Education: Sex on the Campus

Because they were students—first at the University of Oslo and later at the University of Wisconsin—Dr. Gilbert Geis and William Simenson returned to old scenes of study when they undertook some field work in sociology. Last week, having already contrasted Oslo and Wisconsin university students in study habits, vocational plans and other areas, Sociologist Geis and Simenson got around to the subject of sex.

Their findings, reported to the American Sociological Society in Washington, D.C.:

¶ On dates, Norwegian students do less necking than American students in the early stages of the relationship, but Norwegian couples “going steady” are much more liberal about full sexual relations.

American students practice a “kissing promiscuity,” tend to level off at heavy petting so that the girl retains her “technical virginity.”

¶ The Norwegian man student draws his dates almost entirely from outside the university. Both men and women American students tend to draw their dates mostly from the university.

¶ While the American man student picks up the tab for dating, Norwegian men and coeds generally share dating expenses.

¶ American students have more dates than Norwegian students, and in both countries the women lead the men in dating frequency.

¶ Though he is almost two years older than his American counterpart, the Norwegian man student is less likely to be married, is more likely to be involved in a semipermanent dating relationship. Norwegian coeds are 2½ years older than the average American coed, and more than four times as many are married.