23 October 2003

Norwegian women demand good sex

Norwegian women are the most optimistic in Europe, and among the most demanding when it comes to sex. A vast majority think a good man is far more important than their jobs, their friends or even children.

The conclusions appear in the latest issue of magazine "Elle," which sponsored a survey of 52,000 female readers aged 24-35 in 35 countries around the world.

Included in the survey, which was conducted by Sociovision of Paris, where "Elle" is based, were responses from 500 Norwegian women.

Fully 65 percent said they were optimistic about Norway's future, while 90 percent said they also were optimistic over the outlook for women and their own situation over the next two years. That's 10 to 20 percentage points higher than the response among other European women on average.

Some 91 percent of the Norwegian women questioned said they need to be sexually satisfied, compared to 75 percent of their European counterparts. A solid majority (84 percent) said fidelity in a relationship was important, while 75 percent said sex before marriage was absolutely necessary.

Norway leads world statistics in couples who live together without being married, while more babies now are born out of wedlock than within the confines of marriage.

The results contrast with those from Swedish women, of which a majority said the most important thing in their lives was to feel independent.