Sexuality of the French: “there are major changes”, explains Nathalie Bajos (Inserm)

French sexuality has changed. This is what we learn a vast Inserm survey of more than 30,000 peoplethe fruit of five years of work, published this Wednesday. “A number of major changes have occurred“, explains Nathalie Bajos, sociologist and research director at Inserm, with a major underlying trend, “diversification of sexuality, particularly among younger people and women“.

“One of the major results of our survey is the decline in the age of entry into sexuality“, adds Armelle Andro, demographer at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. This age has increased to 18.2 years for women and 17.7 years for men. “It's not that recent. In 2010, we could already see a reversal of the trend”, she notes.

Another change to note, the French declare having less sex. “This decline should be seen in light of the increase in the number of reports considered pleasant. explains Armelle Andro. “It is a questioning of the sexual availability of women in particular, which automatically leads to a decline in sexual relations.“

“Women only count men who have counted”

Fewer reports, but more partners. In 2023, women report having had 7.9 partners, compared to 3.4 on average in 1992. Men report 16.4 sexual partners in 2023, compared to 11.2 in 1992. A gap between men and women which can be explained, according to sociologist Nathalie Bajos, by different social representations of sexuality. “On the one hand, we have a feminine sexuality thought more in the register of affectivity, of sentimentality. Male sexuality is more referred to its physical dimensions. Women only count men who have counted, while men count all experiences.”

Armelle Andro still notes a rapprochement of certain practices between women and menespecially in terms of masturbation. “Today, young girls masturbate and learn about sexuality, through autosexuality, in exactly the same way as boys.“