Rich women may have better sex, but it's not for the reason you think

[umbertino]

A Spanish sex survey found that wealth matters, even in the bedroom. Poor women are far more likely to be abused

 

 

•  
• • Sadhbh Walshe
  •  
  • theguardian.com, Wednesday 22 January 2014 16.14 GMT

 

It seems that everything comes more easily to wealthy people, even stuff that doesn't (necessarily) have to be paid for, like sex. Rich people, rich women in particular, are having a better time in the bedroom than their poorer counterparts according to a recent analysis of the first Spanish Sexual Health Survey by researchers at Barcelona's Public Health Agency. This disparity in enjoyment levels between the rich and the poor has little to do with what you might be thinking – that the wealthy can buy their way to better quality lovemaking – and more to do with the disturbing fact that sex is more stressful for poor women because they are less likely to practice safe sex and more likely to be abused by an intimate partner.

 

It shouldn't come as a big surprise that women who are more likely to be abused by their partners or for whom sex is more likely to result in an unwanted pregnancy would enjoy it less. What is newsworthy is that socioeconomic status plays such a definitive role in deciding who gets to have a good time in the bedroom and who doesn't. The survey revealed, for instance, that women with a primary (high school) only education were nearly four times more likely than women who were university educated to have suffered sexual abuse and that both women and men of lower socioeconomic status invariably used less contraception. The survey's primary author, Dr Dolores Ruiz, has called for the introduction of new public polices to reduce the inequalities that the survey identified. In Spain, this might happen. In the more puritanical United States, however, where the same inequalities are evident, I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

There's no corresponding study that I know of that has looked at sexual satisfaction among different socioeconomic groups in the US. There is plenty of data, however, about the higher rates of intimate partner violence in disadvantaged communities and lower rates of contraceptive use among poorer and less educated American women that mirror the findings in the Spanish study.

 

According to a 2004 report (pdf) by the National Institute of Justice, women in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods in the US were more than twice as likely to be victimized repeatedly or severely injured by their intimate partners than better-off women. Meanwhile, data compiled by the Guttmacher Institute in December 2013 shows that unintended pregnancies are increasingly concentrated among poor and less educated women. Like their Spanish counterparts, American women of lower socioeconomic status could benefit from some public policy changes that would reduce the inequality that is wreaking havoc with their sex lives. Instead of making birth control more accessible to poor women or taking steps to reduce the risk of violence, American lawmakers, particularly conservative ones, have been working hard to obstruct any progress on either front.

 

Since 1995, over 700 anti-abortion measures have been passed around the country. Not content with this successful erosion of women's reproductive rights, conservative lawmakers have turned their attention in the recent past to restricting access to birth control. The GOP-controlled House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in 2011 to defund Planned Parenthood, the nationwide organization that provides birth control and healthcare to low-income women. Fortunately that vote died in the senate but the enthusiasm for restricting women's access to contraception did not.

 

In March 2012, a measure introduced by Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo) known as the Blunt Amendment, which would have potentially denied millions of American women birth control by allowing any employer with a moral objection to opt out of the Obama administration's new coverage rule, was only narrowly defeated in the senate. It would be nice to think that if conservative lawmakers were aware that their ongoing efforts to restrict access to birth control are probably succeeding only in making the sex lives of low income women less pleasurable, they might back off a bit. But somehow I don't think that the sexual fulfilment of poor women is a high priority for the mostly male and wealthy GOP.

 

Reducing violence against women, low-income and otherwise, doesn't seem to be much of a priority to conservative lawmakers either. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that was passed in 1994 is credited with significantly reducing, among other things, intimate partner violence and intimate partner homicides of both women and men. When the act expired in 2011, it took the House of Representatives a year and a half to reauthorize it, during which time republican lawmakers tried to pass a watered-down version stripped of protections for diverse populations. Even with VAWA in place, however, low-income women continue to suffer disproportionately from intimate partner violence and little is being done to help them.

 

With these ongoing efforts to erode women's rights (collectively known as the "war on women"), it's hard to imagine Americans engaging in a national conversation any time soon on making sex more enjoyable for anyone, never mind women who are poor. That's kind of a shame, because sex really ought to be one of life's simple and safe pleasures, instead of the political hot-rod it has become. For now, Americans had best content ourselves with living vicariously through our European counterparts as they try to level the sexual playing field. Until Congress ends its war on women, which is mostly a war on economically disadvantaged women, bedroom inequality is here to stay.

