Sexual dysfunction and disorder patterns of working and nonworking wives

The sexual dysfunction and disorder patterns of 218 married working and nonworking women were compared in a retrospective analysis of couples presenting for sexual and marital therapy at the Masters & Johnson Institute. Results indicated that women who were pursuing careers of an ongoing, developmental nature were twice as likely to present with a primary complaint of inhibited sexual desire than women who were employed in jobs that emphasized the immediate organization of activities, or women who were unemployed outside of the home. "Career" women were also significantly more likely to present with vaginismus than the other two groups of subjects. "Job" and "Unemployed" women were more likely to complain of concerns related to orgasmic return than "Career" subjects. The results were interpreted in terms of psychological and interpersonal stressors characteristic of married couples when wives pursue careers, and also in terms of the impact of traditional values regarding sexuality when wives are not involved in careers.