Pepper Schwartz
Encyclopedia
Pepper Schwartz, PhD
, is an American
sociologist and sexologist teaching at the University of Washington
in Seattle
, Washington, United States
. She is the author or co-author of numerous books, magazines, website columns, and a television personality on the subject of sexuality.
Schwartz is notable for her work in the 1970s and early 1980s that culminated in the book, with Philip Blumstein, American Couples: Money-Work-Sex which surveyed lesbian
couples, gay male couples and heterosexual couples.
Schwartz also serves as the Love & Relationship Expert & Ambassador for AARP
and writes the column The Naked Truth.
from Yale University
in 1974. While a graduate student there, she co-authored with Janet Lever the 1971 book Women at Yale, documenting the first year of co-education at that university.
Schwartz is a prolific writer and authority on the subject of sexuality and relationships. She wrote the column "Sex and Health" for Glamour
magazine for seven years. She has appeared on such television programs as The Oprah Winfrey Show
, Dateline and Dr. Phil, and on programs for the cable television
network
Lifetime
. She was the 2005 president of the Pacific Sociological Association, helped create the dating web site PerfectMatch.com
, and is a sexuality adviser for WebMD.com.
Schwartz is a past president of the Society for the Study of Sexuality and a charter member of the International Academy of Sex Research
. The book jacket
for her 2007 publication Prime: Adventures and Advice on Sex, Love, and the Sensual Years described her living "in Washington State, being single after a 23 year marriage, and having two children in college". As of 2007, she is a tenured professor at the University of Washington
in Seattle, Washington
". One factor in this debate is the problem of defining acts of "sex" in surveys.
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
, is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sociologist and sexologist teaching at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, Washington, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She is the author or co-author of numerous books, magazines, website columns, and a television personality on the subject of sexuality.
Schwartz is notable for her work in the 1970s and early 1980s that culminated in the book, with Philip Blumstein, American Couples: Money-Work-Sex which surveyed lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
couples, gay male couples and heterosexual couples.
Schwartz also serves as the Love & Relationship Expert & Ambassador for AARP
AARP
AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is the United States-based non-governmental organization and interest group, founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus, PhD, a retired educator from California, and based in Washington, D.C. According to its mission statement, it is "a...
and writes the column The Naked Truth.
Biography
Dr. Pepper Schwartz earned a PhD in SociologySociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1974. While a graduate student there, she co-authored with Janet Lever the 1971 book Women at Yale, documenting the first year of co-education at that university.
Schwartz is a prolific writer and authority on the subject of sexuality and relationships. She wrote the column "Sex and Health" for Glamour
Glamour (magazine)
Glamour is a women's magazine published by Condé Nast Publications. Founded in 1939 in the United States, it was originally called Glamour of Hollywood....
magazine for seven years. She has appeared on such television programs as The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
, Dateline and Dr. Phil, and on programs for the cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
network
Television network
A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
Lifetime
Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television, often referred to as Lifetime TV, or most commonly, Lifetime, is an American cable television specialty channel devoted to movies, sitcoms and dramas, all of which are either geared toward women or feature women in lead roles. The cable network is owned by A&E Television Networks...
. She was the 2005 president of the Pacific Sociological Association, helped create the dating web site PerfectMatch.com
Perfectmatch.com
Perfectmatch.com is an online dating and relationship service based in Seattle, Washington. The company reports “it is the best approach for adults seeking successful, lasting relationships.” The company offers the Duet Total Compatibility System , co-developed by Seattle relationship expert, Dr....
, and is a sexuality adviser for WebMD.com.
Schwartz is a past president of the Society for the Study of Sexuality and a charter member of the International Academy of Sex Research
International Academy of Sex Research
The International Academy of Sex Research is a scientific society for researchers in sexology. According to John Bancroft, retired director of the Kinsey Institute, IASR "can claim...most of the field's leading researchers." IASR is unique among sexology organizations in that individuals must...
. The book jacket
Dust jacket
The dust jacket of a book is the detachable outer cover, usually made of paper and printed with text and illustrations. This outer cover has folded flaps that hold it to the front and back book covers...
for her 2007 publication Prime: Adventures and Advice on Sex, Love, and the Sensual Years described her living "in Washington State, being single after a 23 year marriage, and having two children in college". As of 2007, she is a tenured professor at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
Controversy
Research by Schwartz and others surveying lesbian sexuality has generated debates because the surveys stated that lesbian couples in long-term relationships have less sex than their heterosexual or gay male counterparts. The phenomenon was labeled "Lesbian bed deathLesbian bed death
Lesbian bed death is a term coined by University of Washington sociologist Pepper Schwartz in her 1983 book American Couples. According to Schwartz, lesbian couples in committed relationships have less sex than any other type of couple, and they generally experience less sexual intimacy the longer...
". One factor in this debate is the problem of defining acts of "sex" in surveys.