Put away your copies of 50 Shades of Gray, ladies, because according to new research, it’s YOU who should be dominant in the bedroom. A study for Sex Roles Journal of Research (where do I get a subscription?) lead by Lisa Rosenthal surveyed 357 women and 126 men, ages 18 to 29, all heterosexual and sexually active, to find out what they thought about traditional dominant male, submissive female roles in the bedroom.

After they answered, they were invited to take a free female condom from a bowl that said, ‘Protect yourself and your partner. Please take some! Free Female Condoms.’

Via The Daily Mail:

The young women who stuck to typical gender dynamics, allowing their male partners to dominate in the bedroom, were less likely to take the free female condoms.
‘If men believe that men should dominate sexually, this may prevent [their female partners] from feeling open or comfortable discussing sexual behavior and protection… or asking questions about things they may not know,’ which could dampen sexual confidence, wrote the researchers.
They added: ‘For both women and men, the belief that men should dominate sexually could reduce interest in female condoms.’

Of course, the lack of interest in female condoms might be due to the fact that NO ONE HAS USED A FEMALE CONDOM SINCE 1989, but still, the researchers conclusion that “female condoms are meant to be a woman-centered source of protection and may be seen as violating the norm or belief that men should be in control of sexual situations” rings true. If women do not feel in control of sexual scenarios, they are less likely to demand their partner wear a condom or ensure their sexual needs are taken care of.

So, ladies, man up. Don’t be afraid to take control and play a dominant role in the bedroom sometimes. We promise your dude won’t mind.

Image via WC News