A comparative study of the couple in the social organization of sexuality in France and the United States

This study presents the results of a comparative analysis of two national s urveys of sexual behavior of adults ages 18 to 59 living in France and in t he United States. While persons living in a couple in the two countries are quite similar, controlling for gender age, and relationship status points to a number of important differences among those who are not living in a co uple. Among these individuals, the French are more likely to be monogamous than persons living in the U.S. Gender differences are more marked in the U .S. them in France, especially among older U.S. women who are more likely t han U.S. men and French men and women to report no sexual partners. These f indings suggest that the model and the influence of the committed couple, w hether cohabiting or not, is more widespread in France than on the U.S.