Ancient Views Differed on Female Desire

Why this is here: Ancient sources portray women as potentially more libidinous than men, a view contrasting sharply with modern assumptions about female sexuality.

Historian Charlotte Roberts explores how perceptions of women’s sexuality shifted from antiquity to the present day. She notes ancient societies often viewed women as more sexually driven than men.

Recent articles in publications like The Atlantic and The Telegraph suggest a decline in sexual frequency across Britain, the US, France, and Australia, with Denmark as a possible exception. Roberts, specializing in ancient history, finds this trend interesting because some commentary references the sexual landscape of ancient Greece.

However, she cautions against romanticizing antiquity, stating it wasn’t a period of sexual freedom—particularly for women. The reasons for this historical shift remain unclear, and the current “sex recession” needs further investigation. Roberts continues to research the complexities of female desire through time.