Prabhupada on women: Why did he say women are 9 times more lusty?

Another point many may disagree with at first is the idea that women are more sexually inclined than men (not just in a percentage, but precisely, nine times!), he gives in a few passages.

This is the fourth part of the series on polemical passages of Prabhupada on women. If you are interested in the topic, you can check the previous parts:

» Why did Prabhupada say women are less intelligent?

» Do women like men who are expert at rape?

» Why does he call modern women ‘prostitutes’?

Another point many may disagree with at first is the idea that women are more sexually inclined than men (not just in a percentage, but precisely, nine times!), he gives in a few passages. Take this purport from the passage on the allegory of King Puranjana, for example:

"Women in general are very much sexually inclined. Indeed, it is said that a woman's sex desire is nine times stronger than a man's. It is therefore a man's duty to keep a woman under his control by satisfying her, giving her ornaments, nice food and clothes, and engaging her in religious activities." (SB 4.27.1)

At first, this appears to be the complete opposite of what we see in practice. We don't see women harassing men in the street, as many men do, and in cases of sexual violence, almost always a man is the perpetrator and a woman is the victim. In many episodes in history, including passages from the Vedas, men are described as having many wives, while the opposite is rare. Based on all of this, it seems unfair, to say the least, to imply that women are more sexually inclined than men.

There are, however, a few nuances. Prabhupada uses the term "sexually inclined" as he uses the word "lustier" in other passages, as an interpretation of the word kāma.

The word kāma is normally translated as "lust" or "sexual desire", but the meaning is more nuanced. Sometimes the word lust is used in the sense of sexual desire (lasciviousness), but it also has the connotation of an intense desire (eagerness, enthusiasm) or to describe intense longing (craving). One can thus be lusty for a pizza or even lusty for knowledge. When we adopt this broader definition for the word "lust", it becomes closer in significance to the word "kāma".

It's said that women are nine times lustier than men. This doesn't mean necessarily that they have nine times more propensity for physical intercourse with a random man (men are usually more into that), but simply that their impulse to enjoy matter and romantic relationships is stronger. The nine times stronger lust is manifested in the form of a general propensity for romantic relationships, including all the interactions and romanticism that it entails, as well as in things like eating, dressing, decorating oneself, attracting attention, and so on.

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We can observe that in his purport, Prabhupada mentions that "Women in general are very much sexually inclined. Indeed, it is said that a woman's sex desire is nine times stronger than a man's. It is therefore a man's duty to keep a woman under his control by satisfying her, giving her ornaments, nice food and clothes". The part "giving her ornaments, nice food and clothes" makes it clear he is not referring just to sexual intercourse, but to the whole spectrum of material enjoyment that a husband need to supply a wife if he hopes to keep her satisfied.

When this broader meaning for the word "lust" or “sexual desire” is applied, not many will disagree that women are more lusty than men. It would not be inconceivable to consider that women may spend nine times more on clothes, spend nine times more applying make-up and looking at the mirror, and so on. Women also have a more intrinsic necessity of attracting attention and care, which is also a form of lust when the broader meaning is applied. The idea of being beautiful, being desired, becoming the center of attention, and being cared for is the very foundation of what being a woman means for most. Giving up these aspirations is so hard that the scriptures don't even recommend it, advising instead that instead of denying, a woman should embrace this identity and just use it positively, inside of family life.

There is nothing wrong with a married woman trying to be beautiful for her husband, keeping him attracted, and being the center of his attention. If a woman is satisfied in this position and can be peaceful to keep her spiritual practice and take care of the family, this is a win-win for everyone. Ultimately, of course, all kinds of material attachment are bad in the sense that this is not our place, but if properly directed, this lust can help one to gradually become free. The only problem is when this propensity is applied outside of family life.

Another point to consider is that although in general women can be considered less sexually propense than men, when a woman finds a man whom she is really attracted to, the sexual impulse can be much stronger than in a man. In this case, not only can the desire be stronger, but the capacity of a woman to enjoy during the sexual act can be many times greater. A man has to physically stop after having an orgasm, but a woman, in ideal circumstances, can have many in succession. We can see this described in the pastime of Kardama Muni, when he divided himself into nine forms to fully satisfy Devahūti. We can see, thus, that even when applied directly, the idea is not incorrect; it just manifests in more specific circumstances than in the case of men. Therefore, the passage from SB 3.23.44 where Prabhupada says that "It is understood that the sexual appetite of a woman is nine times greater than that of a man" is also proved valid.

The bottom line is that every conditioned soul is propense to enjoy matter. In the case of man, this lust is usually concentrated in the direction of gross sexual desire, and therefore, when a man acquires a very strong philosophical and introspective foundation, he may be able to avoid it and concentrate on spiritual life. Because the attraction of matter is focused on a single point, an introspective man can learn to avoid it.

In the case of a woman, this desire for material enjoyment is more intrinsic and has many different focal points, and therefore, it is comparatively much harder to become free from it. Men are usually attracted to one aspect of human relationships, and from this focal point (becoming attracted to a woman), everything else ramifies, leading them to accept all the responsibilities of family life. A woman, on the other hand, is attracted to the whole spectrum of relationships and material enjoyment, and this leads her to look for a man who can help her to attain all the enjoyment she hankers for. Everything else serves this purpose. The sexual act (which is the focal point of attraction for a man) serves as a conclusion in the case of a woman. Therefore, the attraction is not smaller, it just becomes diluted in the middle of all the other hankering, and comparatively less noticeable.

For a woman, to renounce all propensity to enjoy relationships and enjoy matter in general, including looking beautiful, being comfortable, receiving attention, being loved, etc., means to renounce the very essence of her identity. This is something some women are forced to in prisons and labor camps, but that's not something most ladies would voluntarily want to go through. Considering it from this perspective, the idea that it is nine times harder for a woman to renounce material lust doesn't seem unreasonable.

The good news is that a woman doesn't have to renounce this propensity. She has just to learn to use it properly inside of family life. A lady who uses her natural propensity of looking beautiful, attracting attention, etc. to attract a man and after being married uses the same propensity to take good care of him and reinforce their relationship, working together with him in the direction of spiritual advancement, is called a chaste wife, which in the scriptures is also refereed by the term "sadhvi" (the feminine of sadhu). In other words, a woman doesn't have to renounce her femininity to become saintly; she just has to learn to use it appropriately.

Of course, finding a good man in the current times can be challenging, as we discuss in other articles, but here we are speaking about general principles and propensities that can be noted in all times and societies, although sometimes manifested in different ways according to the specific circumstances.

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