In Hookups, Inequality Still Reigns. By Natalie Kitroeff. New York Times, November 11, 2013.
A Critic Takes On the Logic of Female Orgasm. By Dinitia Smith. New York Times, May 17, 2005.
Sexual Hookup Culture: A Review. By Justin R. Garcia, Chris Reiber, Sean G. Massey, and Ann M. Merriwether. Review of General Psychology, Vol. 16, No. 2 (June 2012). Also here, here, here.
Abstract:
“Hookups,”
or uncommitted sexual encounters, are becoming progressively more engrained in
popular culture, reflecting both evolved sexual predilections and changing
social and sexual scripts. Hook-up activities may include a wide range of
sexual behaviors, such as kissing, oral sex, and penetrative intercourse.
However, these encounters often transpire without any promise of, or desire for,
a more traditional romantic relationship. A review of the literature suggests
that these encounters are becoming increasingly normative among adolescents and
young adults in North America, representing a marked shift in openness and
acceptance of uncommitted sex. We reviewed the current literature on sexual
hookups and considered the multiple forces influencing hookup culture, using
examples from popular culture to place hooking up in context. We argue that
contemporary hookup culture is best understood as the convergence of
evolutionary and social forces during the developmental period of emerging
adulthood. We suggest that researchers must consider both evolutionary
mechanisms and social processes, and be considerate of the contemporary popular
cultural climate in which hookups occur, in order to provide a comprehensive
and synergistic biopsychosocial view of “casual sex” among emerging adults
today.
