The economics of sex
Ever wonder why men seem to make less effort to pursue women, there are more break-ups and premarital partners, and marriages are later and less often? It’s all about the economics of sex – the demand, the supply and the cost. Oh, and the impact of the invention of the contraception pill.
This nifty video, by the Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture and shared by the , puts it all rather perfectly – right down to the fact that women hold the cards in consensual relationships but are not always aware of this.
Watch it for yourself, or read below where I’ve broken down the main points. Bet you’ve never considered sex in this light before!
Sex is an exchange
- At first, seems like an equal exchange between men and women: intimate access to each other’s bodies
- But it’s not an equal exchange, because of the different uses. Men tend to want sex for pleasure, not necessarily romance. For women, it’s about expressing and receiving love, strengthening commitment, receiving affirmation, and working towards relationship security (i.e. marriage)
How much does sex cost for men?
- Anywhere from a few drinks and compliments to month or two of dates, to a lifelong commitment. Most women would demand on the less side.
- So why don’t women “charge” more for sex? Because the “market price” of sex is not necessarily up to women anymore, or not a private matter: men and women take their cues from societal expectations
- Essentially, men can get sex at a very cheap price these days
Why has the market of sex changed from how it used to be?
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