Women catching up to men in promiscuity, and that’s just the forty-somethings

While online dating websites may not correlate exactly with wider society, an interesting study from free dating site PlentyOfFish.com has concluded that women’s promiscuity — or at least their intentions of — has doubled in the last four years.

In 2004, around 9% stated that they were looking for sex via the “intimate encounter” option. That figure is now around 18%.

With some ten million members, the male-female ratio of those looking for long-term relationships or traditional dates has remained consistent at 55:45, but three years ago, men looking primarily for sex outnumbered women by ten to one. That’s now down to 5:1, with a prediction that in ten years’ time, there’ll be equality in promiscuity.

Suggesting that the female lifestyles portrayed in “Sex In the City” and the like may have something to do with a shifting societal attitude, Markus Frind, CEO of Plentyoffish.com, says, “Our average user, among males and females, is between 38 and 42 years old. Yet, the data shows that the behaviour exhibited is more of what you would expect from those in their early 20s. Plentyoffish.com statistics may be indicative of a fundamental shift in society and behavioural norms.”

Longer term, of course, this continued shift will have a marked effect on what society considers “family” to be.

Women rule in the home and marriage, study suggests

A small study from researchers at Iowa University has concluded that many women rule the marriage relationship and the home, due in part to changing times and roles of the sexes.

The survey of 72 married couples shows that the man does not always hold the power, particularly where children are concerned.

“Roles have changed in a relationship. Women are no longer just in charge of the house and cleaning and cooking and standing there with a martini when husbands come home,” Dr. Fariello said.

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Anita Clayton interviewed about new book: Women, Sex, and the Quest for Intimacy

The Charlottesville News talks to Anita Clayton about her new book “Satisfaction: Women, Sex, and the Quest for Intimacy”. The interview covers sex education, self-esteem, overcoming issues of sexuality, and the unrealistic portrayal of women’s sexuality by the media.

An interesting interview of this UVA professor of psychiatry and obstetrics and gynaecology.

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