CINXE.COM

<!doctype html> <html lang="en" class="no-js b-pw-1280 b-reith-sans-font b-reith-serif-font b-reith-serif-loaded b-reith-sans-loaded"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex","20220713234819","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1657756099"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta data-rh="true" http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"/><meta data-rh="true" charset="utf-8"/><meta data-rh="true" name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"/><meta data-rh="true" name="keywords" content="worklife,ARTICLE,story,how-we-live"/><meta data-rh="true" name="description" content="Alcohol has long been a player in getting people together, but an increasing number of daters are trying romance without ‘liquid courage’."/><meta data-rh="true" name="author" content="Jessica Klein"/><meta data-rh="true" property="og:title" content="Dry dating: The rise of sober love and sex"/><meta data-rh="true" property="og:type" content="article"/><meta data-rh="true" property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex"/><meta data-rh="true" property="og:description" content="Alcohol has long been a player in getting people together, but an increasing number of daters are trying romance without ‘liquid courage’."/><meta data-rh="true" property="og:author" content="Jessica Klein"/><meta data-rh="true" property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/live/624x351/p0bn2qzq.jpg"/><meta data-rh="true" property="og:image:width" content="624"/><meta data-rh="true" property="og:image:height" content="351"/><meta data-rh="true" property="fb:pages" content="133536249999517"/><meta data-rh="true" name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/><meta data-rh="true" name="twitter:site" content="@BBC_Worklife"/><meta data-rh="true" name="twitter:title" content="Dry dating: The rise of sober love and sex"/><meta data-rh="true" name="twitter:description" content="Alcohol has long been a player in getting people together, but an increasing number of daters are trying romance without ‘liquid courage’."/><meta data-rh="true" name="twitter:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/live/624x351/p0bn2qzq.jpg"/> <title data-rh="true">Dry dating: The rise of sober love and sex - BBC Worklife</title> <link data-rh="true" rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex"/><link data-rh="true" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://static-web-assets.gnl-common.bbcverticals.com/features/pwa/20220627-121132-6c8d5ccb739bf0e69926695c29fb48bc3e1fbf37/worklife/apple-touch-icon.png"/><link data-rh="true" rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://static-web-assets.gnl-common.bbcverticals.com/features/pwa/20220627-121132-6c8d5ccb739bf0e69926695c29fb48bc3e1fbf37/worklife/favicon-32x32.png"/><link data-rh="true" rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://static-web-assets.gnl-common.bbcverticals.com/features/pwa/20220627-121132-6c8d5ccb739bf0e69926695c29fb48bc3e1fbf37/worklife/favicon-16x16.png"/><link data-rh="true" rel="shortcut icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://static-web-assets.gnl-common.bbcverticals.com/features/pwa/20220627-121132-6c8d5ccb739bf0e69926695c29fb48bc3e1fbf37/worklife/favicon.ico"/><link data-rh="true" rel="mask-icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://static-web-assets.gnl-common.bbcverticals.com/features/pwa/20220627-121132-6c8d5ccb739bf0e69926695c29fb48bc3e1fbf37/worklife/safari-pinned-tab.svg" color="#063d90"/><link data-rh="true" rel="manifest" href="/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/assets/worklife/site.webmanifest"/> <script> window.orb_fig_blocking = true; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> /* IE11 polyfills */ if (!('values' in Object)) { Object.prototype.constructor.values = function(o) { if (typeof o !== 'object') return console.error('not an object') return Object.keys(o).map(function(k) { return o[k] }) } } if (!('find' in Array.prototype)) { Array.prototype.find = function(fn) { for (let i = 0; i < this.length; i += 1) { if (fn.call(this, this[i], i)) return this[i]; } return undefined; } } if (!('includes' in Array.prototype)) { Array.prototype.includes = function(search) { return this.indexOf(search) > -1 } } </script> <script>document.documentElement.className = document.documentElement.className.replace('no-js', '');</script>    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <style> :root { --bbc-font: ReithSans, Arial, Helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; --bbc-font-legacy: Arial, Helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; } </style> <script nomodule type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819js_/https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/orbit/c112a8f36cf65a87b0355cbdb46acf5a/js/polyfills.js"></script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819cs_/https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/orbit/c112a8f36cf65a87b0355cbdb46acf5a/css/orbit-v5-ltr.min.css"> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819js_/https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/orbit/c112a8f36cf65a87b0355cbdb46acf5a/js/require.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> window.orbitData = {}; var additionalPageProperties = {}; additionalPageProperties['custom_var_5'] = '8224' || null; additionalPageProperties['custom_var_1'] = '10-02-2022 20:56' || null; additionalPageProperties['custom_var_3'] = 'how_we_live' || null; additionalPageProperties['custom_var_9'] = '1' || null; additionalPageProperties['custom_var_10'] = '' || null; additionalPageProperties['custom_var_6'] = '' || null; window.orbitData.userProfileUrl = "https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/userprofile"; window.page = { name: 'worklife.article.20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex.page' || null, destination: 'FEATURE_SITES_GNL' || null, producer: 'GNL_CAPITAL' || null, section: 'lovelife::premium_lovelife' || null, site: '' || null, contentId: '' || null, contentType: 'article' || null, edition: '' || null, additionalProperties: additionalPageProperties }; window.page.language = 'en'; window.page.language = 'en'; window.page.modal = false; </script> <script type="text/javascript">!function(){var t={930:function(t,e,r){function n(t,e){var r=Object.keys(t);if(Object.getOwnPropertySymbols){var n=Object.getOwnPropertySymbols(t);e&&(n=n.filter((function(e){return Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(t,e).enumerable}))),r.push.apply(r,n)}return r}function o(t){for(var e=1;e<arguments.length;e++){var r=null!=arguments[e]?arguments[e]:{};e%2?n(Object(r),!0).forEach((function(e){i(t,e,r[e])})):Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptors?Object.defineProperties(t,Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptors(r)):n(Object(r)).forEach((function(e){Object.defineProperty(t,e,Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(r,e))}))}return t}function i(t,e,r){return e in t?Object.defineProperty(t,e,{value:r,enumerable:!0,configurable:!0,writable:!0}):t[e]=r,t}var c=r(382),u=r(19);window.bbcpage=c.init(o({},window.page)),window.page=void 0,window.bbcuser=u.init(window,o({},window.user)),window.user=void 0},382:function(t){function e(t,e){var r=Object.keys(t);if(Object.getOwnPropertySymbols){var n=Object.getOwnPropertySymbols(t);e&&(n=n.filter((function(e){return Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(t,e).enumerable}))),r.push.apply(r,n)}return r}function r(t){for(var r=1;r<arguments.length;r++){var o=null!