Their women do have the highest sex drive in the world.
Living in an age of AOC and Bernie Sanders, the word “socialism” gets thrown around a lot. But whether you consider yourself a socialist or not, history suggests that the tenets of socialism may be conducive to a happier sex life. Because when you think about sex, isn’t Bernie Sanders the first person who comes to mind?
In her book "Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism," Kristen Ghodsee references East Germany in the mid-eighties. One study found that 80 percent of East German women always experienced orgasm during sex, as opposed to 63 percent of women in West Germany. One reason for this was that the division of domestic labor in East Germany was more equal, since women worked just as much as men. With women earning their own money, economic security was less of an issue when considering a male partner. As a result, men had to use other means to win over a mate; which meant a greater sensitivity to women’s needs. That said, life behind the Iron Curtain was never easy; interrogations, citizens being spied on, and food shortages were part of daily life. When the Berlin Wall fell, capitalism arrived for better or worse.
But we can’t talk about modern socialism without including Scandinavian countries like Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Though not socialist in the classical sense, they function with a generous safety net, high-quality public services, and strict regulations on private businesses. It’s no secret that Scandinavia contains some of the happiest countries in the world. Those Vikings love their hygge. They have the best healthcare on the planet, and new parents in Sweden (male and female) are entitled to 16 months of paid parental leave. With gender equality at the center of everyday life, it’s no surprise that four Scandinavian countries lead the world in closing gender gaps. With the pressures of childcare, health insurance and finances off the table, couples can focus more of their time on each other. Which is convenient, since Scandinavian women have the highest sex drives in the world.
To be clear, this isn’t an endorsement of socialism, or any other political ideology. But it is an endorsement of fostering a deeper connection with your partner. Experts agree that having an emotional connection can improve the quality of sex. That means treating your partner as an intellectual equal, respecting their opinions, and being sensitive to their needs. It also doesn’t hurt if you offer to take out the trash or do the dishes once in a while. When you and your partner are on the same page, you let your guard down. And that, in turn, fosters greater intimacy. Social, indeed.
