Sexual practices and narratives in swinger settings: An ethnographic analysis of an emerging non-monogamic culture
- Autores: Margaret Judith Vaynman
- Directores de la Tesis: Juan Francisco Gamella Mora (dir. tes.)
- Lectura: En la Universidad de Granada ( España ) en 2023
- Idioma: español
- ISBN: 9788411952927
- Número de páginas: 199
- Tribunal Calificador de la Tesis: Aurelia Martín Casares (presid.), Arturo Alvarez Roldán (secret.), Francisco Giner Abati (voc.)
- Programa de doctorado: Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Sociales por la Universidad de Granada
- Materias:
- Enlaces
- Tesis en acceso abierto en: DIGIBUG
- Resumen
This thesis explored swinger couples and single swinger men and women in the context of swinger clubs, while interviewing swingers on their perspectives on swinging and their views on swinger settings. It explored `the liberal world ` or `the swinger world ` through the eyes of swingers, including their attitudes, and their positive and negative experiences.
The theoretical framework employed in this thesis included previous earlier and more contemporary ethnographic studies on swingers and well as on other consensual non-monogamies. Some of these include but are not limited to: Charles and Rebecca Palson, Claire Kimberly, Katherine Frank, J. Tuomas Harviainen, Brooke Wagner, Terry Gould, Dee McDonald.
The methodology used in this study was participant observation, where my participation was key in obtaining access, being in the field, making observations, and conducting interviews while using my experience as a participant ethnographer. The sample consisted of 40 participants, 30 of which were part of a couple (15 couples). The sample was varied, including previously ignored subgroups in swinger subculture, such as single swingers, intergenerational and intercultural couples as well as cuckold couples . That these groups exist may point to the need to explore these further in a more longitudinal study, addressing a specific set of questions suitable for these subgroups. Demographics also differed slightly from previous studies, including 7 nationalities, suggesting a higher level of multiculturalism among swingers in cosmopolitan and touristic areas, such as the south of Spain and south of France. The interviews were conducted in French, Spanish, Russian and English, suggesting a multiculturalism among swingers, something that should be investigated further in a larger, more generalized sample. The study was approved by the University of Granada Ethics Board, on December 14, 2020.
This thesis explored the ways in which swingers conceptualize and negotiate their world in swinger settings in Spain and France, particularly focusing on Andalusia, where I resided, and Cap d `Agde, where I travelled to conduct additional fieldwork. Drawing on the ethnographic fieldwork data, observations and participant observation in Andalusia, Spain, and Cap d `Agde, France, as well as on the qualitative, recorded interviews with 40 participants, the following main areas have been presented in the results (1) swinger couples ` perceptions and dynamics (2) female swingers ` perceptions in the swinger world and (3) the elements and meanings of swinger settings. Based on the conclusions drawn from this research, this study enriches the field of participant ethnography. Methodologically, this study explored the utility of participant observation, where the ethnographer became an active participant in clubs, as a single female a role limited to some but not all exchanges, directly excluding the practice of couple swap. The advantages as well as the challenges of this method were presented, in addition to implications for further research and future ethnographies.
The first part of the results identified major themes from couples ` interviews. This chapter focused on negotiations within each couple, how they managed and agreed upon seeing other people outside of clubs and without the presence of their partner, how they managed negative emotions, such as jealousy, or growing apart. The following were identified as problems by the swinger couples: superficiality and incompatibility in swinger clubs, or not being able to connect with people, going to clubs only for the purpose of sex, and not being able to find a compatible sexual partner; boredom or lack of desire; wanting more freedom and to see partners separately; falling in love with someone else, and feeling left out.
The second part of the results addressed female swingers and their perceptions, attitudes, and criticism of swinging. The following elements were addressed in this chapter: the meaning of attractiveness in swinger settings, multiple partner sexuality for swinger females; the acceptability of bisexuality in women, female swingers ` assertiveness, and female swingers ` ways of negotiating jealousy in their relationships. Both single female participants as well as the women in couples were included in this chapter.
Third, this descriptive and exploratory study delved into the world of swinger settings (clubs, parties, one entire city with clubs and parties, pool and foam parties) in order to know more about the management style (primarily) in swinger clubs; prevention of STI `s; the purpose of organization of space inside the clubs; how privacy is guarded among swingers in clubs; and how swingers view sexism in clubs. A minor objective in this chapter was to explore the possibility of employing swingers ` strategies and management style in other settings, or whether swingers ` organizational dynamics may be useful in settings outside of swinging.
The limitations of this study were as follows: the relatively small sample size did not permit generalizations; my participation, although very useful, entailed a considerable amount of challenges as well; protecting participants ` identity also led to a vague description of each participant; not all interviews were conducted in the participants ` native language. In addition, not all the important questions were raised during interviews, such as the question of swinger economics, and the question of Covid-19, and a lack of data was available on young swinger couples and young swingers in general.