=arguments[r]?arguments[r]:{};r%2?e(Object(o),!0).forEach((function(e){n(t,e,o[e])})):Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptors?Object.defineProperties(t,Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptors(o)):e(Object(o)).forEach((function(e){Object.defineProperty(t,e,Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(o,e))}))}return t}function n(t,e,r){return e in t?Object.defineProperty(t,e,{value:r,enumerable:!0,configurable:!0,writable:!0}):t[e]=r,t}t.exports={init:function(t){var e=r({},t);return document.addEventListener("bbc-page-reset",(function(t){var r;t.detail&&t.detail.page&&(r=t.detail.page,e=Object.assign(e,r)),document.dispatchEvent(new Event("bbc-page-updated"))})),{getName:function(){return Promise.resolve(e.name||function(){if("file:"===window.location.protocol)return"local.file";var t=window.location.pathname.replace(/\/$/,"").replace(/^\//,"").replace(/\//g,".");return"".concat(t,".page")}())},getLanguage:function(){return Promise.resolve(e.language)},getDestination:function(){return Promise.resolve(e.destination)},getProducer:function(){return Promise.resolve(e.producer)},getSection:function(){return Promise.resolve(e.section)},getContentType:function(){return Promise.resolve(e.contentType)},getContentId:function(){return Promise.resolve(e.contentId)},getReferrer:function(){return Promise.resolve(window.orb&&null!==window.orb.referrer&&void 0!==window.orb.referrer?window.orb.referrer:document.referrer)},getAdditionalProperties:function(){return Promise.resolve(r({},e.additionalProperties))},loadCSS:function(t){return new Promise((function(e,r){var n=document.createElement("link");n.type="text/css",n.rel="stylesheet",n.onload=function(){e()},n.href=t,document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(n)}))},isModal:function(){return Promise.resolve(e.modal)}}}}},19:function(t,e,r){function n(t){return n="function"==typeof Symbol&&"symbol"==typeof Symbol.iterator?function(t){return typeof t}:function(t){return t&&"function"==typeof Symbol&&t.constructor===Symbol&&t!==Symbol.prototype?"symbol":typeof t},n(t)}function o(t,e){var r=Object.keys(t);if(Object.getOwnPropertySymbols){var n=Object.getOwnPropertySymbols(t);e&&(n=n.filter((function(e){return Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(t,e).enumerable}))),r.push.apply(r,n)}return r}function i(t){for(var e=1;e<arguments.length;e++){var r=null!=arguments[e]?arguments[e]:{};e%2?o(Object(r),!0).forEach((function(e){c(t,e,r[e])})):Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptors?Object.defineProperties(t,Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptors(r)):o(Object(r)).forEach((function(e){Object.defineProperty(t,e,Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(r,e))}))}return t}function c(t,e,r){return e in t?Object.defineProperty(t,e,{value:r,enumerable:!0,configurable:!0,writable:!0}):t[e]=r,t}function u(t,e){for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++){var n=e[r];n.enumerable=n.enumerable||!1,n.configurable=!0,"value"in n&&(n.writable=!0),Object.defineProperty(t,n.key,n)}}function a(t,e){if(!(t instanceof e))throw new TypeError("Cannot call a class as a function")}function f(t,e){if(e&&("object"===n(e)||"function"==typeof e))return e;if(void 0!==e)throw new TypeError("Derived constructors may only return object or undefined");return function(t){if(void 0===t)throw new ReferenceError("this hasn't been initialised - super() hasn't been called");return t}(t)}function s(t){var e="function"==typeof Map?new Map:void 0;return s=function(t){if(null===t||(r=t,-1===Function.toString.call(r).indexOf("[native code]")))return t;var r;if("function"!=typeof t)throw new TypeError("Super expression must either be null or a function");if(void 0!==e){if(e.has(t))return e.get(t);e.set(t,n)}function n(){return l(t,arguments,d(this).constructor)}return n.prototype=Object.create(t.prototype,{constructor:{value:n,enumerable:!1,writable:!0,configurable:!0}}),h(n,t)},s(t)}function l(t,e,r){return l=p()?Reflect.construct.bind():function(t,e,r){var n=[null];n.push.apply(n,e);var o=new(Function.bind.apply(t,n));return r&&h(o,r.prototype),o},l.apply(null,arguments)}function p(){if("undefined"==typeof Reflect||!Reflect.construct)return!1;if(Reflect.construct.sham)return!1;if("function"==typeof Proxy)return!0;try{return Boolean.prototype.valueOf.call(Reflect.construct(Boolean,[],(function(){}))),!0}catch(t){return!1}}function h(t,e){return h=Object.setPrototypeOf?Object.setPrototypeOf.bind():function(t,e){return t.__proto__=e,t},h(t,e)}function d(t){return d=Object.setPrototypeOf?Object.getPrototypeOf.bind():function(t){return t.__proto__||Object.getPrototypeOf(t)},d(t)}var y=r(890).loadModule,v=function(t){!function(t,e){if("function"!=typeof e&&null!==e)throw new TypeError("Super expression must either be null or a function");t.prototype=Object.create(e&&e.prototype,{constructor:{value:t,writable:!0,configurable:!0}}),Object.defineProperty(t,"prototype",{writable:!1}),e&&h(t,e)}(s,t);var e,r,n,o,i,c=(e=s,r=p(),function(){var t,n=d(e);if(r){var o=d(this).constructor;t=Reflect.construct(n,arguments,o)}else t=n.apply(this,arguments);return f(this,t)});function s(){return a(this,s),c.apply(this,arguments)}return n=s,o&&u(n.prototype,o),i&&u(n,i),Object.defineProperty(n,"prototype",{writable:!1}),n}(s(Error));t.exports={init:function(t,e){var r,n=i({},e),o=null;function c(){if(["X-Country","X-Ip_is_advertise_combined","X-Ip_is_uk_combined"].every((function(t){return!!n[t]})))return Promise.resolve(n);if(!o){var e=t.location.hostname.endsWith(".com")?"com":"co.uk";o=t.fetch("https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.".concat(e,"/userinfo")).then((function(t){return t.json()}))}return o}function u(t){if(t.status>=200&&t.status<300)return t;var e=new Error(t.statusText);throw e.response=t,e}function a(t){return t.json()}function f(){if(n.ageBand)return Promise.resolve(n);if(!r){if("undefined"==typeof XMLHttpRequest||!("withCredentials"in new XMLHttpRequest))return Promise.resolve(n);r=y(["idcta-v2/idcta-1"]).then((function(e){return e.initiateTokenRefresh().then((function(){return t.fetch(t.orbitData.userProfileUrl,{credentials:"include"}).then(u).then(a).then((function(t){return n=i(i({},n),t)}))}))}))}return r}var s={getHashedId:function(){return y(["idcta-v2/idcta-1"]).then((function(t){return t.getCookieInstance().getHidFromCookie()}))},isSignedIn:function(){return y(["idcta-v2/idcta-1"]).then((function(t){return t&&t.getCookieInstance().hasCookie()}))},getCountry:function(){return c().then((function(t){return t["X-Country"]||"gb"}))},isUKCombined:function(){return c().then((function(t){if(!t["X-Ip_is_uk_combined"])throw new v("missing isUKCombined from userinfo response");return"yes"===t["X-Ip_is_uk_combined"].toLowerCase()}))},canSeeAdverts:function(){return c().then((function(t){if(!t["X-Ip_is_advertise_combined"])throw new v("missing canSeeAdverts from userinfo response");return"yes"===t["X-Ip_is_advertise_combined"].toLowerCase()}))},getAgeBand:function(){return c().then((function(t){return t["X-Age-Band"]?Promise.resolve(t["X-Age-Band"]):s.isSignedIn().then((function(t){if(t)return f().then((function(t){return n["X-Age-Band"]=t["X-Age-Band"],n["X-Age-Band"]||void 0})).catch((function(){return