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What is swinging?
Swinging is social and sexual
intercourse with someone other than your mate, boyfriend or girlfriend,
excepting the traditional one-on-one dating. It may be defined as
recreational social sex. The activity may occur at a swing party, a
couple-to-couple encounter, a liaison, or with a third person in a
threesome. Though single men and women are involved, it is primarily an
activity of couples. Also see the swinging etiquette page
here.
Who the Swingers are
People who swing come from all economic levels. Every job
classification, all races and nationalities are represented, though the
majority are Caucasian, middle to upper middle socio-economic class, and
married. Swingers, married and single, tend to be adventuresome,
emotionally mature, and have excellent relationships with their mates
and friends. Single people are involved in swinging but not to the
extent of couples. Many single women have joined swing clubs, finding
them a refreshing alternative to the traditional bar scene.
Couples in Swinging
Swinging is "the recreation" for couples whether they are married,
committed (having an ongoing emotional commitment), living together
(co-habituating, with or without an ongoing intimate relationship) or
single couples who date. A study of swinging couples (McGinley, 1979)
reported increased enjoyment and satisfaction in the relationships
accompanied by a better understanding of self and mate, greater intimacy
between the partners and a decrease in sex role playing and sexist
expectations .Swinging enables a couple to explore sexual and social
feelings and needs together, permitting a demystification of sex which
allows sex to assume a place in the relationship unhindered by the
standard ties to love, duty, sex roles and morals of others.
Women in Swinging
It is certainly an understatement to say that the role of women in our
society has greatly changed over the past several decades. The
humanistic and woman’s movements have had an impact on sexuality also.
The number of women choosing involvement in swinging during the past few
years is remarkable. Sexual and social assertiveness on the part of
women at swing parties and other swing activities is not only
acceptable, it has come to be expected.
To openly be oneself without fear of seeming unfeminine is a delightful
experience for a woman and a welcome experience for the man. Swinging
provides the environment to alter sex-role playing for both sexes,
allowing men and women to participate with each other in a uniquely
human experience.
Men in Swinging
Whether married, in a relationship or single, swinging can be a
wonderful experience for a man. Not surprisingly, most women who are
into swinging were introduced to the lifestyle by a man in their life.
Also not surprising, many men would swing if only they could. They are
hindered from the experience by their marriage, or if single, their
inability to find a woman for a swinging partner. Of course, guilt
feelings about sex and pleasure, and sex roles, also hinder men from
swinging. Men are not the macho, always ready, self-reliant persons of
fiction. They are as human as their female counterparts. They experience
loneliness and fear rejection. A man, on convincing his wife to try
swinging, may experience unexpected jealousy and a feeling of loss when
she walks hand in hand, partially nude and obviously excited, toward a
bedroom with another towel-clad man. He had fantasized himself in
swinging but had not comprehended the reality of his wife or mate
swinging. As with women, the experience of swinging can be growth
producing for a man. It alters forever traditional concepts of man-woman
relationships with sexist overtones. Through swinging, a man can
experience a great deal of pleasure.
What is a Swing Club?
NASCA defines swing clubs as any organization, formal or informal, which
exists to provide swinging activities. Swing clubs exist in a variety of
forms. These include Swing Clubs, Party Houses, Circles and Socials,
Bars and Cocktail Lounges and Contact Services. All but the contact
services may be on-premises or off-premises. Contact services work
through the mail or telephone and rarely provide swing parties although
they may promote group travel. Parties given by on-premises swing clubs
may have from ten to sixty or more couples, though twenty to forty
couples is the common average. On-premises means that sexual activity
occurs at the party. Off premises swing clubs, cocktail lounges and bars
help you to meet other swingers. Swinging will be elsewhere with the
interested couples and singles responsible for the arrangements. The
arrangements include who is to be invited, the location, date and time.
The on premises party offers a wide possibility of social interaction,
selection, potential of swinging with others in a foursome, threesome,
one-on-one, or in a group scene. Bisexual as well as heterosexual
swinging is possible, principally among women. And the club on-premises
party offers this without pressure in a structured environment. Private,
semiprivate and group rooms are generally provided to meet the desires
of virtually everyone. Heated pools, Jacuzzi’s and hot tubs may be
available to accent the social environment.
What is a Swing Publication?
Swing publications serve the swing community by publishing personal ads.
Many also publish photos of the advertisers. A few carry ads only. Most
offer articles about swinging and sexual behaviours. Personal ads offer
a form of swinging that many find exciting. The placing and answering of
ads is a swing activity in itself. It is exciting to open a letter
describing a new couple, perhaps with photos. Socially meeting someone
following an exchange of letters, photos and phone calls, with the
possibility of swinging, is considered the height of swinging pleasure
by many.
What is Sex in Swinging Like?
The actual sexual activity of swinging is varied. Though important,
swinging is rarely centred around the orgasm but on the various
pleasurable acts that lead to orgasm. Once on a bed, the participants
will generally begin with kissing and caressing each other’s body. Both
the woman’s and man’s nipples are favorite places of fondling, sucking
and gentle nibbling, followed by licking and kissing around the genital
area, then the genitals directly. Most develop techniques they feel
pleasure their various partners. Sixty-nine or mutual oral-genital
pleasuring is popular. Either partner may masturbate the other, and
vibrators may be employed, especially in group swing scenes such as in
the swing club’s group room. These activities may be intermixed with
intercourse done in a variety of ways. Anal sex is popular with some
swingers. Bisexual swinging is more common among women than among men.
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