One of the key findings in the recently released 2011 WomenTALK Survey revealed ʺWomen are happy in their relationships but many are not happy with their sex lives.ʺ
More than 76 percent of women are very happy in their committed relationships. However, only 43 percent said their sex life was of extreme importance to their relationship. Also, 27 percent think sex is not important or somewhat important to their relationship.
The WomenTALK survey also stated more than 41 percent of women are not engaging in sexual activity as often as they would like. The survey reveals the most common reasons for not engaging in sex include:
• 32 percent are too tired
• 31 percent do not have a partner
• 23 percent are too stressed
• 22 percent are insecure about their body
• 20 percent lack desire
The HealthyWomen’s 2011 WomenTALK survey delivered some valuable insight into women’s feelings about sex, their sexual relationships and sexual health.
Some additional findings from the WomenTALK survey revealed:
• Body image impacts a women’s sex life
• Women express conflicting views regarding their sex lives
• Sexual health is important to women’s overall health
Sex and body image seems to impact one-fifth to one-fourth of those who participated in the survey.
While 41percent of women are comfortable with their body image, the exact same percentage (41 percent) are unhappy with their body image.
A Glamour magazine survey, which mirrors the WomenTALK survey, claimed more than 40 percent of women were also unhappy with their bodies. Over the years, this percentage has not changed dramatically.
The image of television, movies and even dolls may be making many women self-conscious. We are a culture obsessed with weight. For example, we spend more than 40 billion dollars a year on how to achieve the perfect body but we don’t spend that amount of money accepting our body types.
Supermodel and founder of EmmeNation, Emme recently gave an interview with the Today Show which discussed our weight obsessed culture. In regards to women accepting their body types, Emme stated, ʺthere are many flowers out there, you can’t just look at a tulip.ʺ
During the Today Show interview another women commented, ʺI think the message that is being sent is you will be happy if you look like these women. When in reality, the only thing that can fulfill us is being confident and happy with ourselves and how we are living our lives.ʺ
The WomenTALK survey was conducted in late August of 2011. Additional methodology of the survey includes: more than 1031 U.S. women participated in the online survey and all participants were over the age of 18. The average length of the survey was ten minutes.
The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive and sponsored by EmpowHER.com. The WomenTALK survey is part of EmpowHER’s HealthyWomen education campaign which also includes EmpowHER’s 1000 Women initiative.
References:
Why Are We so Obsessed with Weight (2011). 41456611 [Television series episode]. In Today Show. Network: NBC. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/41456611#41456611
Exclusive Body-Image Survey: 16,000 Women Tell Their Body Confidence Secrets: Health and Fitness: glamour.com. Glamour magazine: fashion, beauty, hair, makeup, diet, health, sex advice, dating, engagement rings, weddings, wedding dresses: glamour.com. Retrieved November 11, 2011, from http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/2009/03/women-tell-their-body-confidence-secrets
WomenTALK 2011 Survey Findings. (n.d.). EmpowHER. Retrieved November 11, 2011, from
https://www.empowher.com/sites/default/files/upload/press/WomenTALK-2011-fact-sheet.pdf
Reviewed November 11, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith