A weekly look at sex and culture, by the numbers.

If anyone has the right to be irritated this week, it’s Kate Middleton. Can’t a Duchess get a little uninterrupted tanning time in? In her royal honor, we’ve dedicated this week’s Sex By Numbers to every woman that just wants to be left alone (there’s an app for that, by the way).

24 Hours: Length of time that a French court gave the gossip magazine Closer to hand over topless photos of The Duchess of Cambridge. Will and Kate won an injunction against the tabloid shortly after the pictures were published on Monday.

1 in 10: Only 10% of sexual harrassment incidences are reported. The Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children, based in Toronto, has created a helpful app which provides snarky responses to cat calls and ways to dispel unsolicited and inappropriate attention.

60s: When it comes to the sex lives of people over the age of 40, Hollywood has historically left the subject alone, until now. A new film starring Meryl Streep (63) and Tommy Lee Jones (66) is boldly and funnily “acknowledging that sexuality in older age exists.”

90: Thinking about the act of sex outside the context of, well, sex can make the actual mechanics seem kind of off-putting. A new study in the journal PLoS ONE that surveyed 90 women found that sexual arousal lessens gave the “disgust factor” that might otherwise be associated with the exchange of all those bodily fluids.

3rd highest: The state of Texas has the 3rd highest teen pregnancy rate in the nation. Despite this, some parents would still rather opt out of the new sex-ed curriculum that is being adopted by many Texas schools, which aims to take a more realistic approach to the sexual lives of teenagers.

54%: When it comes to sexting, teenagers are doing anything but leaving each other alone. A Los Angeles based study found that 54% of teens know someone that engages in sexting and that the act is usually an indicator of further sexually risky behavior.

64: Women who regularly read magazines such as Cosmopolitan (which has a total of 64 international editions) or others that include scripts about female sexual desire are more likely to “prioritise their sexual desire for their own sake, but not for the male partner.”

80%: Number of Egyptian women who report having experienced some form of sexual harassment. The study, carried out by the Egyptian Centre for Women’s Rights, found most of the victims were wearing headscarves.

Image: Tom Soper Photography

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A weekly look at sex and culture, by the numbers 

As a culture, we spend a lot of time watching TV. We also spend a lot of time thinking about sex, so it’s no surprise that the two go hand-in-hand. This week’s Sex By Numbers takes a look at this cozy cultural marriage.

150: Number of college students in a recent study that watched a variety of TV shows—including 7th Heaven, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and The Tudors—and then answered questions about their attitude toward women. The study found shows that with a strong female lead can “eliminate the negative effects of sexually violent media.”

38: When asked who or what influences them most in regards to sex, 38% of respondents said their parents were the main influencers; just 9% named the media or TV as the most influential.

24: Number of hours that a Japanese satellite adult TV channel aired a “breast squeeze” benefit to raise money for AIDs awareness.

1st: This week, Fatma Nabil became the first female Egyptian news presenter to wear a hijab on air. Despite the fact that 70% of Egyptian women wear the veil, it’s generally not seen on state television.

$15 Billion: Despite what TV coverage of the RNC might lead you to believe, Americans in conservative states are still getting frisky; a study found that the rate of purchase of sex toys (which generates $15 billion annually in the U.S.) was highest in states that are “generally considered socially conservative.”

25%: In a bold move by the Scottish government to increase the rate of early breast cancer detection by 25%, TV adverts showing the graphic and visible effects of cancer on breasts are now being targeted to Scottish women.

10: Number of installments in a new TV series which will seek to debunk common sex myths—like whether or not there is a scientific explanation for beer goggles. The self-proclaimed authority on all things sexual? Playboy TV, of course.

8: Number of years since HBO’s Sex and the City went off the air. Despite this, Newsroom creator Aaron Sorkin still felt the need to not-so-subtly lambast the series on his show’s season finale.

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Merging perfectly with the environment, Adrere Amellal in Cairo, Egypt is a magical place for those seeking a quiet sanctuary.

To say that Adrère Amellal is “absolutely fascinating” seems, to us, a bit of an understatement. The truth is we were in complete awe when we came across this sandcastle-looking eco-lodge in Cairo, Egypt. It’s like stepping back in time, replete with breathtaking open views of a shimmering and pristine Siwa Lake and the Sahara Desert. Electricity has been banned, so guests must use oil lamps, candles, and the moonlight to guide them.

Each of the 40 hand-built rooms are unique, constructed with traditional techniques using palm roofing, mud, and rock salt, while the doors and furniture are made of olivewood. The spring-fed Roman pool is one of just a few found in the world. The food, which is mostly organic, is sourced locally and while lunch is served at the pool each day, dinner is served somewhere different every night, lit by the stars and beeswax candles.

Clearly, Adrère Amellal is not your traditional hotel. Relying completely on solar energy, it’s a magical place for those seeking a quiet (yet luxurious) sanctuary, while also being in a flexible environment. It’s been said that the night is so peaceful you can almost hear the stars.

If you go: Make sure to explore the community, which is full of ancient ruins and spectacular natural landscapes.  The local “Siwan” craftsmanship is celebrated for its exquisitely embroidered garments and stunning silver jewelry. Rates start at $605.00 USD.

Places & Spaces is a travel guide that will inspire you to carve out a vacation on your calendar. All of the gorgeous locations and accommodations in our guide share our concern for the environment. From tent glamping to lavish built environments, fair warning, you’ll feel compelled to pack your suitcase.

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