Mark Regnerus

Cheap Sex: The Transformation of Men, Marriage, and Monogamy

20:24 min
Psychology, Sociology
280 pages, 2017

Why are modern relationships increasingly unstable despite unprecedented sexual freedom? Mark Regnerus reveals how three technological revolutions — contraception, internet pornography, and online dating — have created "cheap sex" that fundamentally disrupts traditional romance. The problem extends beyond individual disappointment: men no longer need commitment to access sexual relationships, women face increased competition for marriage-minded partners, and society experiences declining marriage rates alongside male underachievement. Regnerus maps how this divided mating market operates through economic principles, showing why cheaper sex paradoxically produces less satisfaction and emotional connection. This short offers a framework for understanding why contemporary romance feels broken and what these changes mean for society's future.

Mark Regnerus

Mark Regnerus is a sociologist at the University of Texas at Austin who studies how technology and cultural changes affect modern sexuality and relationships. His research examines the economics of romantic behavior, focusing on how innovations like contraception, pornography, and online dating disrupt traditional mating patterns. Regnerus combines empirical data with sociological theory to analyze the unintended consequences of sexual liberation on marriage, gender dynamics, and family formation.

Chapters

Contraception, pornography, and online dating have created "cheap sex" by dramatically reducing the time, effort, and commitment men need to access sexual relationships, fundamentally altering romantic market dynamics.
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Cover of Cheap Sex: The Transformation of Men, Marriage, and Monogamy