IT’S HUMAN NATURE
The perception that all single people are living a life of constant sexual escapades is a prevalent myth. While it's true that being single can provide the freedom and flexibility to engage in sexual activities on a whim, research shows that single people are not necessarily having more sex than their married counterparts. A 2023 Psychology Today article highlights that the sexual activity rates between single and married individuals are strikingly similar. According to the article, 36% of single people and 35% of married people report having sex 1–3 times per month. Meanwhile, 34% of single people and 36% of married people have sex 1–3 times per week. This data suggests that the difference in sexual activity between single and married people is marginal. In other words, being single doesn’t ensure a rambunctious sex life, but neither does having a husband.
Interestingly, women have become more confident in self-pleasure and are increasingly taking control of their own sexual satisfaction to close the orgasm gap. Three years ago, sexual wellness company Womanizer took the world’s orgasms into its own hands and created Equal Masturbation Day, a day to highlight and address the disparity in masturbation and orgasm rates between men and women. Social pressures often shame women for expressing their sexuality while praising men for the same behavior, contributing to this gap.
81% of women who masturbate experience orgasms. 65% of heterosexual women usually or always orgasm during partnered sexual activity, compared to 95% of heterosexual men. This is known as the "orgasm gap",
When a heterosexual man and woman engage in sexual activity, it’s more likely that the man will orgasm while the woman may not. This disparity carries over into solo sex, creating what is known as the "masturbation gap." The masturbation gap refers to the rate at which individuals who identify as male or female engage in masturbation. This year, an international study found that women masturbated significantly more in 2022 than in 2021, with the masturbation gap decreasing from 62% to 47%. By June 23, men and women had nearly equal rates of enjoying the pleasures of masturbation. Globally, the world is becoming more comfortable with self-pleasure, a trend accelerated by the pandemic, which left many people at home with little to do beyond Netflix binges and exploring self-satisfaction. The study found that to continue closing this gap, more discussions about masturbation are needed, not only in sex education classes in schools but also in conversations at home.
Among sex researchers, the “orgasm gap” refers to the consistent finding that women tend to orgasm less frequently than men. The reasons for this are multifaceted. Female orgasm frequency is often closely tied to psychological factors such as body image, sexual assertiveness, and feelings of sexual shame or pride. In contrast, male orgasms tend to be more physiologically driven. As a result, issues with male sexual arousal, like erectile dysfunction, can often be easily treated with medications such as Viagra. In contrast, female arousal issues often require a broader, more psychological approach. Cultural factors also play a role; societal gender norms can make it difficult for women to clearly articulate their sexual desires and what brings them pleasure. Despite advances, our culture still often shames women who openly pursue sex and minimizes the importance of female sexual pleasure.
According to a 2016 Yahoo News study, 85.5% of female participants reported masturbating at some point in their lives and more than 81% of women who masturbate experience orgasms.
Masturbation is still a taboo topic for some—especially women—but let's face it: we're all a little curious about what's going on behind closed doors (or not-so-closed doors). Recent studies, like the one conducted by the Kinsey Institute, found that over 70% of women have masturbated at some point in their lives. Other studies by organizations such as the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior and the University of Indiana have reported similar findings. But seriously? Masturbated at some point in the course of their entire life? We need a little more nuance here. A survey of 209 women aged 18 to 75+ found that 85% indulge in self-pleasure at least once a week. A solid 33% self-soothe three times per week. Interestingly, age groups and relationship categories were evenly distributed—from 18 to 75+, married, divorced, single, or otherwise, women are still going at it citing, “It’s human nature!” Married women, who made up a significant portion of the survey, indicated that many are having sex at least once or twice a week. In fact, half of the married respondents credited their active sex lives as a reason for their reduced frequency of masturbation.
85% indulge in self-pleasure at least once a week.
Among sex researchers, the “orgasm gap” refers to the consistent finding that women tend to orgasm less frequently than men. The reasons for this are multifaceted. Female orgasm frequency is often closely tied to psychological factors such as body image, sexual assertiveness, and feelings of sexual shame or pride. In contrast, male orgasms tend to be more physiologically driven. As a result, issues with male sexual arousal, like erectile dysfunction, can often be easily treated with medications such as Viagra. In contrast, female arousal issues often require a broader, more psychological approach. Cultural factors also play a role; societal gender norms can make it difficult for women to clearly articulate their sexual desires and what brings them pleasure. Despite advances, our culture still often shames women who openly pursue sex and minimizes the importance of female sexual pleasure.
It's also crucial to understand the different contexts in which female orgasm occurs. For instance, the psychological factors that increase a woman’s likelihood of orgasm with a familiar partner may differ significantly from those that come into play during a one-night stand. Likewise, the variables that predict the likelihood of multiple orgasms might not be the same as those that influence whether a woman can orgasm alone through masturbation. Furthermore, the question of sexual satisfaction is complex. Does more orgasms always equal more sexual satisfaction? Or is satisfaction a more nuanced concept that includes psychological well-being and emotional fulfillment? In the end, it’s often the quality, not the quantity, that determines true sexual satisfaction for women.
Ultimately, neither marriage nor the freedom of single life guarantees great sex or frequent orgasms. As societal attitudes towards sexuality evolve, more women are embracing self-pleasure as a pathway to understanding their bodies and achieving satisfaction on their own terms. Whether they’re married, single, or casually dating, women are increasingly learning that the key to good sex lies not in a partner but in their own hands.It's also crucial to understand the different contexts in which female orgasm occurs. For instance, the psychological factors that increase a woman’s likelihood of orgasm with a familiar partner may differ significantly from those that come into play during a one-night stand. Likewise, the variables that predict the likelihood of multiple orgasms might not be the same as those that influence whether a woman can orgasm alone through masturbation. The question of sexual satisfaction is complex. Does more orgasms always equal more sexual satisfaction? Or is satisfaction a more nuanced concept that includes psychological well-being and emotional fulfillment? In the end, it’s often the quality, not the quantity, that determines true sexual satisfaction for the girlies.
As societal attitudes towards sexuality evolve, more women are embracing self-pleasure as a pathway to understanding their bodies and achieving satisfaction on their own terms. Whether they’re married, single, or casually dating, women are increasingly learning that the key to good sex lies not in a partner but in their own hands.