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Women’s Sex Lives Focus of State Survey

Florida wants frank answers about the sex lives of young women to help it better plan health programs. Some recipients, however, say the survey goes too far. We want to hear your thoughts Tampa Bay!

 

Would you want the state of Florida to know how many sexual partners you had in the last year?

That’s just one of the intimate questions some 4,000 Florida women between the ages of 18 and 24 have been wrestling with, according to TBO.com.

Here’s the why: The state Department of Health sent out an estimated 4,000 surveys to women asking them for insights into their sexual lives to help it gain a better handle on the need for services and how to target women who might need programming.

Here’s the problem, according to TBO: The questions are too personal and some women are offended. (The surveys were sent out in September and October, but none were mailed in November because it was discovered that some were sent to girls under 18, but that’s another story.)

Some of the questions asked women include asking:

  • If a man has ever poked holes into a condom to get them pregnant
  • How old they were when they had sex for the first time
  • If they are depressed
  • If they smoke
  • How much they weigh
  • If they feel forced to have sex or threatened to get pregnant

Less than 800 surveys have been returned, according to TBO. Those who have returned their surveys are eligible for a $10 CVS gift card in exchange for their troubles.

The state spent about $45,000 on the project. Women who received the survey, by the way, were under no obligation to fill it out if they didn’t want to.

Here’s what we want to know from you Tampa Bay: Is this a good use of taxpayer dollars? Does the state need this information to properly plan services? Are the questions appropriate? Do they go too far? Share your thoughts in the comments section.  

About this column: What's Tampa Bay Saying is an occasional column that features local, state or national news that we want to get the entire region's take on. These stories are posted on the various local Patch sites throughout Tampa Bay. That way, you can see what your neighbors think, as well as some of the different opinions that make each part of Tampa Bay so unique. We'll follow each column with a roundup of the very best local comments on our individual Patch sites so you can see exactly what readers in your community had to say about a particular topic. Related Topics: Florida Department of Health, Sex Survey, and Women's Health

-Ed Harris-

8:52 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Surveys are just that, Surveys. If you want a good clean result on a survey you do need to ask a lot of questions. I don't have a problem with the taking of a survey at all. This would be an example of money well spent. The real questions are what will the state really do with the results and how will those results be tabulated. To do it properly the survey should have been sent out by a private company unaffiliated with the State or anyone at the State. The results should have been posted on MyFlorida.com regardless of the outcome. It is Public money being spent, the report should be public and untouched by any political hands. One last thing, the survey should have been written by a woman who is trained and educated specifically in the field of sexual issues regarding women.

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Alex Tiegen

10:02 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

@Cecilia, Thank you for letting us know about that comment.

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rick barasso

10:34 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

I do so love to see Republican sweat.

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RAJ (Bo) McMerritt

11:23 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

18 - 24 yrs old .... you are serious I take it.

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Michael D.

11:42 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

the age range seems quite limited doesn't it?

Jasminetea

4:19 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Women don't answer stupid questions. LOL

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Ginger Vitus

11:03 am on Thursday, November 29, 2012

Why do I get the feeling that this is just a way for Governor Voldemort to satisfy his own pervy interests...

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