You don't have to look at ads or watch TV or music videos to know that we are engulfed in sexual images in every part of American life. At the same time there is very little real information in what Americans actually believe or do.
About three weeks ago ABC's "Primetime Live" took a peek under the sheets to find out what Americans think about sex. Working in conjunction with an ABC News Polling Unit, "Primetime Live" surveyed a random sample of Americans across the country to establish a new, detailed picture of sexual attitudes and behavior in America today. The results of their sex survey, one of the most extensive of its kind in the last 50 years, were revealed in an hour-long "Primetime Live" event called "American Sex Lives: 2004."
According to their statistics, 21% of married men and 11% of married women cheat. That is very high and that is for couples that have children. For couples that don't have children, the percentage is twice as high.
One segment of the show was dedicated to a website that has over 1 million subscribers. The site provides married people, mostly men, with an outlet to cheat with singles and other married people. If this isn't a reason to try an alternative lifestyle like swinging, then I don't know what is.
Unlike cheating, swinging is not about personal sex, it is, instead, about recreational, friendly sex with your spouses knowledge and participation. Swinging, to those of us who have tried it, define it to each other, it is about protecting and securing our relationship, not risking it. If approached as a recreational activity, there is not more risk then you find in a mixed bowling league or at a Saturday night card club, except that it is more pleasurable, exciting and stimulating.
Swinging emerged to avoid cheating. It is a medium for couples to enjoy sexual variety while simultaneously preserving their personal relationship. Sexual variety means exactly that, a variety of at least a few other partners, in fun, light, social setting. You can fall in lust for an hour or two, but fall out of it at the end. You always go home with the one you love, the one with whom you have a full-time commitment.
The hour-long special also discussed the topic of what Americans are doing for more sexual adventure. One of their polls stated that 80% of Americans find dressing sexy as being sexually adventurous. Another poll said that 44% of Americans like role-playing. Surprisingly, only 14% of Americans have tried a threesome -- that's just 30 million people.
Have you ever heard of a "Skin Party?" Skin parties are events where couples can, "take a walk on the wild side and still remain faithful to each other." It's basically a private dance party where sexy couples go to dance with each other and other sexy couples. Couples tease and soft play with each other and with other couples. They always go home with their partner - only. Oh yeah, don't count on getting in or invited to one of these parties unless you are a "fit and attractive couple." Unattractive or unfit couples and single men are not allowed.
Even though it is still 'taboo', swinging is defiantly making its way into mainstream America -- weather they've heard about it, thought about it, or even tried it. It won't be long before it becomes the best way to keep relationships fun and interesting. The proof is in the news, the lifestyle is no longer a small minute group of people swapping spouses. People involved in the lifestyle have a broad range of backgrounds and occupations -- from laborers to high profile politicians, to people who have been in a relationship for two weeks or 30 years. There is a very strong allure to swinging that is drawing them in by the masses. The ability to have sex with other people and still remain in a relationship is very appealing and very exciting.
Americans are becoming more and more fascinated with sex. Sex therapists are coming out of the woodwork and more and more are leaning towards recommending swinging as an alterative to divorce.
