 French women are
becoming increasingly assertive in their sexual habits, while
one-in-five younger French men "has no interest in sex", according
to one of the most comprehensive surveys of the nation's love lives.
Women now have more than twice as many partners as they did
in the 1970s, according to the study by the French Aids research
agency, which is backed by the government.
"Are women just like men?" asked Le Nouvel Observateur yesterday,
which released extracts of the Study on Sexuality in France, a
600-page tome that brings together 12,000 in-depth interviews with
people of all ages conducted during 2005-06.
One of the biggest changes in recent years, according to the report,
was that male and female sexual behavior had become increasingly
similar.
The proportion of French women who claim to have had only one
partner has dropped from 68 per cent in 1970, to 43 per cent in 1992
and 34 per cent in 2006. A woman's average number of partners has
risen from under two in 1970 to over five today, while a man's has
remained the same for four decades, almost 13.
French women's first experience of sex is now almost as early as
that of the opposite sex: in 1950 there was a two-year difference,
but the gap has narrowed to four months, to around 17 and a half.
Meanwhile, more women remain sexually active for longer than
previously: nine-out-of-10 women over 50 are sexually active today,
compared to just 50 per cent of that age group in 1970.
"The good old dichotomy (male predators, females patiently awaiting
the warrior's return in front of the cave entrance) is in big
trouble", said Le Nouvel Observateur.
 Female
sexual emancipation has been a hot topic in France ever since
President Nicolas Sarkozy met Carla Bruni, the Italian model and
singer. The couple married last month.
Ms Bruni recently declared monogamy "terribly boring" and spoke in
relaxed fashion about her numerous past conquests, including Mick
Jagger and Eric Clapton.
"I am a tamer [of men], a cat, an Italian", she told Le Figaro last
year.
"I am faithful... to myself. I am monogamous from time to time but I
prefer polygamy and polyandry [its female equivalent]."
At the same time, she reinforced old stereotypes that link status
and virility, by reportedly declaring: "I want a man with nuclear
power."
Despite the changes in female behavior observed in the study, some
things have not altered in 40 years. Men found it easier than women
to disassociate sex from love, but the research suggested this was
due to nurture rather than nature. The study said: "Young women are
still educated to consider their entrance into sexuality as a
sentimental-relationship experience."
One of the more surprising findings was that one-in-five French men
aged between 18 and 24 "manifests no interest in sexuality", while
abstinence rates for men under 35 was twice as high as for women.
The two sociologists who compiled the research said that the French
had fewer sexual taboos and inhibitions than before, but were more
anxious about lovemaking.
Never have sex counselors been so busy in France: according to one
estimate, they treat half a million patients per year.
(Courtesy: Daily Telegraph, UK) |
