Romance is sweeter than sex for women

Women are more aroused by ideas of romance and foreplay than by sex itself, according to a new study that reinforces age-old sexual stereotypes.

A Melbourne researcher has used soft and hardcore pornographic films to try to unearth exactly what is that turns women on. Jade Sheen, a psychologist at Deakin University enlisted 120 women aged between 18 and 45 to watch seven-minute snippets of American porn at their leisure. Half viewed male-oriented segments focusing primarily on sexual intercourse while the rest watched films which also had sensuality, romance and foreplay.

The results may come as no surprise, with an overwhelming number of women far more responsive to kissing and cuddling than the act of sex. "We suspected it and now it's clear - it's the romance, the sensuality that really does it for women," Sheen said. We already know men have a psychological response when they're aroused by genitalia and eroticism but for women, it's more emotional."

A second study required the same women to watch part of a soft porn film - one half as a spectator and the rest imagining themselves as one of the characters. Pehaps not surprisingly, she said, those asked to engage in the film found it far more arousing, more interesting and more entertaining. Sheen said this proved women really were sexual beings, they just need to make extra effort to get interested. "I've heard too many women say I'm just not a sexual person', the psychologist said. "You would wonder if perhaps, it's not that they're not sexual but that they haven't actually found what it is that turns them on."

She said her findings indicated women must put their minds to the task to get the rewards. "I know many women have reported: 'I was kind of thinking about the shopping list and I really wasn't that into it' and that's going to impact on their arousal," Sheen said. "If you want get the most out of it you actually have to try to be involved in the moment."

And there was a message for men too, with results showing females often had individual likes and dislikes. "Communicate with your partner, try different things," she said. Don't assume you already know what does it for them because I found out that a lot of women were surprised by the type of things they found arousing.