Abstract
For older women there is a shortage of single male partners in the same age group. This study investigates the extent of relevant alternative sexual options. 91 German women aged 50 to 91 years (birth cohorts: 1895–1936) were interviewed about their attitudes to and experiences with unconventional sexual relationships (cumulative incidence figures are given in parentheses): At the time of interview 4% (18%) of the interviewees had a relationship with a man younger than themselves, and 1% (4%) had a lesbian relationship. Of those living as singles, 8% were having an affair with a married man (21% had one while living as a single). Although relationships with married men occurred most often, attitudes towards relationships with married men were mostly negative. Feelings about relationships with younger men and other women were ambivalent.
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von Sydow, K. Unconventional sexual relationships: Data about German women ages 50 to 91 years. Arch Sex Behav 24, 271–290 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541600
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541600