overt Approaches in Singles Bars, J. Huber, Queen...Guelph, Canada We investigated sexually overt approach behaviors (SOAB) in...unacceptable behaviors by many, sexually overt behaviors were a common occurrence...
Reported Graduate theses from Canadian Universities: January 1, 2002 - December...
Magazine article from: Canadian Home Economics Journal March 22, 2003 700+ words
...of achievement: An exploration of child and family variables. (Advisor: B. Ryan) Huber, J. (2002). Sexually overt approaches in singles bars. (Advisor: E. Herold) Partridge, S. (2002). Disparate faith heritages: Interfaith...
Palm Beach County school officer facing assault charges.
Newspaper article from: South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL) September 25, 2007 700+ words
...Dockswell put his hands down her pants and underwear. He also pulled up her shirt and bra, fondled her breasts and made sexually overt comments, the woman told police. In subsequent text messages, Dockswell apologized, saying he knew his behavior was...
LIVE REVIEWS; Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Queen Margaret Union, Glasgow, February 24.(192)
Newspaper article from: Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland) March 6, 2003 700+ words
...power their punk pop sound. They're the plastic schlock pop of The Rezillos taken to the limit, except the lyrics are as sexually overt as possible (when they could be deciphered). So, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, new sensation or poor re-incarnation? Perhaps...
LAST CALL: Hotel strikes gold in sexy reopening.(Emily Morgan Hotel)(Brief...
Magazine article from: PR Week (US) August 12, 2002 700+ words
...largest suite, a couple cuddled in a bathtub filled with gold balloons. 'While it was done in an alluring way, nothing was sexually overt, and it was actually quite tongue-in-cheek,' insisted Slavin - although by the looks of the photographs he sent PRWeek...
Are you a good flirt? Can you chat up a guy in seconds flat? Or does it take...
Magazine article from: Cosmopolitan Smith, Riann May 1, 2002 700+ words
...re a sexy blast of sunshine warming up crushes, friends, plane passengers ... but sometimes, it's just too hot. "Sexually overt flirts tend to crave attention," says Constance E. Dunlap, a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst in Washington, D.C...
MADONNA DOES STRIPTEASE FOR FANS IN CANNES.(Living)
Newspaper article from: Albany Times Union (Albany, NY) May 15, 1991 700+ words
...flashes erupted around her. Her normally platinum blonde hair hung in heavy brown curls. Then Madonna, famed for her sexually overt performances, allowed the kimono to fall from her shoulders to display an outlandish white bra with breast cups shaped...
Ex-force media relations man in sex pest probe.
Newspaper article from: Birmingham Evening Mail (England) January 13, 2001 700+ words
...Manchester he launched a 16-page guide called The Power of Language, which advised the force's 7,000 officers to avoid sexually-overt terms of endearment such as 'love', 'pet' and 'dear' because people might find them offensive. Outcry There was...
For more facts and information, see all results
©2009 Gale, a part of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
About us | FAQs | Contact us | Privacy policy | Terms and conditions
Other Gale sites: Encyclopedia.com | HighBeam Research | Acquire Content | Books & Authors | Goliath | MovieRetriever | Smart QandA