n["X-Age-Band"]||void 0}))}))}))},allowsPerformanceCookies:function(){return y(["orb/cookies"]).then((function(t){return!!t.cookiesEnabled()&&!!t.readPolicy("performance")}))},allowsFunctionalCookies:function(){return y(["orb/cookies"]).then((function(t){return!!t.cookiesEnabled()&&!!t.readPolicy("personalisation")}))},getCookieValue:function(t){return y(["orb/cookies"]).then((function(e){return e.get(t)}))}};return s},BBCUserError:v}},890:function(t){t.exports={loadModule:function(t){return new Promise((function(e,r){window.require(t,(function(){e.apply(this,arguments)}),(function(t){r(t)}))}))}}},666:function(t){var e=function(t){"use strict";var e,r=Object.prototype,n=r.hasOwnProperty,o="function"==typeof Symbol?Symbol:{},i=o.iterator||"@@iterator",c=o.asyncIterator||"@@asyncIterator",u=o.toStringTag||"@@toStringTag";function a(t,e,r){return Object.defineProperty(t,e,{value:r,enumerable:!0,configurable:!0,writable:!0}),t[e]}try{a({},"")}catch(t){a=function(t,e,r){return t[e]=r}}function f(t,e,r,n){var o=e&&e.prototype instanceof v?e:v,i=Object.create(o.prototype),c=new k(n||[]);return i._invoke=function(t,e,r){var n=l;return function(o,i){if(n===h)throw new Error("Generator is already running");if(n===d){if("throw"===o)throw i;return C()}for(r.method=o,r.arg=i;;){var c=r.delegate;if(c){var u=_(c,r);if(u){if(u===y)continue;return u}}if("next"===r.method)r.sent=r._sent=r.arg;else if("throw"===r.method){if(n===l)throw n=d,r.arg;r.dispatchException(r.arg)}else"return"===r.method&&r.abrupt("return",r.arg);n=h;var a=s(t,e,r);if("normal"===a.type){if(n=r.done?d:p,a.arg===y)continue;return{value:a.arg,done:r.done}}"throw"===a.type&&(n=d,r.method="throw",r.arg=a.arg)}}}(t,r,c),i}function s(t,e,r){try{return{type:"normal",arg:t.call(e,r)}}catch(t){return{type:"throw",arg:t}}}t.wrap=f;var l="suspendedStart",p="suspendedYield",h="executing",d="completed",y={};function v(){}function b(){}function g(){}var w={};a(w,i,(function(){return this}));var m=Object.getPrototypeOf,O=m&&m(m(S([])));O&&O!==r&&n.call(O,i)&&(w=O);var P=g.prototype=v.prototype=Object.create(w);function j(t){["next","throw","return"].forEach((function(e){a(t,e,(function(t){return this._invoke(e,t)}))}))}function E(t,e){function r(o,i,c,u){var a=s(t[o],t,i);if("throw"!==a.type){var f=a.arg,l=f.value;return l&&"object"==typeof l&&n.call(l,"__await")?e.resolve(l.__await).then((function(t){r("next",t,c,u)}),(function(t){r("throw",t,c,u)})):e.resolve(l).then((function(t){f.value=t,c(f)}),(function(t){return r("throw",t,c,u)}))}u(a.arg)}var o;this._invoke=function(t,n){function i(){return new e((function(e,o){r(t,n,e,o)}))}return o=o?o.then(i,i):i()}}function _(t,r){var n=t.iterator[r.method];if(n===e){if(r.delegate=null,"throw"===r.method){if(t.iterator.return&&(r.method="return",r.arg=e,_(t,r),"throw"===r.method))return y;r.method="throw",r.arg=new TypeError("The iterator does not provide a 'throw' method")}return y}var o=s(n,t.iterator,r.arg);if("throw"===o.type)return r.method="throw",r.arg=o.arg,r.delegate=null,y;var i=o.arg;return i?i.done?(r[t.resultName]=i.value,r.next=t.nextLoc,"return"!==r.method&&(r.method="next",r.arg=e),r.delegate=null,y):i:(r.method="throw",r.arg=new TypeError("iterator result is not an object"),r.delegate=null,y)}function x(t){var e={tryLoc:t[0]};1 in t&&(e.catchLoc=t[1]),2 in t&&(e.finallyLoc=t[2],e.afterLoc=t[3]),this.tryEntries.push(e)}function L(t){var e=t.completion||{};e.type="normal",delete e.arg,t.completion=e}function k(t){this.tryEntries=[{tryLoc:"root"}],t.forEach(x,this),this.reset(!0)}function S(t){if(t){var r=t[i];if(r)return r.call(t);if("function"==typeof t.next)return t;if(!isNaN(t.length)){var o=-1,c=function r(){for(;++o<t.length;)if(n.call(t,o))return r.value=t[o],r.done=!1,r;return r.value=e,r.done=!0,r};return c.next=c}}return{next:C}}function C(){return{value:e,done:!0}}return b.prototype=g,a(P,"constructor",g),a(g,"constructor",b),b.displayName=a(g,u,"GeneratorFunction"),t.isGeneratorFunction=function(t){var e="function"==typeof t&&t.constructor;return!!e&&(e===b||"GeneratorFunction"===(e.displayName||e.name))},t.mark=function(t){return Object.setPrototypeOf?Object.setPrototypeOf(t,g):(t.__proto__=g,a(t,u,"GeneratorFunction")),t.prototype=Object.create(P),t},t.awrap=function(t){return{__await:t}},j(E.prototype),a(E.prototype,c,(function(){return this})),t.AsyncIterator=E,t.async=function(e,r,n,o,i){void 0===i&&(i=Promise);var c=new E(f(e,r,n,o),i);return t.isGeneratorFunction(r)?c:c.next().then((function(t){return t.done?t.value:c.next()}))},j(P),a(P,u,"Generator"),a(P,i,(function(){return this})),a(P,"toString",(function(){return"[object Generator]"})),t.keys=function(t){var e=[];for(var r in t)e.push(r);return e.reverse(),function r(){for(;e.length;){var n=e.pop();if(n in t)return r.value=n,r.done=!1,r}return r.done=!0,r}},t.values=S,k.prototype={constructor:k,reset:function(t){if(this.prev=0,this.next=0,this.sent=this._sent=e,this.done=!1,this.delegate=null,this.method="next",this.arg=e,this.tryEntries.forEach(L),!t)for(var r in this)"t"===r.charAt(0)&&n.call(this,r)&&!isNaN(+r.slice(1))&&(this[r]=e)},stop:function(){this.done=!0;var t=this.tryEntries[0].completion;if("throw"===t.type)throw t.arg;return this.rval},dispatchException:function(t){if(this.done)throw t;var r=this;function o(n,o){return u.type="throw",u.arg=t,r.next=n,o&&(r.method="next",r.arg=e),!!o}for(var i=this.tryEntries.length-1;i>=0;--i){var c=this.tryEntries[i],u=c.completion;if("root"===c.tryLoc)return o("end");if(c.tryLoc<=this.prev){var a=n.call(c,"catchLoc"),f=n.call(c,"finallyLoc");if(a&&f){if(this.prev<c.catchLoc)return o(c.catchLoc,!0);if(this.prev<c.finallyLoc)return o(c.finallyLoc)}else if(a){if(this.prev<c.catchLoc)return o(c.catchLoc,!0)}else{if(!f)throw new Error("try statement without catch or finally");if(this.prev<c.finallyLoc)return o(c.finallyLoc)}}}},abrupt:function(t,e){for(var r=this.tryEntries.length-1;r>=0;--r){var o=this.tryEntries[r];if(o.tryLoc<=this.prev&&n.call(o,"finallyLoc")&&this.prev<o.finallyLoc){var i=o;break}}i&&("break"===t||"continue"===t)&&i.tryLoc<=e&&e<=i.finallyLoc&&(i=null);var c=i?i.completion:{};return c.type=t,c.arg=e,i?(this.method="next",this.next=i.finallyLoc,y):this.complete(c)},complete:function(t,e){if("throw"===t.type)throw t.arg;return"break"===t.type||"continue"===t.type?this.next=t.arg:"return"===t.type?(this.rval=this.arg=t.arg,this.method="return",this.next="end"):"normal"===t.type&&e&&(this.next=e),y},finish:function(t){for(var e=this.tryEntries.length-1;e>=0;--e){var r=this.tryEntries[e];if(r.finallyLoc===t)return this.complete(r.completion,r.afterLoc),L(r),y}},catch:function(t){for(var e=this.tryEntries.length-1;e>=0;--e){var r=this.tryEntries[e];if(r.tryLoc===t){var n=r.completion;if("throw"===n.type){var o=n.arg;L(r)}return o}}throw new Error("illegal catch attempt")},delegateYield:function(t,r,n){return this.delegate={iterator:S(t),resultName:r,nextLoc:n},"next"===this.method&&(this.arg=e),y}},t}(t.exports);try{regeneratorRuntime=e}catch(t){"object"==typeof globalThis?globalThis.regeneratorRuntime=e:Function("r","regeneratorRuntime = r")(e)}}},e={};function r(n){var o=e[n];if(void 0!