College Project #2 - Learning about the lifestyle and culture

[Peace04 15]

Hi. I was wondering if anyone would care to put some time into answering some questions for a college project about the subculture of swinging. I would really appreciate it. You don't have to answer all the questions if you can't or don't want to. Even answering one would help. If there is anything more you would like to share about the culture, I would be glad to know. Thank you.

 

1. Is there a social hierarchy and if so what is it? How is the subculture organized?

 

2. How do you or other members conceptualize the subculture?

 

3. Are there particular forms of dress patterns (or other key physical characteristics) of the subculture and how is it associated with their particular values?

 

4. What are your goals within the subculture?

 

5. What are the rules within the subculture? Are there people within the subculture who break those rules? If so, how?

 

6. What is the origin of the subculture? (If you know)

 

7. How large is the subculture and are they bound to particular geographical sites (i.e. location)?

 

8. What are the mores, folkways, and values endemic to this subculture?

 

9. What forms of social action (i.e. meaningful behavior) do the people within the subculture engage in and how are these actions different from the larger population?

[cplnuswing 4,713]

Since there seems to be a sudden interest in swinging from college sociology classes, I'm curious, are you two working on the same project? Learning about the swinging lifestyle/culture

[SW_PA_Couple 4,026]

Seems to me you've arrived already at a conclusion without conducting research. Who told you that swing is a subculture?

[Peace04 15]

Yeah we are.

[Peace04 15]

In my sociology class, each group was given a subculture to conduct research on and my group got swingers. To me it does seem like a subculture. Why is it not?

[funcoupledayton 2,708]

I would say for most it is a hobby. I also personally consider it a mindset. I do not consider it a sub-culture.

 

I think you can probably find the answers to many of your questions by spending time reading current and archived threads. You can search key words too,

 

Respectfully, we are here to interact with people who swing or are considering it for themselves. Most of our community is not going to spend time answering the questions your professor assigned. If you read and learn the basics from what has already been discussed and then you formulate your own questions to better understand we will be more likely to engage.

[GoldCoCouple 4,068]

Subculture...no

Hobby, yes. This is just something we enjoy doing together that deepens our love and relationship. We could, if we wanted to, walk away tomorrow without any remorse or regrets. Check with the other thread as for answers to your questions. A better question is how do YOU feel about the topic? Not as a subject to report on, but are you entering this with an open mind and interest?

[Lionheart72 2,191]

It definitely looks like you're just asking us to do your homework for you. I mean, it's pretty obvious that you just copied and pasted the assignment questions. I think you'd get a better response if you took a little time, looked away from the assignment sheet and asked some real questions.

[Lionheart72 2,191]

In my sociology class, each group was given a subculture to conduct research on and my group got swingers. To me it does seem like a subculture. Why is it not?

 

That depends on how you define subculture, I guess... but judging by your assignment questions, I would say swinging is not a subculture because it lacks most if not all of the features implied by those questions. Swinging does not have a hierarchy or organization. It doesn't have specific dress patterns, goals, "mores, folkways or values."

 

Really, my advice is do a little research and then come back and ask some better questions.

[kikonkrome 844]

I would disagree there is a lot of subtle things that I think make swinging a sub-culture. Especially if you go to the clubs. The tricky bit would be the idea of a 'hierarchy', but it certainly exists...remember women make the rules...single men are at the bottom. How many times have you seen that posted?

 

A sub-culture definitely does not need to be in the open.

 

TO the OP...just go through the threads and and archives and you can answer these questions. Also to the OP, remember us sub-cultures that are being studied do not necessarily like being studied. Imagine going to a punk rock concert with your list in hand and asking your questions. How well do you expect that to go over?

 

To the rest of the board, lighten up this is some early 20 year old, who got some shitty assignment from some dickhead professor. If we do not answer the questions what is going to happen? They are going to make some garbage up!! In general we (i.e. the swinger sub culture, LMAO ) do not want that to happen.

[kikonkrome 844]

Ok sunshine here goes!!

 

1. Is there a social hierarchy and if so what is it? How is the subculture organized?

 

I am continuously told women make the rules, couples are accepted single men are put up with. Bi-women have more 'value' than straight women and bi-men are anathema.

 

That being said there are certainly different variations on that theme. With the age of dat-der internetz pretty much any variation can be found. However,I would say women in general command a high value.

 

2. How do you or other members conceptualize the subculture?

 

One big orgy? Does that work? Make sure you TURN THAT IN!!

 

3. Are there particular forms of dress patterns (or other key physical characteristics) of the subculture and how is it associated with their particular values?

 

Well there was literally just a thread about this...entitled Can you spot the swinger? or something like that. Yes in general swinging will make you more conscious of your own appearance. Stylishly casual?

 

4. What are your goals within the subculture?

 

My wife and I like the adventure that each encounter brings. There will be a lot of variations on that theme.

 

5. What are the rules within the subculture? Are there people within the subculture who break those rules? If so, how?

 

I guess the most obvious one would be cheating or having an affair. As our sex lives are in general non-monogamous having sex without telling our significant others is generally considered verbotten.

 

6. What is the origin of the subculture? (If you know)

 

Bunch of horny Airforce pilots in the fifties, some quirky religious sects in the 19th century, Roman aristocracy? Modern swingers would have to trace back to the free love movement of the 60's.

