Abstract
The sexual double standard is the notion that men and women are held to different rules and evaluated by different sociocultural of norms sexual behaviors, attitudes, and principles; such ideals can have a critical and lasting impact on adolescents and young adults. The purpose of this study was to develop a scale that measures endorsement of modern sexual double standards accurately and more adequately than the existing, older measures. The initial stages of development involved extensive research, focus groups, and an expert review. The scale was then validated through exploratory factor analyses (principal components and principal axis) using web-based data from a sample of young adults (n = 202). Additional statistical analyses provided support for the reliability and criterion, divergent, and convergent validity of the measure. The analysis revealed a model that was representative of oppressive attitudes and ideas about women's sexuality. Thus, the created measure was ultimately titled the Oppressive Sexual Attitudes Scale (OSAS). Measuring an individual's endorsement of sexual attitudes has utility in various areas of research, clinical practice, and social work, and has the potential to influence broader social and political change.