In an age seemingly dominated by hook-up culture and dating apps, it seems rather bizarre to speak of the decline of sex. Yet statistics overwhelmingly show that we are having less sex; a trend most prevalent amongst the younger generation. But what explains this phenomenon? And is the decline in sex necessarily a cause for concern? At HowTheLightGetsIn festival London 2022, Zoe Strimpel, Myriam François and Louise Perry debated the paradox of sexual liberation.

We are more open about sex than ever before. No topic too outrageous to discuss. No concern too personal to share. The sexual revolution of the ‘60s and ‘70s opened the floodgates for a new culture of sexual plenty, and in many ways we have never been more liberated. Yet at the same time, surveys paint a surprising picture of the current state of sex. In the US, the number of people having no sex in the last decade has risen by over 20%. [1]

So how do we make sense of this jarring paradox? Some may argue that this openness, whilst raising important questions regarding safety and consent, has also eradicated the magic and mystery of sex. Others may argue that the issue lies not so much with our openness to discussing sex, but rather with the other symptoms of our culture; internet pornography and sex toys, for instance, which have provided alternative ways to fulfil our desires.

Whilst the underlying causes may be wide and varied, the most fundamental question to emerge from these figures remains; what does the decline in sex truly say about our culture? It could be that it represents a profound loss of connection amongst humanity. Equally, it may indicate that we are simply more discerning in our choice of sexual partners. Making sense of these vital questions will help us better understand the current state of humanity, and offer guidance for the changes we, as a society, need to make.

At HowTheLightGetsIn festival London 2022, journalist, academic historian, and author of ‘Seeking Love in Modern Britain’ Zoe Strimpel, leading broadcaster and journalist, Myriam François, and critic and author of ‘The Case Against the Sexual Revolution’, Louise Perry, debated the key questions which emanate from the decline of sex.

The host of the debate, Rana Mitter, began by asking each speaker to outline their perspective on the question; why are we having less sex?

Zoe Strimpel opened proceedings and argued that whilst the decline of sex rests on a number of factors, the most powerful of these is the rise of the internet. From pornography to dating apps, the digital world which has shifted the mood of the sexual encounter ‘from the intimate to the alienating’. Mystery has undoubtedly been lost from sex, argued Strimpel, and we are worse off as a result. Whereas sex used to be characterised by its spontaneity and excitement, the younger generation now take a more detached, procedural view to sex. An openness about sex, whilst undoubtedly helping make it safer, has rendered the act ‘procedural’. For Strimpel, as with Foucault, ‘Sex is the secret which is never fully told’.