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Recent reports in the media have suggested that the United States is experiencing a new sexual revolution. The basis for this is the dramatic increase in the number of couples who have joined "the lifestyle", or swinging as it is often called. In fact, just this week on 48 Hours, it was reported that approximately four million people are claimed to be swingers.
The basic definition for swinging describes it as recreational sex between consenting adults with the majority of it involving female/male couples joining other female/male couples for sex and friendship. The sexual contact between members ranges across a broad spectrum from little intercourse to hard core sex with few or no boundaries. Swing clubs can be found throughout the country and either allow sexual intercourse on the premises or offer a place for couples to meet before going elsewhere for sexual contact. There are also numerous lifestyle conventions which meet at hotels for several days of socializing with other swingers. One research source estimated that each convention registered anywhere from 100 to 1500 couples in attendance. In doing my research, I learned that it is reasonably simple to find other couples and occasionally single people also interested in swinging. Many newspapers offer personal ads, and of course the internet has countless sites. (See The Swingers Directory for more information: "http://www.swingdirect.com/" .) In the past, the average age of swinging couples was forty. Current trends in the lifestyle are seeing more and more people in their twenties and thirties joining. I was impressed by much of the information concerning the lifestyle. Emphasis was placed on Swing Etiquette which includes: being yourself, being polite no matter what, being courteous and aware of others' comfort levels (especially your partner's), cleanliness, not being pushy, respecting someone's decision to practice safe sex, and enjoying yourself. All web sites and clubs which I investigated placed a lot of stress on the standard that "no means no". In order to become a swinger, it is recommended that a couple be secure in their relationship and within themselves. A general rule of thumb is that the lifestyle works best when a couple sees it as a way to enhance their sexual relationship rather than using it to replace a poor, existing one. It is a means for a couple to relax their inhibitions and explore their sexuality. Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article Swinging: A New Sexual Revolution? in Women's Sexuality is owned by . Permission to republish Swinging: A New Sexual Revolution? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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