And no-I’m not talking about the latest unemployment numbers.
Then again maybe I am-how certain segments of the male population in America are being underemployed-literally:
Married men and women, on average, have sex with their spouse 58 times a year, a little more than once a week, according to data collected from the General Social Survey, which has tracked the social behaviors of Americans since 1972. But there are wide variations in that number. Married people under 30 have sex about 111 times a year. And it’s estimated that about 15 percent of married couples have not had sex with their spouse in the last six months to one year, according to Denise A. Donnelly, associate professor of sociology at Georgia State University, who has studied sexless marriage.
Simply terrible-been there, done that, got the T-shirt.
Never going there again.
If ever there was an argument for the futility of marriage-and or monogamy in general-that’s it. Marriage survives for only one reason: there is no other viable way to raise children.
Oh other ways have been tried-the kibbutz, the commune, just dumping the child off on the street corner.
None of them have proven really viable yet-and some of the alternatives come with baggage (like jail time for option 3).
So, Americans are left with this depressing state of affairs.
58 times a year? That amortizes out to about 3 times per month. For someone like me-blessed (or cursed) with a strong curve of desire-that leaves one about 12 times a month short. No wonder single guys seem happier. They get some sort of control over the flow. ( especially if they live someplace where “off the shelf” options are available).
Talk about something that needs a stimulus package. Especially if you are part of that really unfortunate 15%.
I mean think about it. Even if you allow 7 days a month for “the Wound of Eve that never heals”, and another 7-8 days a month for being pissed off and unreasonable, tired, depressed or whatever, that should still provide a 12-14 day “window of opportunity.”
I blame romance novels and women’s magazines. For building the act into a mystical experience, rahter than the more correct description Shakespere gave it in Hamlet: ” A good groaning”. Which is amazing when you consider how many cover items on a woman’s magazine have to do with sex. You would think the subliminal suggestion would pay off.
I also blame Sex in the City.
Maybe David Carradine was married? That’s about the best explanation I can think of………..