Can sociocultural and contextual factors explain gender differences in sex drive? A response to Frankenbach et al. (2022).

Abstract

Most theories predict, and most studies demonstrate, that men have a higher sex drive than women do. A spirited debate has emerged surrounding the origins of gender differences in sex drive; Frankenbach et al. (2022) commented on this controversy in the context of their impressive meta-analysis. We provide a different interpretation of these findings: Specifically, women get worse sex than men do. We argue that if the differences between the sex that women get and the sex that men get were accounted for, gender differences in sex drive would be reduced or eliminated completely. We focus more specifically on two factors that should be accounted for in future meta-analyses-narrow definitions of "sex" as penile-vaginal intercourse, and gender disparities in sexual violence-and additional factors that should be acknowledged when interpreting meta-analytic results-gendered cultural messages, respect from heterosexual partners, and sexual stigmatization. Public Significance StatementMost research finds that men have a somewhat higher sex drive than women do, when sex is defined vaguely. We address potential reasons for the difference: Women and men may be driven toward different types of sex, women experience substantially more sexual violence than men, messages from society are more permissive and positive toward men's sexuality than women's, heterosexual women are more likely to be disrespected by their partners than heterosexual men, and women are stigmatized for wanting sex.