 | | Our Sept 2005 cover | This issue is the fourth in the series of annual sex surveys. Since we launched our surveys in 2003, they have been the top selling issue every year. Indians may like to read about sexual attitudes but talking about it is another issue. When India Today conducted the first ever survey of sexual attitudes among Indian women, it raised a storm of protest. It was clear that the winds of change sweeping through India had not invaded the bedroom or, more precisely, the mind. But a lot has changed since. The media, cinema, globalisation and affluence have all contributed to a new openness but ironically, uncertainty over sexual identity persists. Our 2003 survey was on women between the ages of 19 and 50. Our second survey focused on the Indian male. In the third survey we talked to young single women, who seemed as sensible about sex as they were about their careers. Our cover story this time zeroes in on young men between the ages of 16 and 25 across 11 cities in a survey that shows they are less confident and more confused about sex, surprising in today's social and economic environment. A majority still want the woman they marry to be a virgin and 54 per cent are not allowed to bring their female friends home. Although 46 per cent have had sex in contrast to 24 per cent of young women in 2005, there is a clear gap-no surprise then that 49 per cent have had sex with sex workers, which in cities such as Ludhiana is as high as 63 per cent. Fantasy is clearly a preferable option with 62 per cent saying they watch pornography with male friends. The survey suggests a wide difference from the media image of free mingling of sexes. There are no swinging singles here. The single young man seems more muddled than his counterpart whom we surveyed last year. He is still trying to break free of the shackles of the family, and the restrictions of being brought up in still largely segregated environments. For these boys, other boys are still their best buddies, and 37 per cent have even had one or more homosexual experiences. For young Indian men, appearance is everything-58 per cent say grooming is important and although only 19 per cent have credit cards, 44 per cent go to the gym on a regular basis and 35 per cent eat out once or more than once a week. They are, however, careful when it comes to sex: 53 per cent say condoms are a must use, 15 per cent higher than our 2004 survey of men, which means there is a rising awareness about safe sex. As happens often in India, what appears on the surface is not the truth. However sexily the young may dress and however greater the interaction with each other, deep down when it comes to something as fundamental as sex, they are downright conservative. Or as the French are fond of saying: plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose-the more things change, the more they stay the same. Index
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