Current Directions in Psychological Science

A large body of scientific re-search documents four impor-tant gender differences in sexuality. First, on a wide vari-ety of measures, men show greater sexual desire than do women. Second, compared with men, women place greater emphasis on committed relation-ships as a context for sexuality. Third, aggression is more strongly linked to sexuality for men than for women. Fourth, women’s sexuality tends to be more malleable and capable of change over time. These male-female differences are pervasive, affecting thoughts and feelings as well as behavior, and they characterize not only hetero-sexuals but lesbians and gay men as well. Implications of these patterns are considered.