“Love in the time of Coronavirus”
A Story of Isolated Intimacy
The pandemic was charged with a global sense of chaos, and with that, a plethora of physical reactions and sexual energies. It started way back in the cold February, when some of us got separated from each other.
Ranging from total Abstinence and suffering from ‘Skin Hunger’ to a total addiction to Virtual Pornography and shocking rise in Domestic Abuse numbers, this room brings to life key sexual trends born in the quarantine.
"Love is the time of Coronavirus" room is part of the "Can you hear me ok?" exhibition in Boa Lab, Lisbon.
https://www.canyouhearmeok.org/projects-3
"Love is the time of Coronavirus" room is part of the "Can you hear me ok?" exhibition in Boa Lab, Lisbon.
https://www.canyouhearmeok.org/projects-3
Rise Of VR Porn
But it’s not only men who perv
But it’s not only men who perv
VR porn was actually practiced long before in 2016, but this pandemic situation shed more light on more VR porn consumption, particularly VR for women.
While several industries suffered because of COVID-19 and have witnessed a decline in their activity, the porn industry is progressing. Starting from March this year, PornHub detected that their user traffic in their website grew enormously by 13.7% then 18.5%, as people found creative ways to pass their time.
Everyone wants a pet companion
Nothing but social animals
Nothing but social animals
It’s no secret that interacting with animals can help with depression, anxiety and ease loneliness. So when the lockdowns happened animal shelters, worldwide saw a rise in pet adoption.
Humanities and social science studies hypothesized that Covid-19 might lead to dramatic changes in human–dog bidirectional relationships. And their positive findings were that the adoption rate of dogs increased significantly, while dog abandonment did not change.
An Alarming Rate Of Domestic Violence
Not all victims of the pandemic had Covid-19
Not all victims of the pandemic had Covid-19
Prior to the pandemic, it was estimated that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men will experience intimate partner violence during their lifetime. So when households were placed under increased strains from social, health, and financial insecurities, as well as confined living conditions, this number has alarmingly increased.
Projections by UNFPA show that if violence increases by 20% during periods of lockdown, there would be an additional 15 million cases of intimate partner violence in 2020 in of 3 months, 31 million cases in 6 months, 45 million in 9 months, and 61 million if the average lockdown period were to be as long as one year!
Skin Hunger
To be starved of touch
To be starved of touch
For many people, these past few months in lockdown might be the longest they have ever gone without physical contact.
After months in lockdown, most of us are familiar with the experience of “skin hunger” - a deep longing and aching desire for physical contact with another person.
We feel skin hunger when we notice a discrepancy between the amount of touch we want and the amount that we receive. People are missing touch often without realizing it, and irrationally trying to overcompensate through excessive sexuality and subtle depression.
Sex Doll Surge In Quarantine
But it’s not all about loneliness
But it’s not all about loneliness
The idea of sex dolls is not for everyone, but it seems like the customer demographic is changing. What was once a plastic companion stereotyped for loners and unusual fetishists, is now becoming a popular choice of fun for those looking to bring something (or someone) new into the bedroom.
Sex doll sales have surged since quarantine began, to the extent that one company is looking to take on new staff to keep up with demand. This is due to both increased loneliness and development in prosthetic technology.
A Surge In Dating Apps
Swipe More, Commit Less
Swipe More, Commit Less
The pandemic has not stopped people from looking for love. In March 2020, Tinder recorded its highest number of swipes on a single day: 3 billion. From March to May last year, Ok Cupid saw a 700% increase in dates. And the dating app Bumble saw video call dates increase by 70%.
But how are those dates happening after we swipe right? Many apps now offer advice on social distant dating, search filters for those who prefer dating with masks on, and even tips of Covid friendly sex positions.