==o)return o.exports;var i=e[n]={exports:{}};return t[n](i,i.exports,r),i.exports}r(666);r(930)}();</script> <script type="module"> window.importmap = {"orbit-drawer":"https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/orbit/c112a8f36cf65a87b0355cbdb46acf5a/js/drawer.mjs","bbccookies":"https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/cookies/6f7a92d4fabe448fb9b4b2169f055909/cookie-banner/cookie-library.module.js"}; var o={738:function(o){o.exports={loadModule:function(o){return new Promise(((n,t)=>{window.require(o,(function(){n.apply(this,arguments)}),(o=>{t(o)}))}))}}},61:function(o,n,t){const{loadModule:r}=t(738);o.exports=function(o){return function(n){return"string"==typeof n&&o[n]?import(o[n]):r(n)}}}},n={};function t(r){var i=n[r];if(void 0!==i)return i.exports;var e=n[r]={exports:{}};return o[r](e,e.exports,t),e.exports}!function(){const o=t(61);window.shimport=o({...window.importmap}),window.importMap=void 0}();</script> <script type="text/javascript"> window.page = undefined; window.user = undefined; </script> <link rel="preload" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/fonts/reith/2.512/BBCReithSans_W_Rg.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/fonts/reith/2.512/BBCReithSans_W_Bd.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin>          <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819cs_/https://nav.files.bbci.co.uk/searchbox/607ffea8a9089c592ef68b9e4084edfb/css/box.css"> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819js_/https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/cookies/6f7a92d4fabe448fb9b4b2169f055909/cookie-banner/cookie-library.bundle.js"></script><script type="text/javascript">void 0!==window.define&&define("orb/cookies",function(){return window.bbccookies})</script> <script type="text/javascript">window.__detectview={clickManagementEnabled:false};</script> <script type="text/javascript">"use strict";!function(){window.__reverbStaticLocation="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://mybbc-analytics.files.bbci.co.uk/reverb-client-js/",window.__smarttagVersion="5.29.1",window.__reverb={},window.__reverb.__reverbLoadedPromise=new Promise(function(e,i){window.__reverb.__resolveReverbLoaded=e,window.__reverb.__rejectReverbLoaded=i}),window.__reverb.__reverbTimeout=setTimeout(function(){window.__reverb.__rejectReverbLoaded()},5e3);var i=function(d,a){window.__reverb.__reverbLoadedPromise.then(function(e){if(d&&d.detail){var i=!!d.detail.item,n=d.detail.label,t=i?"viewability":d.detail.type,o=d.detail.elem,r=d.detail.originalEvent;d.detail.isClick&&(a=d.detail.isClick),e.userActionEvent(t,n,d.detail,o,r,a)}},function(){console.log("Reverb failed to load. Event not sent")})},n=function(){window.__reverb.__reverbLoadedPromise.then(function(e){e.initialise().then(function(){return e.viewEvent()})},function(){console.log("Reverb failed to load. Event not sent")})};document.addEventListener("bbc-user-event",function(e){i(e,!1)}),document.addEventListener("bbc-user-click",function(e){i(e,!0)}),document.addEventListener("bbc-page-updated",n),window.addEventListener("pageshow",function(e){e.persisted&&n()})}();</script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819js_/https://mybbc-analytics.files.bbci.co.uk/reverb-client-js/reverb-3.5.0.js" async></script> <script type="text/javascript">const adsDebug=/[?|&]ads-debug/.test(window.location.href),dotcomFlag=/[?|&]ngas/.test(window.location.href),isWwhp=/.bbc.com/.test(window.location.hostname)&&"/"===window.location.pathname||"/wwhp"===window.location.pathname,rx=new RegExp(".bbc.com/sport"),isSport=rx.test(window.location.href),newsRX=new RegExp(".bbc.com/news"),isNews=newsRX.test(window.location.href),bbcdotcomDebug=/[?|&]bbcdotcom/.test(window.location.href);var dotcomNgasEl,head,bbcdotcomConfig,bbcdotcomForgeAsync,googletag,bbcdotcom;!bbcdotcomDebug&&(dotcomFlag||isWwhp||isSport||isNews)?(window.dotcom=window.dotcom||{cmd:[]},window.dotcomConfig=window.dotcomConfig||{},window.dotcom.ads=window.dotcom.ads||{},window.dotcom.ads.resolves={enabled:[],getAdTag:[]},window.dotcom.ads.enabled=function(){return new Promise(function(o){window.dotcom.ads.resolves.enabled.push(o)})},window.dotcom.ads.getAdTag=function(){return new Promise(function(o){window.dotcom.ads.resolves.getAdTag.push(o)})},require({paths:{bbcdotcom:"https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://gn-web-assets.api.bbc.com/bbcdotcom/assets/20220713-120143-df89838a6-4.80.0/script"}}),dotcomNgasEl=document.createElement("script"),head=document.head||document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0],window.dotcomConfig.bbcdotcom=!0,window.bbcdotcom={adverts:{},reset:function(){},setAdUnit:function(){},stickyAdvert:function(){return{add:function(){}}}},window.bbcdotcomConfig={},window.bbcdotcom.cmd={push:function(o){window.dotcom.cmd.push(o)}},bbcdotcom.adverts.keyValues={unset:function(){}},bbcdotcom.adverts.adUnit={setUid:function(){}},bbcdotcom.av={emp:{adverts:""}},bbcdotcom.init=function(o){if(0===window.location.pathname.indexOf("/sport")||0===window.location.pathname.indexOf("/storyworks")){if(o.adsToDisplay)for(var t=0;t<o.adsToDisplay.length;t++){var n=o.adsToDisplay[t];window.dotcom.cmd.push(function(){window.dotcom.ads.registerSlot(n)})}if(o.keyValues)for(var t in o.keyValues)window.dotcom.cmd.push(function(){window.dotcom.ads.setTargeting(t,o.keyValues[t])})}},bbcdotcom.resetPage=function(o){window.dotcom.cmd.push(function(){window.dotcom.locationChange(o)})},bbcdotcom.setAdUnit=function(o){window.dotcom.cmd.push(function(){window.dotcom.ads.setAdUnit(o)})},bbcdotcom.slotAsync=function(o,t){window.dotcom.cmd.push(function(){window.dotcom.ads.registerSlot(o,{},"",t)})},bbcdotcom.registerAd=function(o,t,n){let c,e;"string"==typeof o?c=o:([c]=Object.keys(o),e=o[c].advertText||"",t=o[c].groups||t||""),window.dotcom.cmd.push(function(){window.dotcom.ads.registerSlot(c,n,e,t)})},bbcdotcom.pubsub={on:function(o,t){window.dotcom.cmd.push(function(){bbcdotcom.pubsub.on(o,t)})},off:function(o,t){window.dotcom.cmd.push(function(){bbcdotcom.pubsub.off(o,t)})}},bbcdotcom.setConfig=function(o){window.adsDebug&&adsDebug&&console.log("bbcdotcom setConfig",o)},bbcdotcom.config={isAdsEnabled:function(){return!0},isAnalyticsEnabled:function(){return!0},isAvailable:function(){return new Promise(function(o){o(!0)})},isActive:function(){return!0}},bbcdotcom.setAdKeyValue=function(o,t){window.dotcom.cmd.push(function(){window.dotcom.ads.setTargeting(o,t)})},bbcdotcom.getFeature=function(){return{isEnabled:function(){return!0}}},dotcomNgasEl.type="text/javascript",dotcomNgasEl.async=!0,dotcomNgasEl.src=/ads-test=true/.test(window.location.search)?"https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://gn-web-assets.api.bbc.com/ngas/latest/test/dotcom-bootstrap.js":"https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://gn-web-assets.api.bbc.com/ngas/latest/dotcom-bootstrap.js",dotcomNgasEl.onload=function(){var o=document.getElementById("bbccom_interstitial");o&&(o.setAttribute("id","dotcom-interstitial"),o.setAttribute("class","dotcom-ad"),bbcdotcom.slotAsync("interstitial"))},head.appendChild(dotcomNgasEl),window.dotcomEnabled=!0):(bbcdotcomConfig={},bbcdotcomForgeAsync=!0,(googletag=window.googletag||{}).cmd=window.googletag.cmd||[],bbcdotcomScripts=[],tp=window.tp||[],_comscore=window._comscore||[],(bbcdotcom={test:/test/.test(window.location.hostname),adverts:{keyValues:{},breakpoints:{}},advert:{write:function(){},show:function(){},isActive:function(){return!1},layout:function(){return{reset:function(){}}}},config:{init:function(){},isAvailable:function(){return new Promise(function(o){bbcdotcom.resolves?bbcdotcom.resolves.isAvailable.push(o):o(!1)})},isAdsEnabledAsync:function(){return