What do surveys and sex-research studies reveal about partner acceptance of men's thongs?
Executive summary
Surveys and market reporting show men’s thongs remain a small but growing niche: multiple retailer and apparel surveys estimate roughly 1–4% of men wear thongs regularly [1] [2]. Industry coverage and commentators argue visibility—social media, fashion weeks and targeted brands—drives acceptance more than broad attitudinal survey data do [3] [4].
1. Popularity numbers: small slice, clear uptick
Retail and niche-survey pieces repeatedly report that only a few percent of men say they wear thongs—estimates clustered around 1–4% in recent consumer polling cited by apparel sites [1] [2]. Those figures do not come from large population-representative public-opinion centers in the provided reporting, so they describe market samples and readers of underwear brands rather than national attitudes [1] [2].
2. What the surveys actually measure: behavior vs. acceptance
Available sources mix two kinds of data: consumer-behavior snapshots (who wears thongs) and cultural-attitude studies (general acceptance of LGBTQ+ identities and gender expression). Retail surveys document usage rates and sales trends for men’s thongs [1] [2]. Large-scale opinion research cited in the results set—like Ipsos and Pew work—covers broader acceptance of LGBTQ+ people and gender diversity, not explicit partner acceptance of men’s underwear choices [5] [6]. In short, direct survey evidence about partners’ acceptance of men wearing thongs is not present in the sources: available sources do not mention partner-attitude polling about men’s thongs [5] [1].
3. Why industry and cultural commentators link visibility to acceptance
Industry writers and podcasts attribute rising acceptance to greater visibility: social media amplification, influencers and fashion moments (Paris runways, “exposed thong” searches) push thongs into mainstream conversation and lower stigma [3] [4]. These accounts argue visibility increases curiosity and normalizes the garment, which can translate into more partners encountering the style and reporting positive or neutral reactions in informal outlets [3] [4].
4. Erotic, practical and identity explanations coexist
Commentary across retailer blogs and lifestyle outlets gives three recurring reasons men and partners might accept thongs: erotic/sexual appeal, practical benefits (no visible lines, comfort under tight clothing), and identity or rebellion against rigid masculinity norms [7] [8] [9]. These explanations come from industry and community sources rather than formal partner-acceptance surveys, so they should be read as explanatory narratives rather than quantified findings [7] [9].
5. Sources, sampling and hidden agendas to watch for
Most direct numbers come from brand blogs, niche apparel sites and retail surveys; these sources have commercial interest in normalizing men’s thongs and often sample customers or site visitors, not representative populations [2] [1]. Media pieces that celebrate the trend (podcasts, product roundups) amplify anecdote and influencer testimony [3] [8]. By contrast, large reputable survey organizations in the set (Ipsos, Pew) address broader acceptance of gender and sexual minorities but do not measure partner reactions to specific underwear choices—so reading them as proof of partner acceptance would be a stretch [5] [6].
6. Contradictory signals and remaining uncertainties
Sources show an uptick in visibility and niche adoption (1–4% usage estimates; runway and search interest spikes) but they do not provide population-level measures of partner acceptance or cross-demographic breakdowns of who is comfortable with men wearing thongs [1] [4]. Available sources do not mention representative partner-opinion polling on men’s thongs, and larger social-acceptance surveys cited address different questions entirely [5] [6].
7. What a reader should take away
Current reporting supports three takeaways: men’s thongs are a growing niche with measurable—but still small—penetration in underwear wardrobes [1] [2]; increased visibility via social media and fashion coverage is driving normalization [3] [4]; and there is no robust, cited survey evidence here specifically measuring partners’ acceptance of men’s thongs—so claims about broad partner approval extend beyond the available data [1] [5].
Limitations: this analysis uses only the provided sources and therefore cannot evaluate surveys or peer-reviewed studies outside that set; representative partner-attitude data are not present in the current reporting [5] [1].