Sexuality has undergone “major changes” in 10 years in France, according to a vast survey published Wednesday which reveals “more varied practices”, less predominantly heterosexual, less frequent relationships and a level of violence that remains worrying. These developments “for the most part are part of the long term, well before #Metoo”, underlined Nathalie Bajos, sociologist and research director at Inserm, during the presentation of this survey published by her institute, the ANRS Infectious diseases and public health France.
Practices that have evolved
The result of five years of work, this survey on the “context of sexualities in France 2023” is the fourth scientific survey since 1970 to study emotional and sexual life in France and to place them in the context of societal changes.
It is based on the responses to a telephone questionnaire from more than 31,000 people aged 15 to 89, drawn at random, in mainland France and in four overseas territories (Martinique, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Reunion). In its first results for mainland France, the survey shows “an increase” in the median age of first sexual intercourse, to 18.2 years for women and 17.7 years for men in 2023.
The average number of partners of women aged 18-69 who have already had sexual intercourse increased from 3.4 partners on average during their lifetime in 1992 to 4.5 in 2006 and to 7.9 in 2023. For men, these figures, stable between 1992 and 2006 around 11, increased “substantially” to 16.4 partners on average in 2023. The repertoire of practices has “significantly diversified”, more and more men and women reporting having experimented with sexual practices other than vaginal intercourse (masturbation, oral sex and anal intercourse).
An increase in non-consensual sex
At the same time, some indicators of sexual activity decreased. In 2023, 77.2% of women (compared to 82.9% in 2006) and 81.6% of men (compared to 89.1% in 2006) aged 18-69 reported having had sexual activity with a partner in the last 12 months. The results also show a decrease among women, since 2006, in the frequency of sexual relations accepted to please one's partner without really wanting it oneself.
Another notable phenomenon: the proportion of people engaging in non-exclusively heterosexual sexuality “is increasing very significantly”, and “women report for the first time in 2023 more experiences with people of the same sex than men”.
Social mobilization against forms of sexual violence has also “modified the normative frameworks of consent”, but the survey “paints a picture of the extent of this violence which remains worrying”. Thus, 29.8% in 2023 of women aged 18-69 declared having experienced forced intercourse or an attempted forced intercourse, compared to 15.9% in 2006. Among men, the figures increased from 4.6% in 2006 to 8.7% in 2023.