new Promise(function(o){bbcdotcom.resolves?bbcdotcom.resolves.adsEnabled.push(o):o(!1)})},isAnalyticsEnabledAsync:function(){return new Promise(function(o){bbcdotcom.resolves?bbcdotcom.resolves.analyticsEnabled.push(o):o(!1)})},setSections:function(){},setAdsEnabled:function(){},setAnalyticsEnabled:function(){},setAssetPrefix:function(){},setFlagpoles:function(){},setVersion:function(){},setJsPrefix:function(){},setSwfPrefix:function(){},setCssPrefix:function(){},setConfig:function(){},getAssetPrefix:function(){},getJsPrefix:function(){},getSwfPrefix:function(){},getCssPrefix:function(){},isOptimizelyEnabled:function(){},isThirdPartyDisabled:function(){},isThirdPartyDisabledEU:function(){},setEU:function(){}},survey:{init:function(){return!1}},data:{},init:function(){},objects:function(o){return!1},locale:{set:function(){},get:function(){}},setAdKeyValue:function(){},utils:{addEvent:function(){},addHtmlTagClass:function(){},log:function(){}},addLoadEvent:function(){},resolves:{isAvailable:[],adsEnabled:[],analyticsEnabled:[]},resolvePromises:function(){if(bbcdotcom.resolves){for(var o=0;o<bbcdotcom.resolves.isAvailable.length;o++)bbcdotcom.resolves.isAvailable[o](!1);delete bbcdotcom.resolves}},flag:{a:!1,s:!1},asyncCmd:[],isSportApp:function(){var o=window.location.pathname;return void 0!==o&&-1!==o.indexOf(".app")&&0===o.indexOf("/sport")},init:function(o){bbcdotcom.asyncCmd.push(function(){bbcdotcom.init(o)})},slotAsync:function(o,t,n,c){bbcdotcom.asyncCmd.push(function(){bbcdotcom.slotAsync(o,t,n,c)})}}).adverts.slotAsync=function(o,t,n){bbcdotcom.asyncCmd.push(function(){bbcdotcom.adverts.slotAsync(o,t,n)})},bbcdotcom.config.isAdsEnabled=function(){var o=window.location.pathname;return void 0===o||0!==o.indexOf("/sport")||-1===o.indexOf(".app")},bbcdotcom.config.isActive=function(){var o=window.location.pathname;return void 0===o||0!==o.indexOf("/sport")||-1===o.indexOf(".app")},bbcdotcom.config.isAnalyticsEnabled=function(){return!0},bbcdotcom.registerAd=function(o,t,n){bbcdotcom.asyncCmd.push(function(){bbcdotcom.registerAd(o,t,n)})},bbcdotcom.setAdUnit=function(o){bbcdotcom.asyncCmd.push(function(){bbcdotcom.setAdUnit(o)})},bbcdotcom.adverts.adUnit={},bbcdotcom.adverts.adUnit.setUid=function(o){bbcdotcom.asyncCmd.push(function(){bbcdotcom.adverts.adUnit.setUid(o)})},bbcdotcom.setConfig=function(o){bbcdotcom.asyncCmd.push(function(){bbcdotcom.setConfig(o)})},bbcdotcom.setAdKeyValue=function(o,t){bbcdotcom.asyncCmd.push(function(){bbcdotcom.setAdKeyValue(o,t)})},bbcdotcom.getFeature=function(){return{isEnabled:function(){return!0}}},bbcdotcom.disableAndCloseOpenAds=function(){bbcdotcom.asyncDisableAndCloseOpenAds=!0},bbcdotcom.setAdKeyValue=function(o,t){bbcdotcom.asyncCmd.push(function(){bbcdotcom.adverts.keyValues.set(o,t)})},bbcdotcom.adverts.keyValues.set=function(o,t){bbcdotcom.asyncCmd.push(function(){bbcdotcom.adverts.keyValues.set(o,t)})},bbcdotcom.adverts.keyValues.unset=function(o){bbcdotcom.asyncCmd.push(function(){bbcdotcom.adverts.keyValues.unset(o)})},bbcdotcom.pubsub={},bbcdotcom.pubsub.on=function(o,t){bbcdotcom.asyncCmd.push(function(){bbcdotcom.pubsub.on(o,t)})},bbcdotcom.pubsub.off=function(o,t){bbcdotcom.asyncCmd.push(function(){bbcdotcom.pubsub.off(o,t)})},bbcdotcom.analytics={},bbcdotcom.analytics.page=function(o){bbcdotcom.asyncCmd.push(function(){bbcdotcom.analytics.page(o)})},bbcdotcom.av={emp:{adverts:""}},bbcdotcom.config.isContinuousPlayPage=function(){return!1},bbcdotcom.config.isSportApp=function(){var o=window.location.pathname;return void 0!==o&&-1!==o.indexOf(".app")&&0===o.indexOf("/sport")},bbcdotcom.adverts.breakpoints.setGroupStart=function(o,t){bbcdotcom.asyncCmd.push(function(){bbcdotcom.adverts.breakpoints.setGroupStart(o,t)})},"undefined"!=typeof require&&require({paths:{bbcdotcom:"https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://gn-web-assets.api.bbc.com/bbcdotcom/assets/20220713-120143-df89838a6-4.80.0/script"}}),window.bbcdotcom&&bbcdotcom.isSportApp&&!bbcdotcom.isSportApp()&&window.bbcuser.isUKCombined().then(function(o){return o&&!adsDebug?(adsDebug&&console.log("UK location, not ads debug mode, don't load flags, don't load ads."),(o=window.bbcdotcom||{}).config.isAdsEnabled=function(){return!1},o.config.isActive=function(){return!1},o.config.isAnalyticsEnabled=function(){return!1},o.getFeature=function(){return{isEnabled:function(){return!1}}},void o.resolvePromises()):void window.bbcuser.canSeeAdverts().then(function(o){if(!o&&!adsDebug)return adsDebug&&console.log("canSeeAdverts false, not ads debug mode, don't load ads."),(t=window.bbcdotcom||{}).config.isAdsEnabled=function(){return!1},t.config.isActive=function(){return!1},t.config.isAnalyticsEnabled=function(){return!1},t.getFeature=function(){return{isEnabled:function(){return!1}}},void t.resolvePromises();var t=/test/.test(window.location.hostname)?"https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://gn-flagpoles.test.api.bbci.co.uk/gnlops":"https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://gn-flagpoles.api.bbci.co.uk/gnlops",e=new XMLHttpRequest;e.open("GET",t),e.onload=function(){var t,o,n=JSON.parse(e.responseText),c=window.bbcdotcom||{};c.flag.a="true"===n.adverts?1:0,c.flag.s="true"===n.analytics?1:0,c.flag.a||c.flag.s?(o=/test/.test(window.location.hostname)?"https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://gn-flagpoles.test.api.bbci.co.uk/bbcdotcom":"https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://gn-flagpoles.api.bbci.co.uk/bbcdotcom",(t=new XMLHttpRequest).open("GET",o),t.onload=function(){var c=JSON.parse(t.responseText),e=window.bbcdotcom||{};[{tp:"thirdPartyEEA"},{d:"adsense"},{asa:"adsportapp"},{l:"lotame"},{p:"platinum"},{g:"grapeshot"},{sh:"sherlock"},{pe:"permutive"},{si:"signin"},{sis:"signinSport"},{sin:"signinNews"},{siw:"signinWWHP"},{piano:"piano"},{fundingchoices_cmp:"fundingchoices_cmp"},{storyworks_cmp:"storyworks_cmp"},{content_rec:"content_rec"},{ias_publisher:"ias_publisher"},{fpd:"fpd"},{sticky_leader_news:"sticky_leader_news"},{sticky_leader_sport:"sticky_leader_sport"}].forEach(function(o,t){for(var n in o)e.flag[n]="true"===c[o[n]]?1:0}),e.data={ads:e.flag.a,stats:e.flag.s,statsProvider:"",country:""},function(){const o=document.createElement("link");o.href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://gn-web-assets.api.bbc.com/bbcdotcom/assets/20220713-120143-df89838a6-4.80.0/style/bbcdotcom-async.css",o.rel="stylesheet",o.type="text/css",document.head.appendChild(o)}();var o=document.createElement("script"),n=document.head||document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0];o.type="text/javascript",o.async=!0,o.src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://gn-web-assets.api.bbc.com/bbcdotcom/assets/20220713-120143-df89838a6-4.80.0/script/bbcdotcom.js",o.onload=function(){window.bbcuser.getCountry().then(function(o){e.data.country=o,e.assetPrefix="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://gn-web-assets.api.bbc.com/bbcdotcom/assets/20220713-120143-df89838a6-4.80.0/",bbcdotcomConfig={assetPrefix:"https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://gn-web-assets.api.bbc.com/bbcdotcom/assets/20220713-120143-df89838a6-4.80.0/",staticVersion:"20220713-120143-df89838a6-4.80.0",staticPrefix:"https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://gn-web-assets.api.bbc.com/bbcdotcom/assets/20220713-120143-df89838a6-4.80.0/"},e.config.init(bbcdotcomConfig,e.data,window.location,window.document),e.config.setAssetPrefix(bbcdotcomConfig.assetPrefix),e.config.setVersion(bbcdotcomConfig.staticVersion),e.config.setFlagpoles(e.flag);o=!!o&&-1!