Sex becoming a luxury for working poor

Sex and poverty don’t mix, says Spa! (June 10). That’s a grim fact of life for the growing ranks of the “working poor.” The spreading “income gap,” itself a relatively new phenomenon in a country that has long prided itself on rising prosperity equally shared, is producing a “sex gap.”

Surveying 300 men aged 25-39 earning 2 million yen a year or less, Spa! finds 65% of them dissatisfied with their sex lives, and 15.7% satisfied. What of the rest? Nearly one in five—19.3%—has simply given up on sex, claiming to have no interest in it.

That helps explain why more than 20% of the respondents are still virgins. It’s a problem with implications beyond their individual fates. Japan’s population is aging and shrinking; its birthrate is among the lowest in the world. “Men who give up on love,” says Spa!, “put the human race at risk.” Hyperbole? Perhaps, but gynecologist Tsuneo Akaeda, director of the Akaeda Roppongi Clinic, seems on the same wavelength when he exclaims to the magazine, “The low birthrate problem is a freeter problem.”

Freeters are the estimated 3 million people who found themselves locked out of normal full-time employment by the hiring freeze of the recession-bound 1990s. Many are now into their 30s, still struggling to survive on part-time or temporary employment. It’s a hand-to-mouth existence, stripped of luxuries. For them, sex is a luxury.

“Give these young people stable employment,” says Akaeda, “and you’d solve the birthrate problem.”

One amenity a steady job affords is a place of one’s own. Some 78.7% of Spa!’s respondents live with their parents. Sex is hard with mom and dad in the next room. There are love hotels, of course, but who can afford them on 2 million yen a year? Even ordinary dating becomes difficult at that economic level. Nowadays working women don’t mind paying their share but, says Spa!, it takes a certain polished masculine swagger to propose this arrangement without losing face, and the men in question aren’t socially experienced enough to pull it off. “I can’t ask a woman to pay,” is a typical comment. So they stay home instead.

There’s a tragicomic misunderstanding at work here. “Lately,” the magazine explains, “career women actually tend to favor freeters. Unlike male full-time company employees, freeters are not too overwhelmed with work to be available when they’re wanted. And with men who don’t make much money, there’s not the constant worry that they may be playing around when your back is turned.”

No, their “playing around” is largely confined to solitary relief. What with Internet porn sites and a proliferating “adult video” output, a man can comfortably (and economically) finesse the hormonal promptings that in normal circumstances drive him to seek female company. This masturbatory surge has Dr Akaeda worried. “An increasing number of men who indulge in immoderate and continual masturbation,” he says, “suffer a diminished ability to ejaculate with a live sexual partner.”

Economist Takashi Kadokura has an interesting if cynical suggestion: “sex volunteers.” “There are sex volunteers for the elderly and for the handicapped,” he says. “Why not for the working poor as well?”

Latest 15 of 35 Total Comments Show All

TPOJ at 03:49 PM JST - 10th June

Men...at least non-womanizing men...don't really go after women unless they feel strong in themselves. Occasionally they might take a stab at it, but the low confidence that comes with low job prospects pretty much hurts that one. Underemployment pretty much guarantees a lack of scoring/girlfriend.

But...

“Give these young people stable employment,” says Akaeda, “and you’d solve the birthrate problem.”

Yeah, because the wealthier one is, the more kids they have.

/sarcasm
capone at 04:28 PM JST - 10th June

no money, no honey..it's pretty simple
1proudamerican at 06:22 PM JST - 10th June

300 men 25-39 at a 20%rate say there virgins. WOW THATS INCREDIBLE how can they even say that with a stright face. 3 million freeters mostly in there 30s WOW thats A LOT OF PORN.im in the wrong biz.
Orangeporange at 09:32 PM JST - 10th June

This is the real problem;

This masturbatory surge has Dr Akaeda worried. “An increasing number of men who indulge in immoderate and continual masturbation,” he says, “suffer a diminished ability to ejaculate with a live sexual partner.”

Lots of Japanese guys are OBSESSED with masterbation...from a girls perspective here, I have met LOTS of Japanese single men who would happily talk about the different ways they wanked off a day...but when they even had the chance to "get some" from a real woman, their equipment wouldn't even begin function. This happened with a couple of my Japanese ex-boyfriends, and they were in their early 20s. Did not exactly make a very good impression on me to say the least!
ca1ic0cat at 10:41 PM JST - 10th June

Sarge, what the heck are you doing with Ronald at McD's? The mind boggles!

I think that worrying about sex as government policy is really just treating the symptom and not the problems. People who are exhausted and stressed from overwork and being underpaid are going to go home and sleep!
Farmboy at 09:15 AM JST - 11th June

"It’s a hand-to-mouth existence, stripped of luxuries. For them, sex is a luxury." Curiously, people in mobile home parks have lots of kids, so I suppose they have lots of sex. Would this disprove the theory stated above, or is it something about being surrounded by metal that makes folks more randy?
pathat at 12:37 PM JST - 11th June

There are love hotels, of course, but who can afford them on 2 million yen a year? Even ordinary dating becomes difficult at that economic level.

If you are living with Mommy and Daddy and do not have to pay rent etc., then you have a reasonable amount of disposable income, even on 2 million yen or so a year.
nandakandamanda at 08:29 PM JST - 11th June

Sex would be a luxury for me too.
bamboohat at 10:34 PM JST - 11th June

I don't believe it. There's more to it. I saw an old student of mine not too long ago. About 20, 21. No Job. Still lives at home. Proudly told me he got it on with his GF at some park after dark. I think the deeper issue is whatever it is that kept those freeters (what does that mean, anyways?) from securing decent jobs is also keeping them from securing decent companionship. I don't think its one causing the other, its something else entirely causing both. You solve THAT problem, and you boost the economy, AND boost the birthrate.
KitsuneYoukai at 05:04 AM JST - 12th June

I'm speechless! SO des this mean I have no chance in Japan????
doedel at 05:28 PM JST - 12th June

Even when driven 'to seek fe/male company', one disturbing factor is that in daily life, there are too few chances for approaching. Mp3 players keep the ears occupied, staring at teh keitai the eyes.
Axelred at 06:19 PM JST - 12th June

`none sence ... every body with a Brain , know thats poverty and sex have always be hand to hand since the beguining of time !!!

What SPA know about sex ? really ..lol !!
ultradodgy at 12:30 PM JST - 13th June

Poor people don't have sex? We are supposed to believe this why?
Farmboy at 06:16 PM JST - 13th June

men who indulge in immoderate and continual masturbation

Well, yes, if it's continual, planning a date would be a challenge I suppose.
hudagree at 05:37 PM JST - 20th June

Affirms that money is a tool for healthy lifestyle including time with the lady (ladies). Ecom 101 as I remember.