(Post 10 in a series)
So far in this series, I have focused on sexual behavior in the context of immorality. Now, I'm going to turn to other sexual behaviors.
Much of these posts come from the National Health and Social Life Survey (NHSLS). This study, was conducted by Edward Laumann, of the University of Chicago, in 1994, so it's getting a bit old, but it remains about the best study on the topic. It collected data from 3,400+ people nationwide on just about every aspect of sexual behavior. Fortunately, for my purposes, it also collected data on religious affiliation.
From the NHSLS, here are the percentage of respondents who report "always having an orgasm" when they have sex with their primary partner.
Men
79%, Catholics
75%, no religious affiliation
75%, conservative protestants
73%, mainline protestants
66%, other religion
Women
33%, conservative protestants
27%, mainline protestants
27%, Catholics
22%, no religious affiliation
There isn't a lot of difference for men, but there looks to be a religious effect for women.
Maybe this explains why women tend to be much more religious than men?
Thoughts?
15 comments:
Maybe those with a religious background do it more often.
Or do they do it better?
It wouldn't be more often, though I'll post on that later, because this question gets at rate. "How often" versus "sometimes" versus "not very often".
It's interesting to think about why their would be religious effect.
Wow--that's not a title you see too often. Anyway, I'd wonder if this might be somehow linked to monogamy. As partners get to know one another better physically, that can make a difference. Linking to other data on promiscuity might help answer that. It's interesting that conservative protestants top the list for women, since that group has such a prudish reputation.
Yes, there's probably a good story to be told behind the finding. Could also be variation in education, but you're right, it is counter-intuitive.
Brad,
There is a minor literature on why "evangelicals have better sex." Too busy now to look it up, but I know it exists.
I'm just happy to be in the 33% category (though I have no empirical data as to whether or not I experience this rate). Since my husband likes to comment here, I'll stop at that...
I should clarify that what I meant is: 1) Being someone who might be classified in the "conservative protestant" category, I'm in the group that seems to have the highest percentage of "always" which seems like a good thing for me, 2) I by no means keep track nor assert that I "always," and 3) My husband is going to kill me when he reads my comments!
jerry...I agree,it's not a title you see too often...so i'm going to just agree with the majority on this one ;)
Jerry, I'm very impressed that your wife writes about your prowess all over the web! Any pressure?
Not until now...
I will now impale myself on nearest sharp object...
What is this, Blog sweeps week?
;)
oh this is too funny!
"Oh God, oh God. Oh God, oh God, oh God, oh God God God. OH GOD. Oh God, oh God, oh God. Ooooh, Gooooood. Oh God."
Ever hear an atheist say that?
Jay, that is really, really funny...
I don't know if it is sweeps week, but if so, Jerry has won. No wonder he is smiling in his picture.
Post a Comment