Navigating Dating & Fucking in a Post-COVID World
Article written by Kendra Beltran
While the end of the pandemic that rocked the world to its core is still hanging around, President Biden surpassing his promise of 100 million vaccine shots in his first 100 days has given many an itty-bitty sliver of hope that life could resume to somewhat normal before we ring in 2022. That means heading back to the office, hugging loved ones (remember hugs?), and of course - dating and more importantly, fucking. As we move closer and closer to normal again, one has to wonder how the fuck do we navigate romance and sex after a global pandemic?
One thing COVID did was give us a lot of time. A lot of freaking time, especially in the beginning when we weren’t scrambling for toilet paper and sanitizer wipes, we were sitting in our homes with every topic under the sun swirling around in our heads. With time to sit and think deep - many of us have reconsidered what we find important in life. Before, some who wanted to just fuck their way through life realized that perhaps having a partner by their side wouldn’t be the worst thing. You know, especially if there is a pandemic that leaves you inside for 95% of the day.
Revising how we go about not only how we date, but who - moving forward once COVID is a memory, it won’t be surprising if people take their time and get to know people more often than well, the alternative which is just swiping right and fucking all night. We’ve spent a year and some change with not much else but ourselves and our thoughts, and that longing for human connection could result in a wave of monogamy. Something that this generation seemed to have left in the past along with their fears of Y2K.
So as the world starts to open up and you can return to the clubs and finally dance until 2 am to “Rain On Me” (except you Australia - we see you enjoying the Gaga with drinks in hand), it’s important to remember how alone you may have been during 2020, and know that it’s not a bad thing to want a solid foundation in terms of a relationship. However, there is a flip side to this because life is like a coin. There are always two sides!
Yes, the lack of human connection has been dismal but so has the nonexistent physical contact for many. Just take a look at the always hilarious Nicole Byer’s Twitter - the sexual struggle is real y’all. With that, once people are vaccinated and can freely fuck without fear of catching a disease that’s wiped out over half a million people in the US alone - we’re going to see a rise in not only relationships blossoming, but a whole lot of hookups because for a lot of people - that’s been off the table for over a year.
So again, I do feel relationships are going to get deeper and more common but there is also going to be a sexual revolution of sorts with people going harder than ever before. With that, it’s wise to remain cautious not just because of COVID, but also keeping in mind that STDs haven’t ceased to exist. If you’re not the type that realized a need for a partner after this and just want to fuck - keep in mind that there are plenty of people exiting the pandemic with the same sexual needs. So it’s always smart to practice safe sex - more so than ever because people are going to be fucking like well, they haven’t fucked in over a year.
Throughout history, major events have always had an impact on our romance and sexual lives, and COVID is no different. Whether we’re seeing the reality of having someone close at all times, or the power of sex - the world post-COVID is going to be a wild one.