Global sex: Sexuality and sexual practices around the world

Abstract

Sex: this most universal experience comes complete with an array of international similarities and some surprising differences - from country to country; between different ages, genders and cultures; and from the intensely personal to the economic and political. This essentially private activity often raises public and legal issues, even invoking the death penalty. Researching sex on a worldwide, comparable basis is not easy. There is no central depository for global sex information (in contrast to the World Health Organisation's databank of health statistics); very few sexology institutes or specialists exist in most countries; and only a handful of countries have comprehensive statistics. Sex research, where it exists, is usually fertility-related, rather than sex-orientated. Even definitions vary, for example of 'sex counselling', 'obscenity', or 'normal sex'. This paper explores global sexual practices, key comparative indicators such as laws and attitudes towards sexual orientation; availability of sex education and counselling; marriage, divorce, and adultery; reproductive health, safe sex and cloning; sexually transmitted infections; pornography and degrees of state censorship; religious attitudes; prostitution and sex tourism; sex crimes such as rape, harassment and stalking; and speculates on the future of sex.