Research on youth sexuality and multiculturalism

[Arnfinn Madsen]

2 researchers have looked into the sexuality of teenagers growing up in a multicultural neighbourhood in Oslo (with a majority of moslems) and found the following effects (I am only translating the main findings):

Norwegian ethnic girls: They dress less sexy (more covered) than Norwegian girls in other areas of the city and many of them look upon other Norwegian girls as "hookerish". Most of them have had sex but some of them regret it as they would prefer to be a virgin. Most of them prefer the moslem boys as sex partners, since they find them more macho. Many of them are disappointed that they are not seen as worthy of marriage by the moslem boys.

Ethnic Norwegian boys: They become marginalized. They are not viewed as attractive by neither moslem girls or ethnic Norwegian girls and go to other areas of the city to find sex partners.

Moslem girls: The pressure from the family and community is so strong that they stay virgins and dress very traditionally moslem.

Moslem boys: They have liberated themselves from orthodox religion and frequently have sex with multiple partners, but they still see Norwegian girls as not suitable for marriage since they are not likely to be a virgin.


The researchers say it puts sexual equality even among ethnic Norwegians under pressure as the expectations from the sexes are so different. Expectations which both girls (abstaining from sex) and boys (acting more traditionally macho) find difficult to fulfill.