 

7. How large is the subculture and are they bound to particular geographical sites (i.e. location)?

 

This is probably the most interesting question. I would say it crosses most racial and socio-economic boundaries. I would certainly say that the participants generally are above foraging for food on the hierarchy of needs. However with the ubiquity of the internet world wide I would measure a guess that there are very few boundaries both geographically or economically. I would guess that the practice is growing. I would also guess that it mostly involves a certain maturity.

 

8. What are the mores, folkways, and values endemic to this subculture?

 

Hedonism is a big one, also freedom of self expression. What turns me on may not be what turns you and that's ok.

 

9. What forms of social action (i.e. meaningful behavior) do the people within the subculture engage in and how are these actions different from the larger population?

 

non-monogamous sex, I thought that would be inherent.

 

Good luck with the class.

[Peace04 15]

Thanks I really appreciate the help.

[Peace04 15]

I will admit that I basically copied and pasted some questions that I am suppose to answer for my project. I'm just trying to get this project done so I hope you guys understand. Sorry if this thread came off as ignorant. Plus I never used forums before.

 

Oh and researching this was tough because there isn't a lot of available information about this lifestyle.

[funcoupledayton 2,708]

I would recommend the books, Opening Up and The Ethical Slut. There are also many swinging podcasts. You can Google swinging research and nonmonogamy research and find some articles and studies.

[Tahoecple 319]

Peace04 said:

Hi. I was wondering if anyone would care to put some time into answering some questions for a college project about the subculture of swinging. I would really appreciate it. You don't have to answer all the questions if you can't or don't want to. Even answering one would help. If there is anything more you would like to share about the culture, I would be glad to know. Thank you.

 

1. Is there a social hierarchy and if so what is it? How is the subculture organized?

 

2. How do you or other members conceptualize the subculture?

 

3. Are there particular forms of dress patterns (or other key physical characteristics) of the subculture and how is it associated with their particular values?

 

4. What are your goals within the subculture?

 

5. What are the rules within the subculture? Are there people within the subculture who break those rules? If so, how?

 

6. What is the origin of the subculture? (If you know)

 

7. How large is the subculture and are they bound to particular geographical sites (i.e. location)?

 

8. What are the mores, folkways, and values endemic to this subculture?

 

9. What forms of social action (i.e. meaningful behavior) do the people within the subculture engage in and how are these actions different from the larger population?

 

First, let me say that this looks like you have an assignment on a subculture. It appears you chose to be provocative, (an old term meaning smart-ass,) and decided to make yours on swinging. If you would have done some research beforehand you would have discovered that swinging isn’t a subculture, it’s a mindset, a lifestyle, a pastime, a way to have fun. It’s about a subjective as saying you’re researching the subculture of golfers, another pastime in which both men and women participate.

 

The fact of the matter is that humans are animals; all animals are by nature non-monogamous. Monogamy is a concept introduced by man, not by nature. The more interesting study for you might be the study of monogamy in the human race rather than the study of natural behavior. In fact, the only subculture here is the subculture of monogamy.

 

In closing, I find myself unable to answer any of your questions as none of them applies to swinging.

[Lionheart72 2,191]

Oh and researching this was tough because there isn't a lot of available information about this lifestyle.

 

Your Google-fu is weak, Grasshopper. (I mean that in a joking way.)

 

... but seriously, I suggest you hit Google and search "swinging faq." That's literally how I started learning about this (back in the ancient mists of time) and I think doing a little reading through the resulting sites will give you a better basis from which to start your research.

[CostaRica 130]

I recommend you read Swinging in America if you can find it in the library, it's like someone wrote a whole book on the swinging subculture

[SW_PA_Couple 4,026]

1. Is there a social hierarchy and if so what is it? How is the subculture organized?

 

As another esteemed members of this board has observed, single men are last in the pecking order.

 

2. How do you or other members conceptualize the subculture?

 

It is a nice leasure-time activity in the same sense as skiing or going to concerts.

 

3. Are there particular forms of dress patterns (or other key physical characteristics) of the subculture and how is it associated with their particular values?

 

No characteristic dress patterns. The physical characteristics of swingers are indistinguishable from the way that you see people dressed in public places like supermarkets.

 

4. What are your goals within the subculture?

 

The goal is to have as much fun as possible before the Grim Reaper catches up with me.

 

5. What are the rules within the subculture? Are there people within the subculture who break those rules? If so, how?

 

On this point, I will admit to swing having a characteristic of a subculture. There are some written rules such as those which bind people who go to swing club parties. There are many unwritten rules -- more than I could list here. Salient among the unwritten rules are no gay men allowed and no married person allowed who is working the scene without the knowledge and approval of a spouse.

 

6. What is the origin of the subculture? (If you know)

 

I have no Earthly idea. Folklore has it that it started among army U.S. air corps people of the World War II era but i have doubted that story owing to the fact that swing also seems to have European origins.

 

7. How large is the subculture and are they bound to particular geographical sites (i.e. location)?

 

It is World-wide.

 

8. What are the mores, folkways, and values endemic to this subculture?

 

People of every religious belief and ethnic heritage participate in swing activity. Most swing people whom I have met are moral people. A small number, whom I did not like and with whom I will not associate, are people who are concerned only with self interest.

 

9. What forms of social action (i.e. meaningful behavior) do the people within the subculture engage in and how are these actions different from the larger population?

 

No different, I can assure you, from the general population.