==["AT","BE","BG","HR","CY","CZ","DK","EE","FI","FR","DE","GR","HU","IE","IT","LV","LT","LU","MT","NL","PL","PT","RO","SK","SI","ES","SE","IS","LI","NO","CH"].indexOf(o.toUpperCase());e.config.setEU(o);var t,o=function(o){var t=document.createElement("link"),n=document.head||document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0];t.href=o,t.rel="dns-prefetch",n.appendChild(t)};e.flag.s&&o("//web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://secure-us.imrworldwide.com/"),e.flag.a&&(o("//web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.googletagservices.com/"),o("//web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://bbc.gscontxt.net/"),(t=document.createElement("meta")).setAttribute("name","google-site-verification"),t.setAttribute("content","auTeTTwSt_KBY_4iDoR00Lwb7-qzx1IgzJy6ztaWgEI"),n.appendChild(t)),e.flag.a&&(e.config.isGrapeshotEnabled()&&!e.config.isWorldService()&&(t=window.location.href.split("?")[0],bbcdotcomScripts.push({src:"https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://bbc.gscontxt.net/?url="+encodeURIComponent(t)})),bbcdotcomScripts.push({src:"https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js"}),e.config.isIASEnabled()&&(window.__iasPET=window.__iasPET||{},window.__iasPET.queue=window.__iasPET.queue||[],window.__iasPET.pubId="9708",bbcdotcomScripts.push({src:"https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://cdn.adsafeprotected.com/iasPET.1.js"}))),(e.flag.s||e.flag.a)&&(e.config.isPermutiveEnabled()&&!e.config.isWorldService()&&(function(n){if(!n){n=n||{},(window.permutive=n).q=[],n.config={consentRequired:!0},n.config.projectId="e488cdb0-e7cb-4d91-9648-60d437d8e491",n.config.apiKey="1bb84885-9325-4fef-adda-a208032b2715",n.config.environment=n.config.environment||"production";for(var o=["addon","identify","track","trigger","query","segment","segments","ready","on","once","user","consent"],t=0;t<o.length;t++){var c=o[t];n[c]=function(t){return function(){var o=Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0);n.q.push({functionName:t,arguments:o})}}(c)}}}((document,window.permutive)),bbcdotcomScripts.push({src:"https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://cdn.permutive.com/e488cdb0-e7cb-4d91-9648-60d437d8e491-web.js"})),bbcdotcomScripts.forEach(function(o){var t=document.createElement("script");t.async=!1,o.id&&(t.id=o.id),t.src=o.src,n.appendChild(t)}),window.bbcdotcom.config.isCmpEnabled()?(window.googlefc=window.googlefc||{},window.googlefc.callbackQueue=window.googlefc.callbackQueue||[],new Promise(function(n){window.googlefc.callbackQueue.push({CONSENT_DATA_READY:function(){window.__tcfapi("getTCData",2,function(o,t){t&&o.gdprApplies&&(window.bbcdotcom.consent={},window.bbcdotcom.gdprApplies=!0,window.bbcdotcom.consent.comscore=o.vendor.consents[77],window.bbcdotcom.consent.permutive=o.vendor.consents[360]&&o.vendor.consents[361],window.bbcdotcom.consent.googleads=o.vendor.consents[755],window.bbcdotcom.consent.nielsen=o.vendor.consents[373]&&o.vendor.consents[812],n(!0)),n(!0)},[77,164,360,361,373,755,812])}})}).then(function(){for(window.bbcdotcom.consentChecked=!0,window.bbcdotcom.asyncDisableAndCloseOpenAds&&window.bbcdotcom.asyncCmd.unshift(function(){window.bbcdotcom.disableAndCloseOpenAds()});window.bbcdotcom.asyncCmd&&0<window.bbcdotcom.asyncCmd.length;)window.bbcdotcom.asyncCmd.shift()()}),function(){const o=document.createElement("script");o.type="text/javascript",o.async=!0,o.src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://gn-web-assets.api.bbc.com/ngas/vendor/fundingchoices/cmp.js",document.head.appendChild(o)}()):function(){for(;window.bbcdotcom.asyncCmd&&0<window.bbcdotcom.asyncCmd.length;)window.bbcdotcom.asyncCmd.shift()()}()),window.adsDebug&&adsDebug&&console.log("bbcdotcom up and running...")})},n.appendChild(o)},t.onerror=function(){var o;(o=window.bbcdotcom||{}).config.isAdsEnabled=function(){return!1},o.config.isActive=function(){return!1},o.config.isAnalyticsEnabled=function(){return!1},o.getFeature=function(){return{isEnabled:function(){return!1}}},o.resolvePromises()},t.send()):((o=window.bbcdotcom||{}).config.isAdsEnabled=function(){return!1},o.config.isActive=function(){return!1},o.config.isAnalyticsEnabled=function(){return!1},o.getFeature=function(){return{isEnabled:function(){return!1}}},o.resolvePromises())},e.onerror=function(){var o;(o=window.bbcdotcom||{}).config.isAdsEnabled=function(){return!1},o.config.isActive=function(){return!1},o.config.isAnalyticsEnabled=function(){return!1},o.getFeature=function(){return{isEnabled:function(){return!1}}},o.resolvePromises()},e.send()})}));</script> <script type="text/javascript">"use strict";function asyncGeneratorStep(e,t,n,r,o,a,i){try{var s=e[a](i),c=s.value}catch(e){return void n(e)}s.done?t(c):Promise.resolve(c).then(r,o)}function _asyncToGenerator(s){return function(){var e=this,i=arguments;return new Promise(function(t,n){var r=s.apply(e,i);function o(e){asyncGeneratorStep(r,t,n,o,a,"next",e)}function a(e){asyncGeneratorStep(r,t,n,o,a,"throw",e)}o(void 0)})}}var wrapMethod=function(e,t){return e[t]&&"function"==typeof e[t]?e[t]():Promise.resolve(null)},getPageVariables=function(){return window&&window.bbcpage?Promise.all(["getDestination","getSection"].map(function(e){return wrapMethod(window.bbcpage,e)})).then(function(e){var t=JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(e));return{destination:t[0],section:t[1]}}):Promise.resolve(void 0)},getUserVariables=function(){return window&&window.bbcuser?Promise.all(["isSignedIn","getHashedId"].map(function(e){return wrapMethod(window.bbcuser,e)})).then(function(e){var t=JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(e));return{isSignedIn:t[0],hashedId:t[1]}}):Promise.resolve(void 0)},dotMetricsTag=function(e,t){var n=document.createElement("script");return n.src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://uk-script.dotmetrics.net/door.js?d=".concat(t,"&t=").concat(e),n.async=!0,n.id="dotmetrics",document.body.appendChild(n),function(){document.body.removeChild(n)}},isAccountPage=function(e,t){return!!e.includes("account.bbc")||!!t&&("account"===t.toLowerCase()||"account_test"===t.toLowerCase())},parseSiteSectionName=function(e){var t=e.destination,n=e.section,r=document?document.location.host.replace(/:.*/,""):"bbc.no.host";if(t){var o="";return n&&["NEWS_PS","NEWS_PS_TEST","SOUNDS","SOUNDS_TEST","SPORT_PS","SPORT_PS_TEST","IPLAYER","IPLAYER_TEST"].includes(t.toUpperCase())&&(o=n.split("::")[0]),{siteSectionNameString:"".concat(t).concat(o).toLowerCase().replace(/_/g,""),host:r}}return{siteSectionNameString:"other",host:r}};function startUkom(){return _startUkom.apply(this,arguments)}function _startUkom(){return(_startUkom=_asyncToGenerator(regeneratorRuntime.mark(function e(){var t,n,r;return regeneratorRuntime.wrap(function(e){for(;;)switch(e.prev=e.next){case 0:return e.next=2,getUserVariables();case 2:if((t=e.sent)&&t.isSignedIn&&null==t.hashedId)return e.abrupt("return");e.next=5;break;case 5:return e.next=7,getPageVariables();case 7:if(n=e.sent,isAccountPage(document.location.host,n.destination))return e.abrupt("return");e.next=10;break;case 10:r=parseSiteSectionName(n),dotMetricsTag(r.siteSectionNameString,r.host);case 12:case"end":return e.stop()}},e)}))).apply(this,arguments)}document.addEventListener("bbc-page-updated",function(){startUkom()}),window.addEventListener("pageshow",function(e){e.persisted&&startUkom()}),document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){startUkom()});</script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819cs_/https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/account/id-cta/583/style/id-cta.css"><script type="text/javascript">(function () {if (!window.require) {throw new Error('idcta: could not find require module');}if (typeof (map) == 'undefined') {var map = {};}if (!!document.createElementNS && !!document.createElementNS('http://www.w3.org/2000/svg', 'svg').createSVGRect) {document.documentElement.className += ' id-svg';}var ptrt = new RegExp("[\\?