A surprising double standard has emerged in the digital age, but it may not be the one you expect. According to new research, men who turn to technology for plasure and companionship face significantly harsher judgment than women doing the same thing.
The study surveyed 371 participants to explore reactions to people using various forms of this type technology. The findings reveal a reversal of traditional gender expectations.
“Men’s s*xtech use is rated as more disgusting than women’s,”
the researchers discovered, documenting a clear pattern of bias against male users of intimate technology.
The research examined reactions to different types of devices, ranging from basic low tech vibration devices to sophisticated humanoid companions. Participants rated scenarios depicting men using these technologies as considerably more off-putting than identical situations involving women.
Judgment also varied based on the sophistication of the technology. Simple devices generated the mildest reactions, while more advanced humanlike alternatives prompted the strongest negative responses. As technology becomes more realistic in simulating human connection, social discomfort increases.
Gender differences emerged not only in who was being judged, but also in who was doing the judging. Female participants consistently reported higher levels of discomfort across all scenarios compared to their male counterparts, regardless of whether the technology user in the scenario was male or female.
The research provides the first documented evidence of what the authors call
“a double standard penalizing men for s*xtech use.”
This finding challenges assumptions about gender and intimacy, where women have historically faced greater scrutiny for expressing intimate needs.
The study comes as technology becomes more integrated into daily life. Understanding public attitudes toward these devices matters as they become more common.
The researchers emphasize that stigma surrounding these technologies may prevent open discussion and integration of such tools.
Literature
Williams, M. E., Petruzzello, G., & O’Sullivan, L. F. (2025). Gross Double Standard! Men Using S xtech Elicit Stronger Disgust Ratings Than Do Women. The Journal of S x Research, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2025.2586748