Gershon Legman, an American who wrote about sex, calculated that there are more than 4 million possible ways for men and women to have sexual intercourse with each other. Most of these 'postures', as he called them, are probably variations on the six main positions that Alfred C. Kinsey used as categories in the questionnaires on sexual habits which were the basis for his Kinsey Reports in 1948 and 1953.
The Kama Sutra, a Hindu love manual written sometime between 300 and 540 AD, lists many imaginative and acrobatic variations on these positions - for example, the Bamboo Cleft, the Crab, the Wild Boar; some Kama Sutra experts suggest that people try out difficult positions in the water first. Chinese pillow books, written more than 400 years ago, show more feasible positions with titles like 'Two Dragons Exhausted by Battle' and name the parts of the body equally poetically - the penis is called the 'Jade Stem' and the clitoris, the 'Pearl on the Jade Step'.
According to these sources, interpretations of ancient art, and anthropological studies, humans have changed their preference rankings of sexual positions - the 'missionary' (man-on-top) position, overwhelmingly the number-one choice of the Americans Kinsey studied, was not that high on the lists of ancient Greeks and Romans, primitive tribes, or many other groups.
The advantages and disadvantages of each position are taken from Albert Ellis's The Art and Science of Love and from Human Sexual Inadequacy by William H. Masters and Virginia E. Johnson.
1. MAN ON TOP
To many people this is the only position considered biologically 'natural', though other primates use the rear-entry position almost exclusively. Called the 'missionary' position because it was introduced to native converts - who liked to make fun of it - by Christian missionaries who regarded other positions as sinful.
Advantage: Allows face-to-face intimacy, deep thrusting by male, pace setting by male.
Disadvantage: Does not allow good control for the premature ejaculator, or freedom of movement for the woman.
Chances for conception: Good.
2. WOMAN ON TOP
Shown in ancient art as most common position in Ur, Greece, Rome, Peru, India, China and Japan. Roman poet Martial portrayed Hector and Andromache in this position. Generally avoided by those at lower educational levels, according to Kinsey, because it seems to make the man less masculine, the woman less feminine.
Advantages: Allows freedom of movement for women, control for premature ejaculators, caressing of female by male. Most often results in orgasm for women. Good when the man is tired.
Disadvantage: Too acrobatic for some women.
Chances for conception: Not good.
3. SIDE BY SIDE
From Ovid, a poet of ancient Rome: 'Of love's thousand ways, a simple way and with the least labour, this is: to lie on the right side, and half supine withal.'
Advantage: Allows manipulation of clitoris, freedom of movement for man and woman. Good for tired or convalescent people, and premature ejaculators, as well as pregnant women.
Disadvantage: Does not allow easy entry.
Chances for conception: Okay.
4. REAR ENTRANCE
Frequently used by 15 per cent of married women. Favoured by primates and early Greeks. Rejected by many Americans because of its 'animal origins' and lack of face-to-face intimacy.
Advantages: Allows manual stimulation of clitoris. Exciting for men who are turned on by female buttocks. Good for pregnant women, males with small penises, women with large vaginas.
Disadvantages: Does not allow easy entry or face-to-face intimacy. Penis tends to fall out.
Chances for conception: Good.
5. SITTING
According to Kinsey, learned by many while 'making out' in back seats of cars.
Advantages: Allows clitoral contact with male body, free movement, intimacy. Good for male who wants to hold off orgasm, pregnant women.
Disadvantage: Does not allow vigorous thrusting. Sometimes tiring. Penetration may be too deep.
Chances for conception: Poor.
6. STANDING
Has echoes of a 'quickie' against an alley wall with a prostitute, therefore exciting. Indian lotus position: each stands on one leg, wraps other around partner.
Advantage: Allows caressing. Exciting, can flow from dancing, taking shower.
Disadvantage: Does not allow much thrusting. Entry difficult, particularly when one partner is taller than the other. Tiring. Not good for pregnant women.
Chances for conception: Poor.-
2007-01-15 03:19:19
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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