New slant on Swedish sex life

Press, 10 April 1980, Page 27

New slant on Swedish sex life

The popular foreign myth that Swedes are sexy has taken a knock with the publication of the most comprehensive survey Of the nation’s sex life.

In the survey, carried out by Sifto, the opinion research institute, only 28 per cent of men and women interviewed thought that sex was the main source of happiness. Forty-nine per cent said it was not and 23 per cent did not know.

Four years ago the figures were 40 per cent, 33 per cent, and 27 per cent; and in 1967 40 per cent,

36 per cent, and 24 per cent.

Another hammer blow to Sweden’s image as a permissive society is that the survey reveals that a large majority of Swedes still believe faithfulness within marriage is absolutely necessary. The figure for women between 18 and 60 was 82 per cent, and for men, 77 per cent. Asked who they last had sexual intercourse with, 96.2 per cent of husbands said it was with their wives and 97.3 per cent of wives said it was with their husbands. But there was at least one ray of hope for the hundreds of males who arrive in Sweden each summer in pursuit of liberated blondes: the survey reveals that young, unmarried women have become still more free in their sexual attitudes.

Fifty-four per cent ofwoman aged 18 to 30 thought that love was the only reason for sexual relationship against 73 per cent in 1967.

The survey also shows that Swedes are making their sexual debut at a younger age.

Thirty-nine per cent first make love at 16 to 17 (36 per cent in 1967), 36 per cent at 14 to 15 (7

per cent in 1967), 12 per cent at 18 to 19 (38 per cent in 1967), 7 per cent at 13 or younger (1 per cent in 1967), and 6 - per cent aged 20 to 24 (17 per cent in 1967). Nineteen per cent of girls aged 18 to 20 said they had not had sexual intercourse in the 30 days before the survey. Among those aged 21 to 25, the figure was 17 per cent. The average Swedish woman has 2.6 sexual partners in her life, the average male five. Eighty per cent of all Swedes thought it was more usual nowadays for women to take the initiative in sex.

Swedes are reading more pornogrpahy, 78 per cent of men and 49 per cent of women admittig to it. In the 1967, survey the figures were 70 per cent and 37 per cent respectively.

Attitudes to pornography have become more liberal. Fourty-four per cent thought pornography should be accepted by society (in 1967 the figure was 36 per cent) while 36 per cent thought it shoud be opposed (46 per cent in 1967). The pill remains the favourite method of contraception.