&]ptrt=([^&]*)").exec(document.location.href);var ENDPOINT_URL = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://idcta.api.bbc.co.uk';var ENDPOINT_CONFIG = ('/idcta/config?callback=&ptrt=' + (ptrt ? ptrt[1] : encodeURIComponent(document.location.href))).replace(/\&/g, '&');var ENDPOINT_TRANSLATIONS = '/idcta/translations?callback=';function hasPromise() {var P = window.Promise;var promiseToString = null;if (P) {try {promiseToString = Object.prototype.toString.call(P.resolve());} catch (e) {/*silently ignored*/}}return (promiseToString === '[object Promise]' && !P.cast);}if (hasPromise()) {define('idcta/es6-promise', function () {return window.Promise;});define('idcta-v2/es6-promise', function () {return window.Promise;});}map['idcta-v2'] = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/account/id-cta/583/modules/idcta-v2';map['idcta-v2/config'] = ENDPOINT_URL + ENDPOINT_CONFIG;map['idcta-v2/translations'] = ENDPOINT_URL + ENDPOINT_TRANSLATIONS;map['idcta'] = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/account/id-cta/1.8.2/modules/idcta';map['idcta-v2/idcta-1'] = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/account/id-cta/583/modules/idcta-v2/dist/idcta-1.min';map['idcta-v2/experiment-snippet'] = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://cdn.optimizely.com/public/4621041136/s/idcta_live';const idctaShim = {deps: ['idcta-v2/idcta-1'],};require({shim: {'idcta-v2/statusbar': idctaShim,'idcta-v2/id-config': idctaShim},map: {'*': {'idcta/idcta-1': 'idcta-v2/idcta-1','idcta': 'idcta-v2',}},paths: map});window.idctaBaseUrl = ENDPOINT_URL;define('idcta/config', ['idcta-v2/config'], function (data) { return data; });define('idcta/translations', ['idcta-v2/translations'], function (data) { return data; });})();</script> <style>@font-face{font-family:'CuriousSansBold';font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;src:url(https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://static-web-assets.gnl-common.bbcverticals.com/features/pwa/20220627-121132-6c8d5ccb739bf0e69926695c29fb48bc3e1fbf37/static/media/curious-sans-bold.b389ec59.eot),url(https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://static-web-assets.gnl-common.bbcverticals.com/features/pwa/20220627-121132-6c8d5ccb739bf0e69926695c29fb48bc3e1fbf37/static/media/curious-sans-bold.ba46d70f.ttf) format("truetype")}@font-face{font-family:'gelicons-core';font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;src:url(https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://static-web-assets.gnl-common.bbcverticals.com/features/pwa/20220627-121132-6c8d5ccb739bf0e69926695c29fb48bc3e1fbf37/static/media/gelicons-core.cc52df12.eot),url(https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://static-web-assets.gnl-common.bbcverticals.com/features/pwa/20220627-121132-6c8d5ccb739bf0e69926695c29fb48bc3e1fbf37/static/media/gelicons-core.5435c223.ttf) format("truetype")}@font-face{font-family:'gelicons-media';font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;src:url(https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://static-web-assets.gnl-common.bbcverticals.com/features/pwa/20220627-121132-6c8d5ccb739bf0e69926695c29fb48bc3e1fbf37/static/media/gelicons-media.41063609.eot),url(https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://static-web-assets.gnl-common.bbcverticals.com/features/pwa/20220627-121132-6c8d5ccb739bf0e69926695c29fb48bc3e1fbf37/static/media/gelicons-media.28e9b877.ttf) format("truetype")}@font-face{font-family:'gelicons-social';font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;src:url(https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://static-web-assets.gnl-common.bbcverticals.com/features/pwa/20220627-121132-6c8d5ccb739bf0e69926695c29fb48bc3e1fbf37/static/media/gelicons-social.523533c6.eot),url(https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://static-web-assets.gnl-common.bbcverticals.com/features/pwa/20220627-121132-6c8d5ccb739bf0e69926695c29fb48bc3e1fbf37/static/media/gelicons-social.407b297d.ttf) format("truetype")}.gelicon{font-family:'gelicons-core'}.gelicon,.gelicon::before{-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;font-style:normal !important;font-weight:normal !important;speak:none;text-decoration:none !important}.gelicon--leading::before{margin-right:8px}.gelicon--trailing::before{margin-left:8px}.gelicon--social{font-family:'gelicons-social' !important}.gelicon--core{font-family:'gelicons-core' !important}.gelicon--iplayer,.gelicon--iplayer-radio,.gelicon--previous,.gelicon--up,.gelicon--down,.gelicon--next,.gelicon--tobottom,.gelicon--totop,.gelicon--zoomin,.gelicon--zoomout,.gelicon--search,.gelicon--print,.gelicon--print-invert,.gelicon--yes,.gelicon--no,.gelicon--add,.gelicon--help,.gelicon--info,.gelicon--alert,.gelicon--expires,.gelicon--duration,.gelicon--alarm,.gelicon--countdown,.gelicon--grid,.gelicon--chapters,.gelicon--list,.gelicon--listthumb,.gelicon--lock,.gelicon--unlock,.gelicon--home,.gelicon--new,.gelicon--vocab,.gelicon--degraded,.gelicon--calendar-mini,.gelicon--calendar,.gelicon--mail,.gelicon--location,.gelicon--load,.gelicon--settings,.gelicon--embed,.gelicon--external,.gelicon--traffic,.gelicon--refresh,.gelicon--link,.gelicon--point,.gelicon--upload,.gelicon--download,.gelicon--finder,.gelicon--stations,.gelicon--untitled,.gelicon--untitled-2,.gelicon--quote,.gelicon--calendar-30,.gelicon--download-desktop,.gelicon--map,.gelicon--previous-alternative,.gelicon--next-alternative,.gelicon--arrow-down{font-family:'gelicons-core' !important}.gelicon--iplayer::before{content:'\e000'}.gelicon--iplayer-radio::before{content:'\e001'}.gelicon--previous::before{content:'\e002'}.gelicon--up::before{content:'\e003'}.gelicon--down::before{content:'\e004'}.gelicon--next::before{content:'\e005'}.gelicon--tobottom::before{content:'\e006'}.gelicon--totop::before{content:'\e007'}.gelicon--zoomin::before{content:'\e008'}.gelicon--zoomout::before{content:'\e00a'}.gelicon--search::before{content:'\e009'}.gelicon--print::before{content:'\e00b'}.gelicon--print-invert::before{content:'\e00c'}.gelicon--yes::before{content:'\e00d'}.gelicon--no::before{content:'\e00e'}.gelicon--add::before{content:'\e00f'}.gelicon--help::before{content:'\e010'}.gelicon--info::before{content:'\e011'}.gelicon--alert::before{content:'\e012'}.gelicon--expires::before{content:'\e013'}.gelicon--duration::before{content:'\e014'}.gelicon--alarm::before{content:'\e015'}.gelicon--countdown::before{content:'\e016'}.gelicon--grid::before{content:'\e017'}.gelicon--chapters::before{content:'\e018'}.gelicon--list::before{content:'\e019'}.gelicon--listthumb::before{content