The 2011 Playboy Sex Survey - Harris Survey

We asked Harris Interactive to present a sex survey to a sample of American adults (not just Playboy readers) to learn more about how men and women are having sex in 2011, and particularly the role of technology. The firm interviewed 1,210 men and 1,100 women online and weighted the results to reflect the race, gender, sexual orientation, age, education and other attributes of the U.S. adult population—all 232 million of us. Harris also presented the survey to 10,003 visitors to Playboy.com. See the Playboy.com reader results here.

Male: 1,210
Female: 1,100

What is your gender?

Male: 47 percent
Female: 53 percent

How old are you?

18-24: 12 percent
24-34: 15 percent
35-44: 18 percent
45-54: 20 percent
55-64: 18 percent
Over 65: 17 percent

Median age: 47


What is your marital status?

Never married: 26 percent
Married or civil union: 51 percent
Divorced: 9 percent
Separated: 3 percent
Widow/widower: 5 percent
Living with partner: 5 percent

Which of the following best describes your current relationship status? (asked of unmarried)

I am casually dating one person: 10 percent (Male 12 percent, Female 8 percent)
I am casually dating more than one person: 6 percent (Male 9 percent, Female 2 percent)
I am in a committed relationship with one person, but we don't live together: 14 percent (Male 12 percent, Female 16 percent)
I am in a committed relationship with one person, and we live together: 14 percent
(Male 14 percent, Female 15 percent)
I am not currently in a relationship or dating: 53 percent
(Male 51 percent, Female 55 percent)
Other: 2 percent
Decline to answer: 1 percent

How long have you been in your current relationship? (asked of those in relationship)

Less than six months: 4 percent
6 months to 2 years: 9 percent
2 to 5 years: 11 percent
5 to 10 years: 12 percent
More than 10 years: 65 percent

Of the following, which do you consider yourself to be?

Heterosexual (straight): 92 percent
Lesbian: 1 percent
Gay: 3 percent
Bisexual: 2 percent
Not Sure: less than 1 percent
Decline to answer: 1 percent

Which of the following best describes your social/political beliefs?

Very conservative: 13 percent
Somewhat conservative: 22 percent
Moderate: 30 percent
Somewhat liberal: 17 percent
Very liberal: 12 percent
Other: 2 percent
Decline to answer: 4 percent

Which of the following best describes your religious belief?

Very religious: 21 percent
Somewhat religious: 53 percent
Not religious at all: 26 percent

Should sexual education be taught in public schools?

Yes: 83 percent
No: 10 percent
Not sure: 7 percent

Should men have a role in abortion decisions affecting their wives or lovers?

Yes: 64 percent (Male 71 percent, Female 57 percent)
No: 22 percent (Male 15 percent, Female 28 percent)
Not sure: 15 percent (Male 14 percent, Female 15 percent)

Do you have at least one online profile on any social website (such as Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, etc.)?

Yes: 72 percent
No: 28 percent

Have you ever used an online dating site?

Yes: 20 percent (Male 25 percent, Female 16 percent)
No: 80 percent (Male 75 percent, Female 84 percent)

Have you ever used an online dating site while already in a relationship?

Yes: 29 percent (Male 33 percent, Female 23 percent)
No: 71 percent (Male 67 percent, Female 77 percent)

Have you ever attempted to contact an ex-girlfriend, ex-boyfriend or ex-spouse online?

Yes: 29 percent
No: 71 percent

Does your online profile accurately reflect your current relationship status? [asked of those with profiles]

Yes: 81 percent
No: 5 percent
I do not display my relationship status: 14 percent

Have you ever suspected a partner of cheating on you?

Yes: 44 percent
No: 54 percent
Decline to answer: 2 percent

Could you forgive a partner who cheated?

Yes: 31 percent (Male 39 percent, Female 23 percent)
No: 33 percent (Male 26 percent, Female 38 percent)
Not sure: 37 percent (Male 34 percent, Female 39 percent)

With whom did you first have sex, i.e. lose your virginity?

A person of the opposite sex: 87 percent
A person of the same sex: 4 percent
I am a virgin: 7 percent
Decline to answer: 2 percent

How do you personally define “sex”?

Vaginal sex: 94 percent (Male 92 percent, Female 95 percent)
Oral sex: 60 percent (Male 67 percent, Female 54 percent)
Anal sex: 52 percent (Male 58 percent, Female 47 percent)
Other: 4 percent
Decline to answer: 3 percent

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