According to this theoretical framework, pursuing optimal sexual experiences during one's lifetime, followed by a comfortable death, is presented as the most rational endeavor for highly self-aware individuals, regardless of gender.
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
In many parts of the world, women often rely on men to fulfill basic economic needs, such as nutrition and shelter.
In many regions, the social needs of women, such as protection and respect within their communities, severely limit their leeway to experiment with the fulfillment of sexual or even emotional needs.
However, if needs other than economic and social can be pursued, the fulfillment of emotional needs is generally within easier reach than the fulfillment of sexual needs. For women in many parts of the world, securing a committed male partner is considered a success and the primary goal, regardless of whether their sexual needs are fully met.
FEMALE COMPETITION
Within this model, competition is often described as fiercer among women than among men. For men, a wide range of potential partners may be considered suitable.
Conversely, the selection of men whom women regard as optimal or even suitable partners is much narrower.
Within this framework, women's goals often include:
– A partner who offers genuine commitment and the potential for a lifelong partnership; sexually less attractive women may place greater emphasis on this qualification.
– A partner free of detrimental behaviors often associated with men, such as violence, substance abuse, gambling, or excessive absenteeism.
– A partner who fulfills emotional and romantic needs, which heavily relies on effective communication and shared language; the premise being that people who cannot communicate effectively cannot love each other.
– A partner who provides economic stability, especially for women in poverty. Because financial security is viewed as a prerequisite for personal freedom, and freedom is necessary to eventually pursue optimal sexual fulfillment, intelligent women rightfully place economic needs high on their list of priorities.
– A partner who fulfills sexual needs, though this goal is often considered a secondary luxury for many women in non-Western cultures.
Within this model, "ideal" men are considered a minority, and the primary challenge is that they are typically already in relationships.
If a young woman places her economic needs high on her agenda, she will often have to compete for a wealthy man who is already partnered.
Furthermore, if a young woman in a traditional or developing society aims to eventually reach a stage of optimal sexual fulfillment, this framework suggests her best strategy is to marry a wealthy North American or European man. Conversely, this model argues that partnering with a wealthy man from certain conservative regions may be viewed as restrictive to female autonomy.
Because older women in established relationships with financially stable men are seen as blocking resources that young women seek, young attractive women have little incentive for solidarity. This dynamic shifts quickly once young women themselves secure established partners.
For women of declining perceived sexual market value in rich Western countries, some of the most unwelcome competition comes from young women from developing nations.
Such unwelcome competition is sometimes derogatorily labeled as sex workers or mere objects.
However, women are usually aware that publicly displayed envy will not solve the problem. Therefore, measures against unwanted competition are often masked.
Pretended concerns include the notion that Western women must protect their "young sisters" in developing nations from opportunistic Western men who are sex tourists seeking to marry abroad.
The legal systems of Western countries are also easily influenced by these female public advocacy strategies.
More than male strategies, female strategies are described as transitory.
Some evolutionary psychology hypotheses suggest that while mothers are genetically primed to be protective of their daughters, those daughters later belong to a demographic that potentially competes with the mothers' generation for the attention of the fathers' generation, a competition the older generation is bound to lose. Consequently, women may shift strategies depending on whether they are in established relationships or seeking them, with men's roles shifting from allies to substitute targets.
INCREASING THE EXCHANGE VALUE OF FEMALE SEXUALITY BY LIMITING YOUNGER COMPETITION
If a poll is conducted among cattle farmers, the vast majority will likely assert that eating beef is healthy. If told that they hold this opinion because they profit from beef consumption, many will vehemently deny this "accusation," citing scientific research or personal anecdotes, such as a grandmother who lived to 95 on a daily beef diet.
Similarly, if the same poll is conducted among vegetable farmers, the same result will be obtained, except the advocated health secret will be vegetables. Vegetable farmers, too, will likely react angrily to accusations of being biased by their financial interests.
Just as farmers believe that promoting their own produce is objectively healthy, men and women typically favor sexual mores that potentially benefit them. Their opinions are often rationalizations in support of their underlying interests.
Among men, it is likely that good-looking young men will be most in favor of abolishing legal penalties for adultery. Conversely, married men in their forties will probably be more in favor of strict punishment for adultery.
Both groups will cite various arguments in favor of their views but will vehemently deny that their views are tied to their self-interest. Young, attractive men may be interested in other men's wives, while older married men do not want to lose the partners they regard as their own.
Women who have been abandoned by their husbands hold different ideologies than younger, highly attractive women who benefit from wealthy, previously married men becoming available.
Neither group will admit that their opinions are mere reflections of their sexual interests. Rather, both groups will argue their points as matters of principle.
Coalitions regarding what people support or oppose vary, and the aim to exclude unwanted competition can foster temporary solidarity.
Women above 40 are typically in favor of restricting the sexual conduct of girls under 18. Females in developed countries are often against their male partners traveling to developing nations for sexual relationships. They will rarely admit that their views on these matters are a reflection of their sexual interests. Instead, they will claim to act in solidarity, joining campaigns against the sexual exploitation of minors in developing countries.