U.S. and Dutch Girls' Sexual Experiences

The U.S. has the highest rates of teen pregnancy, births, and abortions of all industrialized countries. On the contrary, the Netherlands has the lowest rates. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, this retrospective study investigated American and Dutch college women's sexual behavior, attitudes, and comfort to understand the factors that lead to the disparity between the two countries. Surveys revealed that the American sample experienced sexual behaviors at a younger age and with more partners, whereas the Dutch sample showed a better use of contraceptives, and got more sexuality education. From the in-depth interviews several distinctly different themes emerged. The Dutch college women discussed how they controlled their own bodies and were motivated by love, whereas the American girls felt they were driven by hormones and peers. The Dutch women discussed how comfortable they were with sexuality, masturbation, boyfriends, and parents. The American women discussed that sex was something negative making their parents silent or uncomfortable. Implications for what the U.S. could be doing to promote sexual health are discussed.