How Is the COVID-19 Pandemic Affecting Our Sexualities? An Overview of the Current Media Narratives and Research Hypotheses

Döring, Nicola

doi:10.1007/s10508-020-01790-z

Cited by 158 publications

(179 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…Thus, for example, although practices of objectification and exploitation are already evident in the literature on MWPWS (e.g., Jovanovski & Tyler, 2018 ), new expressions of these perceptions were found in the present study. This highlights the vulnerability of WPS—especially in view of the severe financial hardship they have suffered during CP (Döring, 2020 ). Hence, the study underlines the significance of developing practical and context-driven prostitution policy (Huschke, 2017 ; Pitcher, 2019 )—such as ad-hoc social interventions aimed at reducing aspects of exploitation that sometimes plague the SFP phenomenon, and may be on the rise during CP.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Firstly, the health risks and social-distancing measures—in particular, the lockdown and quarantines—may concretely disrupt the ability of MWPWS to pay for sex. Even if MWPWS decide to put themselves at risk by breaking the social-distancing restrictions and engage in SFP, they may struggle to find SFP venues—locally, or overseas—that operate as usual (Döring, 2020 ). However, online arenas of SFP can still be fully active, and indeed, a recent report from Italy has found that at one of the largest porn and SFP Web sites, there was a major drop in ads for offline prostitution during the first weeks of CP, and a notable increase in ads for online prostitution (webcam prostitution) (Cipolla, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Paying for Sex During COVID-19 Pandemic: The Experiences of Israeli Men

Prior

2021

Sex Res Soc Policy

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Introduction This qualitative study explored the experiences of men who pay women for sex (MWPWS) during the COVID-19 pandemic, which poses radical and profound challenges to various aspects of people's intimate, sexual, and financial experiences. Methods The study was based on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 10 Israeli MWPWS who regularly visit various prostitution venues. The interviews were conducted between April and July 2020, between the first and the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Israel. ResultsThe findings focus on four major aspects of the participants' experiences: the participants' inability to pay for sex, the difficulties imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic to participants' sex-for-pay experiences, the positive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on their sex-for-pay experiences, and the insignificance of COVID-19 pandemic to their sex-for-pay experiences. Conclusions I conclude that COVID-19 pandemic triggers various sexual, emotional, and gendered experiences for MWPWS. Accordingly, MWPWS may reevaluate their engagement in sex-for-pay, and their experiences of it may be reshaped in light of the pandemic. I discuss the findings' contribution to sexuality and masculinity studies, and the methodological possibilities that they raise for qualitative scholars studying social phenomena during the COVID-19 pandemic. Policy Implications The study highlights the significance of developing ad hoc prostitution policy that supports the individuals involved in the sex industry-both MWPWS and the women who are paid for sex-during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, it suggests that prostitution policy should address the diverse experiences of MWPWS, beyond viewing them as merely offenders who should be punished, or re-educated.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paying for Sex During COVID-19 Pandemic: The Experiences of Israeli Men

Prior

2021

Sex Res Soc Policy

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“…Research has also shown disruptions in social connections, with people experiencing more loneliness, poorer relationship functioning, and decreased sex quality (e.g., Balzarini et al, 2020;Döring, 2020;Killgore et al, 2020;G. P. Lopes et al, 2020;Pietromonaco & Overall, 2020).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Regulatory Focus and Perceived Safety with Casual Partners: Implications for Perceived Risk and Casual Sex Intentions During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Dl¹,

Kärgel²

2020

Preprint

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Background: Fundamental motives for survival help people regulate their goal pursuit, by shaping perceptions, feelings and actions. Motives for security (i.e., prevention focus) are associated with risk awareness and risk avoidance, whereas motives for pleasure (i.e., promotion focus) are associated with risk taking. Purpose: During the COVID-19 pandemic, survival needs and health risks are particularly salient. Hence, people focused on prevention (vs. promotion) should be more aware of health risks, more careful in their sexual behaviors, and less likely to take sexual health risks with casual partners. However, feeling safer with casual partners might mitigate some of the risks associated with sexual behaviors during this pandemic. Methods: We administered an online survey in English, Spanish and German to 550 single participants (57.6% women; Mage = 24.72, SD = 5.75). Results: Prevention focused participants were less fearful of COVID-19 infection, perceived to be better informed, and retrieved their information from scientific sources. They were also less likely to have condomless sex with casual partners, regardless how safe they perceived to be with them. Promotion focused participants were more fearful of COVID-19 infection and perceived to be better informed, but retrieved their information from non-scientific sources. They were more willing to have sex with casual partners, and more likely to consider having condomless oral sex, but only if they felt safer (vs. less safe) with their casual partnersConclusions: Our findings show the importance of individual motivations and interpersonal dynamics for risk perception and sexual health behaviors.

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“…The epidemic has deprived us of freedom and intimacy (Jacob et al, 2020 ). During the pandemic, there are several aspects that may impact on sexual activity such as time spent together, lesser work burden, need of opportunities for recreation, parenting obligations, possibility of interpersonal conflict, lack of privacy, and distress (Döring, 2020 ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%