Author: Alexander Riley

A recent survey shows some interesting trends on how much pride Americans feel in their country.

What do you think is behind these numbers?  I’ll make just one note that jumped out in my reading–it’s clear in the graph from the survey that I’ve copied below:  the trend is mostly driven by attitudes of Democrats, who have consistently lower rates of pride in the country than Republicans.  In fact, Democratic pride in the country was lower even during the Obama presidency.  The Trump presidency has driven Democratic rates to new lows, but it’s interesting that Republican rates did not dip nearly as much under Obama.

Regnerus’ book is based on national survey statistics and in-depth interviews with subjects in a number of different locations in the US (see pp. 13-14). The interview data give you a sense of how actual individuals describe what’s happening to them in the sexual marketplace.

Let’s talk a bit about the interview excerpts from ‘Sarah’ given in the introduction. What do you make of what she says about her experiences? How does what she says reflect Regnerus’ argument about how the sexual market has changed, and in ways that do not ultimately benefit women and make it easier for them to get their interests realized?

Not nearly as common as the use of online porn, but what do you think the situation on this is likely to be in another ten years?  Here’s something on this phenomenon in China.    And here’s something on the future of this that takes a somewhat positive spin.

Feel free to pick and choose among these as you will.

1. What is a ‘mating market’?  Why is it a useful way to sociologically discuss mating?
2. What is the importance of the sex/gender difference in mating and marrying?  What’s the evidence that such a difference exists?  Why does it matter in terms of what happens in mating markets?
3. Regnerus writes:  “Talk to most any thirty-something woman who wishes to marry and you are apt to get an earful, a window into the vagaries and frustrations of finding a mate today” (43).  What ‘frustrations’ is Regnerus talking about?  Why do they exist?
4. What is the ‘paradox’ Regnerus describes in chapter 2?
5. Regnerus describes how some feminist commentators talk in frustration about the relative lack of “evolved men.”  What are they talking about, and why does Regnerus suggest that they are missing important elements of the current mating and marrying market in the US?
6. How do dating apps affect commitment in relationships?
7. How has frequency of intercourse among young adults changed in recent years?
8. What explains why liberal women typically report wanting more sex than conservative women?
9. What do the data comparing heterosexual and homosexual populations on amount of sex and contentment with amount of sex tell us about the sex difference?  What about monogamy and non-monogamy rates in homosexual and heterosexual relationships?
10. What is the 20/80 theory of sexual partners?
11. Does cheaper sex = better sex, according to Regnerus’ findings?