University News Last updated 27 November 2018
New research exploring women’s experiences of threesomes involving two males and one female has revealed that women find it more desirable if the men opt to interact sexually with one another.
The research, carried out by Birmingham City University academic Dr Ryan Scoats, identified that while threesomes involving two men and one woman were often stigmatized by participants, more women were interested in experiencing the act than not.
Women in the study cited increasing their own sexual arousal and providing a safer, less objectifying environment as reasons that they would want to see two men interact sexually during a threesome.
The research suggests that the stigma around two male, one female threesomes is diminishing and that women are increasingly comfortable pursuing the type of sex they desire.
Sixteen women were interviewed as part of the study, all of whom had engaged at least once in a mixed-sex threesome.
Some participants said they were not interested in having a two male, one female threesome because they perceived it to be more dangerous and objectifying than threesomes involving two women and one man. This view was linked to the depictions of two male, one female threesomes in pornography which some interviewees described as ‘brutal’ and ‘violating’.
Nearly 20 per cent of the women taking part in the study had experienced a two male, one female threesome, and all said they would be happy to engage in them again, with a further 37 per cent expressing a desire to experience one.
The majority of women interviewed highlighted that they gained sexual pleasure from watching two males interact sexually, describing this as ‘quite hot’, with one woman explaining that ‘it was maybe more me that wanted to do it, and see [my partner] with another guy’.
Dr Ryan Scoats said: “Although threesomes are an under-researched area, men’s willingness to participate in them has been well documented, whilst little research has been carried out into women’s expectations of threesome experiences.
“However, this research shows that women who are open to group-sex are becoming more open to two male, one female threesomes and are perhaps more interested in engaging in two male, one female threesomes than previously thought. It also highlights the way that pornographic content can influence perceptions of sex and how this can impact on peoples’ sexual behaviour.”
Dr Scoats’ findings have been recorded in a paper titled ‘If there is no homo, there is no trio’: women’s experiences and expectations of MMF threesomes, which has been published in Psychology and Sexuality journal.
