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Today’s young people are swiping left on the idea of casual sex.
In 2021, research from Rutgers University-New Brunswick showed that causal sex has steadily decreased in recent years. Though many would suspect this was due to the pandemic, the trend actually pre-dates quarantines and shutdowns.
And the reasons behind the decline in casual hookups differ between men and women.
While factors like living at home with their parents and playing video games ranked as some of the reasons why young men were having less sex, there was just a clear main reason behind why young women were having less sex: lower alcohol consumption.
The rise of concepts such as Dry January, the “sober curious” movement and the popularity of mocktails also indicate a cultural shift in the way we consume alcohol, George F. Koob, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, recently told USA TODAY.
Put simply, since this generation is drinking less, they’re having less casual sex. And that is more pronounced for women, who are more likely to express regret after a one-night stand than men.
What does that tell us? For me, it highlights the reality that causal sex and inebriation often go hand-in-hand, especially for young women. When sober, most women are less likely to be coerced or pressured into making choices that don’t align with their true desires.
Women report experiencing more regret after one-night-stands
Just like that 3 a.m. Taco Bell run, drunken one-night-stands are often something many people wish they had gone without, especially women. According to a 2022 study looking at the emotional outcomes after casual sex, “46% of women experienced regret after casual sex compared to 23% of men.”
This may be more pronounced than ever before since many young women have lost their access to reproductive health care.
Additionally, even with safer sex measures, women may grapple with STIs more frequently than men due to their anatomy, per the CDC. “The lining of the vagina is thinner and more delicate than the skin on a penis, so it’s easier for bacteria and viruses to penetrate,” a factsheet on the CDC’s website explains.
And when left untreated STIs can have very serious consequences for women, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and fertility issues.
Why casual sex isn’t always the best sex
For all that risk, casual sex ought to be plenty of reward, but that’s not always the case. The orgasm gap is real, statistics show, and though communication is a great way to ensure both partners are achieving orgasm during sex, it may be difficult to have these conversations in the setting of a one-night stand.
This all goes to show that some young people have concluded that “hooking up” isn’t real intimacy. If this attitude resonates with you, know you aren’t alone and whether you have sex – and with whom – is always a personal choice that needs no justification.
Read more about sex, relationships here:
Sex addict vs cheating:3 key differences to know
STDs are on the rise. Will this morning-after-style pill help?
Flirting is not just for single people:What kind of flirt are you? And why it matters.
More:Yes, sexual fantasies can be beneficial to your relationship, love life. Here’s how.
The orgasm gap is real for women:But it can be fixed.
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