Sex and the economy: a disturbing connection
By Shannon Tien
The Xaverian Weekly
November 19, 2008
ANTIGONISH (CUP) – It turns out that failing to launch, softening up, crashing, and losing firmness are terms that not only apply to Wall Street, but also to the current state of North Americans’ sex lives.
Studies show that with bank accounts dwindling, people are anxious, depressed, and stressed. Therefore, they have virtually no sexual libido.
Our pre-historic ancestors probably dealt with the same problem when times got tough, concentrating on hunting and gathering to survive the winter instead of making more babies.
Just last week, Salon’s Sarah Hepola wrote about the one-night stand she fell in love with, but who couldn’t love her back because he lost his job, all his money, and his mom.
At first suspicious, Hepola concluded that he was being honest, because, realistically, times are tough.
But it’s not even singles-and-looking who are the most affected.
According to a recent article in Forbes, there is definitely less of “it” going on in America, but, interestingly enough, those involved in couple situations are suffering the most dramatic sexual recessions.
The theories around economic recessions and couples’ sex lives are incredibly numerous – the main one is that nothing is more of a buzz-kill than depression.
The theories are also based on the assumption that good sex is the basis of a good relationship.
Another theory, entitled the therapist theory, suggests that misunderstanding occurs in relationships when the breadwinning partner feels pressure to remain the breadwinner, even though external forces are making it slightly impossible.
The fear of losing this title then causes the partner to feel pressure to perform in the bedroom, which doesn’t lead to exceptionally great times.
The other partner then misunderstands this inability to perform as a lack of desire, and thus, they drift further and further apart, eventually deciding that they were never meant for each other in the first place.
Now, if it was just sex that had such a close connection with money I wouldn’t be so concerned, but unfortunately, these theories suggest that the economy is also getting in the way of love.
People are failing to realize that profits made on the stock market don’t compare to the profits gained from being in a loving relationship.
My love-makes-the-world-go-‘round worldview is being shattered. Has society actually reached a point where “all you need is love” has changed to “all you need is money?” If so, I’m an arts major, and I’m screwed.
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