In the new book Sex After ...: Women Share How Intimacy Changes as Life Changes, author Iris Krasnow explores how women over 70 are not just having sex, but having the best sex ever. The tome comes on the heels of other stories delving into the frisky lives of seniors and even somewhat credulous claims of a rise in their STD rates.
The news that older ladies are tapping that is a little awkward (grandma, ew!), but mostly kinda awesome. After all, for many young women, the suburban nightmare of settling down looks something like this: screaming children, soccer mom hair, a minivan, no more sex. This repudiates that rather horrifying future vision, at least in one key way.
So what’s to account for the change? First of all, women (and men) are leading longer, healthier lives. And then of course, there’s the revolution caused by a certain little blue pill. But there’s also been something of a cultural shift.
Sex itself has become much more mainstreamed, thanks to shows such as Sex and the City— which, incidentally, has addressed issues with aging and sex head-on. In the first movie, Miranda, now in her 50s, stops having sex with her husband for six months when life gets in the way. Naturally, the happy ending is a reunion with her lusty side.
There’s also been a more explicit push for frank conversations about the topic, led by Dr. Ruth and her racy septuagenarian advice.
Whatever the reason for the upsurge in retirement-home boot-knocking, this is good news for men and women everywhere. Because, really, nothing is sexier than wisdom.
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