Between the sheets: the great generational clash!
Is there really a gap between the intimate lives of Boomers and those of Generation Z? While access to information and pleasure products has become much more widespread in recent years, have we truly broken all the taboos? At Passage du Désir, we love challenging preconceived ideas. That's why we wanted to confront the myths with reality.
A closer look at the study
In collaboration with the Kantar Institute in 2022, we surveyed 1,500 people to objectively compare, for the very first time, the view of sexuality across four generations: Generation Z (18–30), Generation Y (31–44), Generation X (45–55) and Boomers (over 56). Get ready — the surprises don't always come from where you'd expect!
The figures that speak for themselves
The survey reveals a France full of contrasts, where sexual liberation still coexists with certain reservations:
- The new romanticism: Gone are the days of the traditional bunch of roses! Today, 1 in 3 French people (aged 18 to 44) would like to receive a sex toy as a Valentine's Day gift.
- Quality over quantity: Far from the cliché of young people being hypersexualised, 38% of women under 30 say they have had only one sexual partner in their lifetime.
- Love outside the bedroom: While classic practices remain in the majority, locations are diversifying! Nearly a third of Generation Y (32%) prefer making love somewhere other than a bed (the living room and bathroom are trending), compared to just 1 in 5 Boomers. Special mention to Generation Z: 4% of them enjoy getting intimate… at other people's places!
- Sex education goes digital: More than 60% of French people now prefer the internet and social media (such as Instagram) to find out about sexuality, leaving books and magazines behind.
- The king of toys: High-tech innovations are flooding in, but the great classic remains unbeatable. The famous dildo is the favourite toy for 55% of French people, across all generations, far ahead of the "rabbit" (10%) or the clitoral suction toy (7%).
The expert analysis: on the road to guilt-free intimacy
This study shows us a wonderful evolution in attitudes, with a great open-mindedness among those under 44, who display a generally more playful sexuality. However, the weight of taboos has not entirely disappeared: for example, only 36% of women say they engage in masturbation.
There is still a long way to go when it comes to freeing ourselves from guilt around our intimate lives. Whether you explore alone or with others, in a bedroom or a living room, what matters most is listening to yourself and respecting your own desires.
