What should women be aware of when talking about sex with their partner? Are men more open or closed when it comes to communicating about sex?
I think that depends on the man. Some are more open and comfortable; others are more closed and awkward. Just like women. I don’t think women have the market on openness when it comes to sex. Both men and women can fall prey to the prevalent societal myths that can lead either gender to become focused more on performance than on pleasure. I’d want women to understand that men seem especially vulnerable to these (damaging) myths, and can become overly-concerned with “performing well.” Here’s a popular one: “A ‘real’ man is always interested in and ready for sex; a ‘real’ man is so good at sex that he’ll make the Earth move for his partner–or at the very least knock her socks off!” The impact of these myths is not harmless. They elicit unrealistic expectations of what people actually do sexually, and can badly effect self-esteem, sex lives and relationships. I think some women have a tendency to use too many words or, in an effort to be sensitive or gentle, can beat around the bush. (No
