- The orgasm gap was greatest between White men and women and between Asian men and women.
- The orgasm gap was the smallest between Black/African American men and women and Hispanic/Latino men and women. The authors suggest that the narrow gap in these two groups is due to Black/African American men having lower frequency orgasms and Hispanic/Latino women having more frequent orgasms.
How Do Race and Ethnicity Shape Orgasm Differences?
The authors suggest that cultures with more conservative views around
sexuality may have lower rates of orgasm. North American individuals of
Asian, compared to European, descent tend to hold more rigid beliefs about sexuality, which likely contributes to lower rates of orgasm.
Conservative cultures tend to place a higher value on men’s sexuality and perceive too much pleasure as "sinful." These cultures also tend to focus more on intercourse, which is a less reliable method of orgasm for women, who tend to reach orgasm more easily through external clitoral stimulation.
One possible argument for Black/African American women having higher rates of orgasm compared to white women is that previous research has found that they tend to have better
body image (and in particular, genital image) compared to White women.
Studies have also found that Black women tend to evaluate their sexuality more positively than White women.
Previous research has found that Black men tend to focus more on their female partner’s pleasure compared to other ethnic groups, often using it as a barometer for their own sexual competence and esteem. The study's authors argue that one hypothesis for the narrower gap among Hispanics/Latinos is that they tend to have a greater frequency of both giving and receiving oral sex compared to White couples. Oral sex provides greater external clitoral stimulation, which facilitates the female orgasm.