A New York Times review of Susan Sheehy’s Sex and the Seasoned Woman indicates that not only are women over forty now twice as likely to dump the old man than vice-versa, but vibrator sales are really humming, especially, of all places, right here in the Bible-belted, bouffant-haired South. If Sheehy is to be believed, Mavis Jean and Maxine may be skipping Wednesday-night prayer meeting now and then in favor of all-female “Passion Parties” where they and other equally unlikely libertines of their age group fork over big bucks for all sorts of sex toys and fancy, flimsy underdrawers. In 2004, such parties supposedly raked in as much as $5 million in sales in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi alone.
The South has always been a land of contradiction and paradox, where effusive hospitality rubbed shoulders with homicidal violence and supposedly “dry” counties were perpetually awash in bootleg booze. Once upon a time, southern belles demurely but consistently kicked Yankee beauty pageant contestants’ butts, winning the judges’ hearts with references to the ever-present Bible on their bedside table. Are these same women now less likely to reach for the Good Book than for what’s in the drawer beneath it?
Say it ain’t so, Scarlett! And by the way, do tell Melanie we missed her last Wednesday night....
