Why do women have sex? It’s the only question that a majority of men do not need the answer to; as long as it’s going to happen, the ‘why’ is simply unimportant.

However, to psychologists Cindy Meston and David Buss at the University of Texas the question, why women have sex, translated into a 336-page book detailing the responses of 1,006 women from all over the world on their reasoning’s for partaking in this intimate act.

Buss and Meston collected data from 46 states, eight Canadian provinces, three European countries, along with New Zealand, Israel, China and Australia. Religious and ethnic background varied along with their economic status.  Research was conducted over a seven year period and the findings may come as a shock to many.

Contrary to popular belief, most women do not have sex because of the passion and romance it evokes, instead according to “Why Women Have Sex”, women viewed sex as something that is supposed to be fun and entertaining.

Meston and Buss claimed that many of their findings did not fit the gender stereotypes society has created.

Meston told College News, “Many women just want to have sex because of the physical gratification it gives them, and are not looking for any long term commitment.”

In fact, over 60 percent of respondents confessed to sleeping with a male friend other than their boyfriend on a regular basis. What is even more shocking is the percentage of women that have admitted to “poaching” another man for either a short-term fling or a long-term relationship.

About 38 percent of women said they have lured another man away by dressing more revealing or gossiping about another female in order to ensure the catch.

Women claim that due to the lack of desirable men they have to compete by wearing high heels, short skirts, and tight tops. “Not all women are like this, however a high percentage of women admitted to befriending a wife or girlfriend as a reason to have contact with the man. They then proceeded to talk down the male in order for the woman to leave him,” says Meston.

This concept goes hand in hand with the idea of revenge. Some women even confessed to sleeping with a man to give him a sexual transmitted disease or to get back at a friend who had poached their significant other.

According to the book, while most men find women sexually attractive, women do not find the men they are sleeping with to be sexually attractive. Men are shown to have less preference when it comes to their sexual partner, while women put more emphasis on a man’s genetic and resource benefits.

Women want to be with a man who is financially secure while at the same time can produce strong healthy children. A symmetrical face, a strong jaw line, deep voice, and a good head of hair are all good indicators of a potential sexual partner.

“All of these characteristics are indicators of strength, power, and good genetic makeup. Its evolutionary hues at play when it comes to a woman’s sexual attraction,” says Meston.

Although women prefer the tall, masculine alpha male those not living up to that expectation can rest easy because what their lacking in looks assures the idea that these men are less likely to be unfaithful.

Meston and Buss concluded a number of results on why women are having sex, from boredom, to ending an argument, to feeling sorry for the man, to even wanting to be closer to God.

Women are typically viewed by society as ones to give to the poor, heal the sick, and feed compassion to the needy, so it is no surprise that women will have sex out of pity. One women in particular states in the book, “I seduced [a man who wasn’t my boyfriend] to give myself the confidence that if I was dumped, I would still be able to find another partner.” Others claimed it was easier than fighting.

However, perhaps the most controversial aspect of the book is that women are having sex because they want to be spoiled. It’s the idea that by giving the man what he wants, she in return will get fancy dinners, expensive jewelry, and a caviar lifestyle.

In fact, the book reports that 9 percent of students at the University of Michigan admitted to trading sex for their own personal benefit. It brings up the idea that women are sexually manipulative, and view sex as a way to keep the relationship continuous.

So is it fair to say that all women use sex as a bargaining tool, a way to ensure her significant other will not cheat, to perfect her sexual ability, or even as a cure for a migraine?

Sex Columnist Jeff K. from Cornell University, told College News that he believes that people look at things like sex too closely under a microscope. 

“Power is always shifting in relationships, but if both parties are happy with their end of the stick then who should tell them what they have is wrong. Some guys like always paying for the girls they go out with, even if they find themselves alone between the sheets at night I’m pretty sure there are intangible things that women sleep with men to get in return as well – such as an orgasm or relief from stress.”

Jeff K. feels that the media feeds into the idea that men and women use sex as a way to ensure their needs are met.

“You turn on any sitcom and you’ll see the married couple lying in bed, husband eager to have sex and the wife holding the cards and turning him down, or making him fix the sink before she’ll have sex with him.  If you’ve got the cards, play the hand, but I’m sure these women know that not every guy is going to bite and play those kind of games.”

This book illustrates the fact that women are not always transparent and pure and there should be nothing wrong with that. The media portrays women as being controlling, seductive, and using our sex appeal to get what we want.

For the first time, this book is showing the truth in the media’s portrayal of women as the femme fatale and for the first time women have no shame in admitting it.

Meston and Buss have questioned the double standard of men having sex with a lot of women being gods while women who act the same being labeled as sluts. Just because a women likes sex doesn’t make her a slut. It makes her human.

Sex is a pleasure, a release. So why can’t we indulge? We have come a long way from our parent’s views of dating. According to this book, dinner and movie isn’t going to be the indication of affection anymore. And seemingly, neither is sex. Unless there is no Advil in the medicine cabinet.