h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

While proven as an urban myth, the belief that men think about sex every few minutes could possibly be true for Cypriot males.

From birth, family, social and religious culture promotes the importance of men, often portraying women as the lesser sex. This is yet another example of the regressive attitudes that exist in Cyprus and which are out-of-kilter with most of the western world. Young boys are worshipped by their fathers and encouraged at every opportunity to become 'men'. While young girls are still very much loved, it is obvious that the boys are in training to eventually become the man of the house. During a marriage ceremony, the bride-to-be is reminded that she should 'fear her husband and be submissive to him at all times' while the groom is advised merely 'to love the woman'. To a casual observer, the male dominated environment could offer the reason why so many offspring are named Adonis. It could also assist with understanding the sexual behaviour of Cypriot men.

In my previous journal, the chosen topic outlined the Cyprus sex-industry and briefly touched upon the need. While the demand from visiting tourists (who outnumber the indigenous population by four to one) is certainly considerable, it has often been argued that the use by local men is even higher. In research, information I gathered from various sources indicate that 66.6% of men had their first sexual encounter with a prostitute. This statistic could be considered quite shocking until you begin to understand local practice; many fathers will arrange a prostitute for their son's 17th birthday in order to provide 'experience'. The age is significant in this case, since it is the national age of consent, but the act in itself is deemed a perfectly normal part of growing-up and will be fully sanctioned by the mother. In contrast, for 77.1% of women, their first sexual experience will be with their spouse or fiancée.

One can only speculate whether a first encounter with a prostitute could encourage a lifetime of promiscuity. Statistics don't necessarily support the argument, but they do detail an element of profligacy among men. Two thirds of women had only one sexual partner in a lifetime, compared to less than 7% of males. 41.8% of men had 4-10 sexual partners in comparison to 6.3% of women while 31.9% of men had 11+ partners. The same criteria applied to women reported just 1.3%.

So, where do the 11+ partners come from, when only 1.3% of the opposite sex engage in similar activities? While many Cypriot men will have one, sometimes two, or even three mistresses (either with the knowledge of their wife, or at least with their suspicion) the vast majority of extramarital encounters will be paid-for.

Little wonder, then, that the very people who pass the laws (in an attempt to address the problems related the sex-industry) are the very same who ensure that the laws are not acted upon and subsequently ignored.

After all, what red-blooded Cypriot male would relinquish the opportunity for a bit-on-the-side?

*gulps*

Interesting.