Trading places

IT HAS been another long, tiring day. You are lying in bed, trying to sleep, when suddenly your partner starts caressing your body. He is obviously in the mood for sex. Do you roll over and enjoy it? Or do you agree, but then start thinking about what “reward’’ you want in return?

According to the latest research nearly one in ten women admit to having sex for presents. In their book, Why Women have Sex, authors Cindy Meston and David Buss interviewed more than 1,000 women from all over the world and were “surprised’’ how many said they used sex as a “form of bargaining-power’’.

“The degree to which economics plays out in sexual motivations surprised me,’’ says Buss, a professor of psychology at The University of Texas. “Sex economics plays out in the most regular of relationships. Women have sex so that the guy will mow the lawn, take out the garbage, go out for dinner.’’