Hooking up and Casual Sex

'Hookups' refer to casual sexual encounters that do not necessarily involve intercourse. While premarital sex has been common for decades, the hookup culture is distinctive in that sexual behavior is accepted in casual liaisons. Several forms of gender inequality in the hookup culture are identified: less attention is given to women's than men's sexual pleasure, women are judged more harshly than men for engaging in casual sex, and sexual coercion and assault are not uncommon. Sexual behavior does not differ appreciably between youth in different social classes, but more disadvantaged youth contracept less consistently and are more likely to have unplanned pregnancies. Media attention on hookup culture mirrors past feminist debates about sexuality, since the central question is whether hooking up is good or bad for women.