Editing Promiscuity (section)

{{Short description|Practice of having casual sex frequently with different partners}}
{{Redirect|Promiscuous}}
'''Promiscuity''' is the practice of engaging in sexual activity frequently with different [[Sexual partner|partners]] or being indiscriminate in the choice of sexual partners.<ref>{{cite web|title=Promiscuous - definition of promiscuous by the Free Online Dictionary|url=http://www.thefreedictionary.com/promiscuous|publisher=The Free Dictionary|access-date=21 September 2013}}</ref> The term can carry a moral judgment. A common example of behavior viewed as promiscuous by many cultures is the [[one-night stand]], and its frequency is used by researchers as a marker for promiscuity.<ref>{{cite web|title=UK's most promiscuous city in 'one night stand' poll revealed|url=http://metro.co.uk/2014/01/08/liverpool-named-uks-most-promiscuous-city-in-one-night-stand-poll-4254176/|website=Metro.co.uk|publisher=Associated Newspapers Limited|date=2014-01-08}}</ref>

What sexual behavior is considered promiscuous varies between cultures, as does the prevalence of promiscuity. Different standards are often applied to different genders and civil statutes. [[Feminism|Feminists]] have traditionally argued a significant [[double standard]] exists between how men and women are judged for promiscuity. Historically, stereotypes of the promiscuous woman have tended to be pejorative, such as "the [[slut]]" or "the harlot", while male stereotypes have been more varied, some expressing approval, such as "the stud" or "the player", while others imply societal deviance, such as "the womanizer" or "the philanderer". A scientific study published in 2005 found that promiscuous men and women are both prone to derogatory judgment.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Marks | first1 = Michael | last2 = Fraley | first2 = R. | year = 2005 | title = The Sexual Double Standard: Fact or Fiction? | journal = [[Sex Roles (journal)|Sex Roles]] | volume = 52 | issue = 3–4| pages = 175–186 | doi=10.1007/s11199-005-1293-5| s2cid = 13018834 }}</ref> 

Promiscuity is common in many animal species.<ref name="Barash Lipton 2001"/> Some species have promiscuous [[mating system]]s, ranging from [[Polyandry in animals|polyandry]] and [[Polygyny in animals|polygyny]] to mating systems with no stable relationships where mating between two individuals is a one-time event. Many species form stable [[pair bond]]s, but still mate with other individuals outside the pair. In [[biology]], incidents of promiscuity in species that form pair bonds are usually called [[extra-pair copulations]].