SIECUS Sex Survey
Published by contactus September 28th, 2005 in Abstinence[Abstinence Clearinghouse Update, 9/26/05]
“Be a part of history” the announcements on Shape Magazine’s website proclaims. Men’s Fitness and Shape Magazine team up with the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) to do “the most extensive poll on sex since The Kinsey Report. This national, anonymous poll reveals the sexual attitudes and behaviors of the largest group of adult Americans and uncovers startling differences between what men and women really want.”
Dr. Belisa Vranich, Sex and Health Editor, says that this is “a landmark study that will break the information down state-by-state by gender and age it will, also, for the first time, deliberately compare and contrast male and female perspectives.”
However, a look at the questions in the survey cast doubt on the value and veracity of the answers collected online.
Questions on both the men’s and women’s surveys include:
Where have you gotten most of your information on how to please your partner?
What is the number one factor that makes your partner a good lover? [Intimacy and exclusivity are not options.]
Do you think prostitution should be legalized?
Men are asked “What kind of Internet porn do you watch?” And “What are the factors that cause you to cheat?” Women are asked the seemingly prerequisite, “What is the best p**** size for you?” Other questions include, “If there were porn specifically designed for women:” [I'd be interested/I'd not be interested], and “I would have more casual sex if:”
Of course, no magazine sex survey is complete without Hollywood. This survey asks such pressing matters as, “If you had to pick one, which male member of the show Lost/Desperate Housewives would you sleep with?” Men are asked about their cartoon fantasy; women, their superhero. Both men and women are asked, “Which [male/female] politician would you sleep with?” And, “What couple would you have a threesome with?”
Additional questions, too crude to repeat are asked en masse throughout the surveys.
People completing the survey are entered to win round trip airfare and an all expense vacation at the Hedonism III resort in Jamaica.
Despite the titles of the men’s and women’s magazine referring to “fitness” and “share,” the missions of the magazines are not related to physical fitness. The websites list the mission of both as, “to provide accurate information regarding sexual health, communication between the sexes, and responsible sexual behavior. To that end, we have a doctorate level sex and health editor, partnerships with nationally recognized organizations such as SIECUS (Sexual Information and Education Council of the United States) and clinical advisors in the fields of urology, gynecology and psychology. MF [Men's Fitness] promises to continue to offer cutting edge, scientifically based sex and health information that focuses on personal choice and educated, responsible behavior.”
Sources: http://www.mensfitness.com/survey/57 and http://www.shape.com/survey/184 both viewed on 9/28/05.