To many couples, Valentine’s Day is a day where they can exchange gifts displaying their affection for one another. And to others, it could mean a day of dirty, no-strings-attached, anonymous sex. For those in a relationship interested in such a thing, the swinging lifestyle might seem like an attractive idea. The term “swinging” refers to the consensual act of swapping partners with another couple to engage in some form of sexual activity. Web sites such as Craigslist.org, a Web site that networks urban communities together, provide an outlet where adventurous couples can enter an arrangement in order to contact other swingers in their area. David and Sarah Soles, 38 years old, and Jeffrey and Linda Padget, 39 and 38 years old, all Dallas natives, agree that swinging is a healthy lifestyle. “It’s a great way to experiment with your sex life,” Jeffrey Padget said. “You generally have three options: voyeurism, exhibitionism or both partners swap. “Voyeurism involves watching your partner have sex with another person. On the flipside, exhibitionism involves having sex while being watched by your partner.” Not only is swinging a pleasurable experience in regards to the senses, but it can also strengthen a relationship, according to both couples. “I absolutely think that swinging is healthy for a relationship,” David Soles said. His wife, Sarah Soles, agreed. “When you first get married or enter in a relationship, the idea seems absolutely crazy. But after about 18 long years of marriage, it seemed to be something that rejuvenated our love for one another. You really learn from the experience.” The Soles have been trading partners for about three years, but the Padgets have been exchanging coital couples for over 15 years. “It’s something we both have been interested in since we got married,” Jeffrey Padget said. “It was hard to find young couples at first, but as we got older, the selection grew,” his wife Linda Padget said. According to a March 18, 2005, airing of the ABC program 20/20, statistics support both couple’s claims. The survey reported that 60 percent of those surveyed said swinging positively affected their relationship, while less than 2 percent said was detrimental. In addition, 90 percent of couples unhappy with their relationship said swinging improved their relationship. The average age of those who completed the survey was 45, which both couples agreed was why the statistics were favorable towards swinging. “It takes quite a bit of maturity on both the man and the woman’s part to enjoy swinging to the fullest,” David Soles said. But these two couples could not have enjoyed it without communication resources such as the Internet. Rick Duque, sociology graduate student, said that swinging has become more readily available due to the Internet in urban areas. “People can establish a second identity on the Internet, one that most likely few people that know them personally are aware of,” Duque said. “That helps them become networked with other swingers.” Not only has there been in a change in communications, but also one in society. “Since the 1960s and ’70s, there has been an increase in sexuality in our society,” Duque said. “It died down in the ’80s when AIDS became prevalent. Then it picked back up in the ’90s and is still on the rise. With so much information available, and living in an increasingly progressive society, people tend to be more open to alternative lifestyles, compared to past decades.” Robyn Grindstaff, philosophy and English junior, reflects this sentiment. “I don’t see anything wrong with it. People should be able to do whatever they feel like.”
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