Dan Snow’s History Hit | 10 February 2019 | 0h 27m | Listen Later 
| iTunes
Interview with Kristen Ghodsee about her book Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism: And Other Arguments for Economic Independence. Explores the evidence that people have better sex under socialism and why. Also discusses why young people are having less sex and the Soviet approach to gender equality.
1 thought on “Sex and Socialism with Kristen Ghodsee”
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I understand the appeal of arguing that socialism leads to more equality between the sexes, which leads to better sex. As discussed, the USSR certainly did adopt policies favouring sexual liberty (e.g., abortion and support for mothers working outside the home) before Western countries did. But the conversation would have benefited from more exploration of explanations other than a Communist commitment to equality. One obvious theory would be that the choice of the state to invest in heavy industry and armaments rather than consumer goods meant that ordinary citizens had fewer ways to amuse themselves than in the West. Or maybe there was heavier consumption of alcohol in Communist society ( https://www.dw.com/en/research-reveals-widespread-alcoholism-in-communist-east-germany/a-15033014 ). Or maybe the state opposition to religion made promiscuity more socially acceptable.
There are many plausible connections between cause and effect; one shouldn’t assume the connection that seems most pleasing is the most important one.