Collector Syndrome

Promiscuity has become a norm among certain classes of the population, especially young people. Dating apps have made it easier to meet new people, something that was virtually impossible before. In the past, you could talk to a random stranger on the street, but in general, people met their husbands in their own circle of relations (friends of friends, at work, etc.). The lack of social pressure associated with interacting with a stranger leads to increased promiscuity among young people. This behavior may have its roots in consumerist culture.

How Have People Become Mere Objects Of Pleasure?

The objectification of human beings is unfortunately not a new phenomenon. Slavery is the extreme example of such a phenomenon, and it seems to have been practiced since the dawn of humanity, which might imply that we have an innate penchant for alienating* people.

*alienation: (in Marxism) the state of the individual who, as a result of external conditions (economic, political, religious), ceases to belong to himself and becomes the slave of things. – The process by which human beings become strangers to themselves.

Fortunately, man has invented concepts that counterbalance such tendencies. Religion and the institution of marriage are just a few examples. Since monogamy is generally advocated by religions, with a few rare exceptions, the bonds between men and women could not be based solely on pleasure and the objectification of their bodies. Indeed, marriage is primarily considered the foundation of the family and the mutual respect that goes with it.

Explaining Female Promiscuity

Male Promiscuity Is Nothing New

Promiscuity has always been the norm among the most powerful men in history. Harems and countless courtesans were to be found in the royal courts of the East and West. Female promiscuity is a somewhat new phenomenon. Where does it come from?
It’s a fairly long process, but one that has accelerated in recent decades. Women capable of reproduction have always been protected and respected. Those destined to be objects of desire were scorned and looked down upon by other men.

The Sociological Upheavals Of The 20Th Century

Industrialization has changed the position of women in society. Previously, women gained social status by being mothers. Injunctions to productivity, especially in a war economy, increased women’s chances of working in non-domestic jobs, i.e. mainly in factories. By emancipating themselves from the male hierarchy, women’s power now lies in their contribution to the economy. In so doing, we have broken down the sacred boundaries of the family, as productivity has been deemed more important than motherhood. So, if a woman doesn’t find status in a traditional lifestyle, she will tend to imitate men’s behavior, despite the obvious biological differences. Because women are competing with men in the job market (which until recently was the exclusive domain of men and therefore a place dominated by masculine values), they tend to imitate men in other areas of their lives. Sexuality is one of them.

The Quest For Status

Traditionally, women were praised and appreciated for their beauty (which is also linked to fertility) and fecundity. With motherhood no longer as highly regarded as it once was, and promiscuity no longer as frowned upon, women have modified their behavior to acquire status in modern societies. As they now have to rely more on themselves than on their partners to survive and look after their future children, they will optimize their choices by forgoing fidelity, and will be more inclined to find better partners if they can.

The Crisis Of Fidelity

In the past, a man could support his entire family through his work. In industrialized countries, this is no longer the case for most people since the cost of living has skyrocketed. Both men and women have to work, which is detrimental to the family and to the loyalty that used to be somewhat linked to the wife’s financial dependence. With loyalty undermined, the paradigm of variety emerged. Because of the absence of dependence, women are available longer on the dating market, which encourages habits of changing partners. After years of promiscuity, it’s very difficult to find your way back to fidelity. As people are less inclined to sacrifice for their relationship, they will tend to repair their misfortune by finding another partner.

Don’t Get Me Wrong, Women Aren’t The Problem!

Reading this far, you might think I’m blaming women for such behavior. I’m not. Women are just as rational as men when it comes to sexual behavior. They will adapt their behavior according to social norms and men’s expectations. Female promiscuity is encouraged by powerful people. Indeed, since women consciously or unconsciously seek security and status in men – which increases the chances of child survival – breaking down traditional barriers will favor powerful men. In a “free market”, the distribution of Pareto’s law will prevail as regards relations between men and women. 10% of men could have access to 90% of women (or even more). In traditional societies, this is not possible, as religion and monogamy guarantee an equal distribution of women to men.

Women Can Lose More Than They Gain By Engaging In Promiscuous Behavior.

Objectification is alienation. In the short term, women may be delighted to multiply their sexual partners, as this brings them into contact with men of power. In the long term, they may regret not being able to marry any of them. In the eyes of men, loyalty is always associated with prestige. A girl can therefore lose her status if she has previously engaged in a lifestyle conducive to promiscuity.