Prior to university, the thought of engaging in hookup culture petrified me. Recently broken up with a long-term boyfriend, I had never taken part in a situationship, let alone a one-night stand. I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to engage in meaningless sex when a stable, long-term relationship was right there for the taking.
But, that first week of freshers arrived and boy, did it hit me. Throughout university I have been sucked into the hedonistic lifestyle most of us students live by when parading campus; sleeping through lectures, day drinking at YOLO on a Wednesday and of course, hookup culture. We are all too familiar with hookup culture at university.
Whether it’s your own roster of situationships or your flatmates you can hear through the walls, casual sex is everywhere on campus. Some argue that this is a new side to university, but in my view, casual promiscuity has been around forever – it is no new phenomenon. Hookup culture is no more prevalent now than it was in the 80s or 90s.
Casual promiscuity... is no new phenomenon
The idea of dancing in a busy, sweaty club only to lock eyes with a random from across the dancefloor is the same old story your parents could be telling you from their own university experience. The only thing different is The Weeknd playing in the background rather than ABBA (unless, of course, you’re in Live Lounge). For many young people nowadays, sleeping together before making things official acts almost like a test drive – it helps clarify feelings and gives a sense of whether the relationship has real potential.
University, in particular, is a turbulent period of self-discovery, where identities and goals are constantly shifting and amid this change, hookup culture provides a space to explore sexuality freely, without the expectations and constraints of a committed relationship. Let’s face it, going back to a stranger’s house can be risky and many students may still feel peer pressure to engage in certain activities that push them beyond their comfort zones. STIs remain prevalent amongst young people and with a rise in pornography consumption, casual hookups aren’t necessarily appealing to all, and safety must always be the first priority.
I’m not saying it’s for everyone, but we’ve spent too long shaming those for simply wanting a bit of fun every now and then. Why not embrace the fact that seeking pleasure is human, and if its consensual and safe, there’s no harm in a little curiosity, right?