Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard: Episode Summary

Episode Title: Carter Sherman on the Sex Recession
Release Date: July 30, 2025
Host: Armchair Umbrella (Dax Shepard)
Guest: Carter Sherman, Award-Winning and Emmy-Nominated Reporter
Book Discussed: The Second Coming Sex and the Next Generation's Fight Over Its Future

Introduction

In this insightful episode of Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, host Dax Shepard welcomes Carter Sherman, an award-winning and Emmy-nominated reporter. Carter delves deep into her latest work, The Second Coming Sex and the Next Generation's Fight Over Its Future, exploring the phenomenon known as the "sex recession" among Generation Z. This comprehensive discussion sheds light on the declining sexual activity in young adults and the multifaceted factors contributing to this trend.

Guest Background

Carter Sherman brings a wealth of experience to the conversation, with over six and a half years at Vice News covering gender and sexuality before joining The Guardian in 2023. Her anthropological insights, combined with her personal experiences and academic background, provide a nuanced perspective on the evolving sexual landscape of young people today.

Understanding the Sex Recession

Carter introduces the concept of the "sex recession," highlighting significant statistical declines in sexual activity among Gen Z:

• California Study (2013-2019):

  • [19:58] Sexual inactivity among 18-29-year-olds rose from 22% to 38%.

• University of Chicago Study:

  • [19:58] Increased sexual dormancy from 7-8% to 19-20% within a decade.

Carter emphasizes that this trend is not merely about decreased casual sex but a broader decline in all forms of sexual activity, surpassing even previous generations like the Greatest Generation.

Notable Quote:
Carter Sherman at [21:19]:
"I think a lot of people attribute it to smartphones, which makes sense. We see a lot of changes in trends around 2010, which is when people start getting smartphones and social media."

Factors Affecting Gen Z Sexuality

1. Social Media and Digital Engagement

• Digital Intimacy vs. Physical Connection:

  • [22:28] There’s a shift towards maintaining friendships and relationships online, reducing face-to-face interactions essential for intimate connections.

• Comparing and Despairing Phenomenon:

  • [48:35] Social media fosters an environment where individuals constantly compare themselves to others, leading to decreased self-esteem and increased anxiety.

Notable Quote:
Dax Shepard at [23:07]:
"The gravity from the higher like fills up the chamber and then gravity drains it. Then you close the door there."

2. Mental Health Issues

• Correlation Between Mental Health Decline and Sexual Activity:
  • [21:43] The rise in mental health struggles among young people is closely linked to decreased sexual activity.

Notable Quote:
Carter Sherman at [24:10]:
"Pursuing sex is hard. You have to open yourself up and be vulnerable."

3. Sex Education

• Abstinence-Only Education Impact:

  • [44:54] Federally funded abstinence-only sex education lacks comprehensive information, leading to misconceptions and fear surrounding sexual activity.

• Sexual Risk Avoidance:

  • [45:40] The federal government's approach to sex education prioritizes risk avoidance over practical knowledge, leaving students ill-equipped to handle sexual relationships healthily.

Notable Quote:
Carter Sherman at [44:47]:
"We call it sexual risk avoidance. That's what the federal government calls it. And they're still funding like hundreds of millions of dollars into this every year."

4. Political Influences

• MeToo Movement:

  • [26:00] Raised awareness about sexual violence but did not lead to sufficient institutional changes, resulting in increased anxiety among young people about vulnerability and consent.

• Roe v. Wade Overturn:

  • [66:04] The reversal has heightened anxiety around pregnancy and contraception, influencing decisions to delay or avoid sexual activity.

Notable Quote:
Carter Sherman at [27:58]:
"MeToo didn't really make as much of a difference as people might think that it did. It raised awareness, but it didn't result in institutional change to give young people the tools to seek accountability or help."

5. Vulnerability and Fear of Intimacy

• Fear of Rejection and Vulnerability:
  • [23:53] Young people are increasingly hesitant to pursue sexual relationships due to fears of rejection and vulnerability, often using the internet as a shield to avoid potential emotional harm.

Notable Quote:
Dax Shepard at [24:03]:
"I think it's apex vulnerability. Reject me or accept me. It's that literal."

Gender Perspectives

1. Young Women

• Fear of Inexperience:

  • [30:53] Young women fear confessing sexual inexperience, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy and increased anxiety around sexual encounters.

• Victimization Concerns:

  • [16:18] Discussions often center around young women feeling used or taken advantage of, impacting their willingness to engage in casual sex.

Notable Quote:
Carter Sherman at [30:36]:
"Women often come to the conversation with things to say, whereas young men took longer to articulate their views."

2. Young Men

• Performance Anxiety:

  • [30:52] Young men grapple with pressures to perform sexually, leading to fears about their abilities and increased self-consciousness.

• Involuntary Celibacy and Incels:

  • [50:14] The rise of incel ideology, fueled by perceived disparities in sexual opportunities, contributes to frustration and entitlement among young men.

Notable Quote:
Carter Sherman at [50:49]:
"Incels are men who are involuntarily celibate and they are angry about it. Angry about it."

Political and Educational Systems' Role

Carter elaborates on how political decisions and educational policies directly shape personal sexual choices:

• Title IX and Institutional Responses to Sexual Assault:

  • [63:07] Title IX aims to eradicate sex discrimination in education but has undergone significant changes, affecting how sexual assault cases are handled on campuses.

• Sexual Conservatism and Pronatalism:

  • [45:35] There's a movement pushing for more traditional sexual norms, promoting sex primarily within marriage for procreation, influenced by right-wing ideologies.

Notable Quote:
Carter Sherman at [40:47]:
"I think the changes in sex are always political. If we understand this is about my function in society, it's about my community and surviving in my community."

Anecdotal Evidence and Studies

Carter shares her methodology in researching the sex recession, including interviewing over 100 young individuals across various political spectrums:

• Sourcing Participants:

  • [27:20] Reached out to college sex ed groups, Reddit, TikTok, and conservative organizations to gather diverse perspectives.

• Interview Insights:

  • [30:14] Young women often have predefined ideas about sex influenced by inadequate sex education, while young men express frustrations related to incel ideologies and fear of harassment accusations.

Notable Quote:
Carter Sherman at [33:20]:
"If we had been born 10 years later, we would have fit right in."

Conclusion

The episode offers a compelling exploration of the declining sexual activity among Gen Z, attributing it to a confluence of digital engagement, mental health challenges, flawed sex education, and political influences. Carter Sherman emphasizes the importance of fostering genuine connections and resilience among young people, advocating for nuanced discussions that transcend political binaries. The conversation underscores that while technology and societal pressures play significant roles, the core of the issue lies in the fundamental human need for intimacy and connection, which remains unfulfilled in the modern landscape.

Final Thought from Carter Sherman:
[73:43]
"I think what we need is a third study that looks at how political affiliation impacts the frequency of with which you fake orgasms."

This episode serves as an essential conversation starter for understanding the intricate dynamics affecting Gen Z's sexual lives, urging listeners to consider the broader societal and political factors at play.