 

 

 

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/22/rich-women-have-better-sex

[Whatshername]

"... It would be nice to think that if conservative lawmakers were aware that their ongoing efforts to restrict access to birth control are probably succeeding only in making the sex lives of low income women less pleasurable, they might back off a bit. But somehow I don't think that the sexual fulfilment of poor women is a high priority for the mostly male and wealthy GOP..."

It is not the duty nor the responsibility of conservatives to influence the "pleasurability" of low income women's sex lives. It would be nice to think that ALL women could raise their standards, choose men of substance, and practice personal responsibility for a change. 

The "War on Women" is a liberal lie. This whole article is pathetic and divisive. JMO

[bigwave]

"... It would be nice to think that if conservative lawmakers were aware that their ongoing efforts to restrict access to birth control are probably succeeding only in making the sex lives of low income women less pleasurable, they might back off a bit. But somehow I don't think that the sexual fulfilment of poor women is a high priority for the mostly male and wealthy GOP..."

It is not the duty nor the responsibility of conservatives to influence the "pleasurability" of low income women's sex lives. It would be nice to think that ALL women could raise their standards, choose men of substance, and practice personal responsibility for a change. 

The "War on Women" is a liberal lie. This whole article is pathetic and divisive. JMO

yea - what whatshername said....

[waterman13]

Evened you out. HEY single ladies?

Wm13

Edited January 22, 2014 by waterman13

[Shabibilicious]

As long as the term "Baby Daddy" keeps getting thrown around and remains acceptable in poorer and inner city neighborhoods........the cycle will continue.  One must learn to respect herself, before expecting others to do the same.  As always, just my opinion.

 

GO RV, and NO BV 

[Nadita]

As long as the term "Baby Daddy" keeps getting thrown around and remains acceptable in poorer and inner city neighborhoods........the cycle will continue.  One must learn to respect herself, before expecting others to do the same.  As always, just my opinion.

 

GO RV, and NO BV 

Shab,

 

Also as long as the man is willing to pay, there is always the market.. imagine if it's done to your daughter or sister...? 

 

I agree with the respect and value as a woman.. once a woman understands and knows her value as a woman and can respect herself, sex will not be an object of satisfaction for the other person:)  

[gymrat76541]

I really do not know about the women, but I would be having much better sex IF I HAD MONEY! LOL

 

 

GO RV

[DiveDeepSix]

Well it may be that way for women, but I'd have to disagree for men, I actually found sex much more fun in my younger years, when life was much simpler, I had a job and a small house payment.  Today it's a job, a bunch of employees, a big house payment, kids in college, so now that we are well on our way to "so called" success in life (I guess if it's to be measured by monetary value instead of what matters most), it seems by the time we see each other at night our heads are about ready to explode with all the issues needing to be dealt with on a daily basis running businesses that there is little time left for anything but sleep!  I guess that's just part of being considered a rich, GOP, selfish, entitled, corporate welfare, elite, keep the little folks down, categorized type person!! 

 

That's it tonight I'm telling the wife we are quitting, selling everything, moving into govt. housing, closing down the businesses, gonna let Obama take care of us like the other 47%, and spice up the old sex life again!!! Thanks Obama!!  Thank you too Umbertino I see the light now!!       

I really do not know about the women, but I would be having much better sex IF I HAD MONEY! LOL

 

 

GO RV

 

That makes two of us, but it would only help if it's enough to say the heck with everything and retire!  GO RV!!!!

Edited January 22, 2014 by DiveDeepSix

[Shabibilicious]

Shab,

 

Also as long as the man is willing to pay, there is always the market.. imagine if it's done to your daughter or sister...? 

 

I agree with the respect and value as a woman.. once a woman understands and knows her value as a woman and can respect herself, sex will not be an object of satisfaction for the other person:)  

 

I get what you're saying Nadita.  I reread my post this morning and it reeked of chauvinistic tendencies.  That was not my intention at all.  I remember how I was as a teenager, when the hormones were raging.  I made some of the dumbest decisions ever.  I couldn't possibly trust myself to do the right thing when it came to girls.  I imagine it is like that with all young men.....My only hope is for the girls of today to be smarter than the knuckleheads chasing after them.  I certainly would like to hold today's young men to a higher standard......pretty sure most would let me down.      Side Note:  No offense intended towards any mothers on this site convinced their son(s) are the best kid ever.    

 

GO RV, and NO BV

[dog53]

I dunno the whole article seems pretty lame to me.

The idea that if your poor your gonna let some lame brain abuse you and beat you just doesnt make sense.

It boils down to the choices you make . Rich or poor. I have known a lot of poor good looking girls in my youth

who maintained their dignity and self worth. But in this new age of fifty shades of grey. (Smack me and show me you love me baby !) 

Hell who knows.