Chapter 13 Sexuality and the Adult Years

1. Chapter 13Sexuality and the Adult Years

2. Single Living • Increasing rates • May reflect change in societal attitudes • Lifestyle and satisfaction vary widely • Celibacy or long-term monogamy • Serial monogamy • Single persons engage in sexual activity less often and are less satisfied than married persons

3. Cohabitation • Domestic partnership • Cohabitation vs. marriage • Social impact • Similarities and differences between cohabitation and marriage • Impact before marriage

4. Cohabitation

5. Men’s Cohabitation Rates by Educational Level

6. Marriage • Stable families convey social norms • Defines rights of inheritance • Regulates sexual behavior • Emotional and social support system • Associated with better health • Takes different forms in different cultures • Same-sex and interracial marriage

7. Marriage in Current Collectivist and Individualist Cultures • Collectivist cultures • Emphasize group goals over individual • Marriage unites families not two individuals • Arranged marriages common • Emphasize needs of family, community, or religion; de-emphasize love • Polygamy • Individualistic cultures • Emphasize feelings of love • Importance of love is a recent innovation

8. Changing Expectations and Marital Patterns • Discrepancy between American marriage ideal and actual practices • Most politically conservative areas (“Bible Belt”) have some of the highest rates of divorce and unwed mothers • Unrealistic expectations of fulfillment • Fewer support networks for marriage • Lack of preparation for daily issues • People live longer

9. Predicting Marital SatisfactionGottman’s Research • Based on heterosexual couples • Ratio of positive to negative comments predict satisfaction • Five positive to one negative interaction is key

10. Sexual Behavior and Satisfaction in Marriage • Factors that raise sexual satisfaction • Factors that lower sexual satisfaction • Sexless union can be satisfying • DINS (Dual income, no sex)

11. Extramarital Relationships • Cultural differences • Most cultures have restrictive norms; usually more restrictive for women • Consensual • Swinging, open marriage, and polyamory • Nonconsensual • Varied and complex reasons • Younger people have more affairs • Role of Internet • Impact on marriage varies

12. Divorce • Almost half of all first marriages end in divorce • Reasons for high divorce rate • Increased expectations for marital and sexual fulfillment • No-fault divorce laws • Reduction in social stigma • Women’s economic independence

13. Reasons People Give for Divorce • Communication problems • Basic unhappiness • Incompatibility • Drug abuse and physical abuse

14. Sexuality and Aging • Aging associated with sexless time • Double standard for aging • Health is most crucial to sexual well-being

15. Sexuality and Aging

16. Sexual Activity in Later Years • Among sexually active adults over age 60: 61% said their sex life today was either the same or more physically satisfying than in their 40s • Factors that maintain activity • Prior interest in sexual activity • Regularity of sexual activity • Good physical health • SES

17. Sexuality and AgingHomosexual Relationships in Later Years • Same-Sex sexual activity in later years is similar to heterosexual • Lesbian advantages • Less likely to be widowed • Higher pool of alternatives • Less aging double standard

18. Widowhood • Widows to widowers ratio = 4:1 • 50% of widowers remarry • 25% of widows remarry • Older people remain interested in sex even when no partner is available