The orgasm gap, which refers to men consistently reaching climax more than women during sex, is well-documented. Yet, research has mainly focused on White individuals—until now.
A study published in The Journal of Sex Research investigates orgasm frequency across different racial and ethnic groups.
Method
To fill the gap in orgasm gap research, the study examined sexual climax rates among heterosexual individuals identifying as Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, White, and Asian/Pacific Islander. Researchers also measured the size of the orgasm gap between men and women in each group.
The study used a cross-sectional dataset from the Singles in America (SIA) surveys spanning 2011 to 2021. The SIA is an annual online survey funded by online dating company Match and developed with input from researchers at The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University.
Of the 27,347 respondents, 55% were women and 45% were men. Ages ranged from 18 to 100 years old, with an average age of 44 years.
Findings
Across all racial and ethnic groups, men reach sexual climax more often than women.
White and Hispanic/Latino men reported more frequent orgasms compared to Black/African American and Asian/Pacific Islander men.
Hispanic/Latino women reported the highest frequency, while Asian/Pacific Islander women reported the lowest.
When comparing the differences in orgasm frequency between men and women within each racial/ethnic group, the largest gap was found between White men and women, followed closely by Asian/Pacific Islander men and women.
For Hispanic/Latino individuals, this smaller gap was likely due to Hispanic/Latina women reporting higher rates of orgasm compared to women of other racial groups.
On the other hand, for Black individuals, the smaller gap was because Black men reported experiencing orgasms less frequently than men of other racial/ethnic groups, rather than Black women experiencing orgasms more frequently.
For Asian/Pacific Islander individuals, both men and women reported experiencing orgasms less frequently than White individuals.
Bridging the divide
The orgasm gap is a widespread phenomenon that merits further research.
The study confirms disparities in sexual climax rates between heterosexual men and women persist among all racial and ethnic groups. It also revealed intriguing differences in orgasm frequency across genders.
To understand the narrower orgasm gaps of Black and Hispanic/Latino groups, the researchers recommend a more thorough inquiry into sociocultural factors. For example, they encourage uncovering the different sexual norms of White and racially marginalized groups. Since research on Black men and women’s sexuality often focuses on stereotypes and risk, future studies should also explore their experiences with pleasure and orgasm.
In addition, future studies should broaden their scope to include various racial/ethnic pairings and a more diverse range of groups, including multi-racial/ethnic individuals. They should also extend their focus past singles and examine social dynamics within partnerships.
While there’s still much to discover, this study launches a deeper exploration into the orgasm gaps.
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