Unveiling hidden norms: towards a new scale for measuring social endorsement of sexual double standards

My research focuses on sexual double standards which refer to social norms of sexual conduct that differ for men and women. Existing scales fail to distinguish between personal beliefs and perceived social expectations. Yet people may recognise societal double standards without personally endorsing them, a critical distinction often overlooked in research. I am developing a new, psychometrically sound scale to measure social endorsement of these standards — that is, what individuals believe most others in society believe. This scale will offer researchers a more accurate and relevant tool for understanding contemporary gendered sexual norms and for informing efforts to address gender inequality in sexual and relationship contexts.