:'\e01a'}.gelicon--lock::before{content:'\e01b'}.gelicon--unlock::before{content:'\e01c'}.gelicon--home::before{content:'\e01d'}.gelicon--new::before{content:'\e01e'}.gelicon--vocab::before{content:'\e01f'}.gelicon--degraded::before{content:'\e020'}.gelicon--calendar-mini::before{content:'\e021'}.gelicon--calendar::before{content:'\e022'}.gelicon--mail::before{content:'\e023'}.gelicon--location::before{content:'\e024'}.gelicon--load::before{content:'\e025'}.gelicon--settings::before{content:'\e026'}.gelicon--embed::before{content:'\e027'}.gelicon--external::before{content:'\e028'}.gelicon--traffic::before{content:'\e029'}.gelicon--refresh::before{content:'\e02a'}.gelicon--link::before{content:'\e02b'}.gelicon--point::before{content:'\e02c'}.gelicon--upload::before{content:'\e02d'}.gelicon--download::before{content:'\e02e'}.gelicon--finder::before{content:'\e02f'}.gelicon--stations::before{content:'\e030'}.gelicon--untitled::before{content:'\42'}.gelicon--untitled-2::before{content:'\43'}.gelicon--quote::before{content:'\22'}.gelicon--playlister-add::before{content:'\e031'}.gelicon--calendar-30::before{content:'\e032'}.gelicon--download-desktop::before{content:'\e033'}.gelicon--map::before{content:'\e034'}.gelicon--previous-alternative::before{content:'\e035'}.gelicon--next-alternative::before{content:'\e036'}.gelicon--arrow-down::before{content:'\e038'}.gelicon--menu,.gelicon--live,.gelicon--subtitles,.gelicon--ws,.gelicon--sd,.gelicon--hd,.gelicon--bsl,.gelicon--ad,.gelicon--3d,.gelicon--tv,.gelicon--radio,.gelicon--mobile,.gelicon--desktop,.gelicon--game,.gelicon--tablet,.gelicon--quiz,.gelicon--guidance,.gelicon--record,.gelicon--listen,.gelicon--play,.gelicon--pause,.gelicon--rewind,.gelicon--forward,.gelicon--restart,.gelicon--image,.gelicon--document,.gelicon--slideshow,.gelicon--activity,.gelicon--360,.gelicon--podcast,.gelicon--newsletter,.gelicon--rss,.gelicon--fullscreen,.gelicon--expand,.gelicon--popout,.gelicon--mute,.gelicon--music-on,.gelicon--music-off,.gelicon--windows,.gelicon--apple,.gelicon--interactive{font-family:'gelicons-media' !important}.gelicon--menu::before{content:'\e900'}.gelicon--live::before{content:'\e100'}.gelicon--subtitles::before{content:'\e101'}.gelicon--ws::before{content:'\e102'}.gelicon--sd::before{content:'\e103'}.gelicon--hd::before{content:'\e104'}.gelicon--bsl::before{content:'\e105'}.gelicon--ad::before{content:'\e106'}.gelicon--3d::before{content:'\e107'}.gelicon--tv::before{content:'\e108'}.gelicon--radio::before{content:'\e109'}.gelicon--mobile::before{content:'\e10a'}.gelicon--desktop::before{content:'\e10b'}.gelicon--game::before{content:'\e10c'}.gelicon--tablet::before{content:'\e10d'}.gelicon--quiz::before{content:'\e10e'}.gelicon--guidance::before{content:'\e10f'}.gelicon--record::before{content:'\e110'}.gelicon--listen::before{content:'\e111'}.gelicon--play::before{content:'\e112'}.gelicon--pause::before{content:'\e113'}.gelicon--rewind::before{content:'\e114'}.gelicon--forward::before{content:'\e115'}.gelicon--restart::before{content:'\e116'}.gelicon--image::before{content:'\e117'}.gelicon--document::before{content:'\e118'}.gelicon--slideshow::before{content:'\e119'}.gelicon--activity::before{content:'\e11a'}.gelicon--360::before{content:'\e11b'}.gelicon--podcast::before{content:'\e11c'}.gelicon--newsletter::before{content:'\e11d'}.gelicon--rss::before{content:'\e11e'}.gelicon--fullscreen::before{content:'\e11f'}.gelicon--expand::before{content:'\e120'}.gelicon--popout::before{content:'\e121'}.gelicon--mute::before{content:'\e122'}.gelicon--music-on::before{content:'\e123'}.gelicon--music-off::before{content:'\e124'}.gelicon--windows::before{content:'\e125'}.gelicon--apple::before{content:'\e126'}.gelicon--interactive::before{content:'\e900'}.gelicon--share,.gelicon--recommend,.gelicon--comments,.gelicon--blog,.gelicon--smiley,.gelicon--love,.gelicon--twitter,.gelicon--facebook,.gelicon--google-plus,.gelicon--google,.gelicon--spotify,.gelicon--pinterest,.gelicon--tumblr,.gelicon--stumbleupon,.gelicon--linkedin,.gelicon--reddit,.gelicon--digg,.gelicon--instagram,.gelicon--whatsapp{font-family:'gelicons-social' !important}.gelicon--share::before{content:'\e200'}.gelicon--recommend::before{content:'\e201'}.gelicon--comments::before{content:'\e202'}.gelicon--blog::before{content:'\e203'}.gelicon--smiley::before{content:'\e204'}.gelicon--love::before{content:'\e205'}.gelicon--twitter::before{content:'\e300'}.gelicon--facebook::before{content:'\e301'}.gelicon--google-plus::before{content:'\e700'}.gelicon--google::before{content:'\e701'}.gelicon--spotify::before{content:'\e304'}.gelicon--pinterest::before{content:'\e305'}.gelicon--tumblr::before{content:'\e306'}.gelicon--stumbleupon::before{content:'\e307'}.gelicon--linkedin::before{content:'\e308'}.gelicon--reddit::before{content:'\e309'}.gelicon--digg::before{content:'\e30a'}.gelicon--instagram::before{content:'\e30b'}.gelicon--whatsapp::before{content:'\e600'}.basic-button{align-items:center;background-color:#fff;border:1px solid #adadad;border-radius:4px;box-shadow:inset 0 0 0 0 #fff,0 2px 0 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.08);color:#193e6d;cursor:pointer;display:flex;font-size:20px;height:54px;justify-content:center;min-width:222px;text-align:center;transition:0.6s}.basic-button--worklife{color:#0052a1}.basic-button--future{color:#002856}.basic-button--culture{color:#472479}.basic-button--earth{color:#0fbb56}.basic-button--travel{color:#589e50}.basic-button__text{color:#444;font-family:'ReithSans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:18px;line-height:24px;transition:0.6s}.basic-button__text--white{color:#fff}.basic-button__text--curious{font-family:'CuriousSansBold'}.basic-button__text--worklife{color:#0052a1}.basic-button__text--future{color:#002856}.basic-button__text--culture{color:#472479}.basic-button__text--earth{color:#0fbb56}.basic-button__text--travel{color:#589e50}.basic-button::before{padding-right:16px}.basic-button:hover{background-color:#dedede}.basic-button--background-light-blue:hover{background-color:#dfe8ff}.basic-button--background-worklife{background-color:#0052a1}.basic-button--background-future{background-color:#002856}.basic-button--background-culture{background-color:#472479}.basic-button--background-earth{background-color:#0fbb56}.basic-button--background-travel{background-color:#589e50}.basic-button--background-worklife:hover{background-color:#4494e4}.basic-button--background-future:hover{background-color:#ffc857}.basic-button--background-culture:hover{background-color:#472479}.basic-button--background-earth:hover{background-color:#002856}.basic-button--background-travel:hover{background-color:#002856}.basic-button__text--bold{font-weight:bold}.load-more-button{box-sizing:border-box}.load-more-button__refresh.gelicon--refresh{margin-right:16px;transform:rotate(90deg)}.load-more-button__downarrow{color:#adadad;font-size:22px;transition:0.6s}.load-more-button__loading .load-more-button__refresh.gelicon--refresh{animation:spin 2s linear infinite}.load-more-button__downarrow:first-of-type{padding-right:16px}.load-more-button__downarrow:not(:first-of-type){padding-left:16px}@keyframes spin{0%{transform:rotate(90deg)}100%{transform:rotate(-270deg)}}.see-more-button{border-bottom:1px solid #979797;text-align:center}.see-more-button-inner{background-color:transparent;border:0;color:#6c6c6c;cursor:pointer;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:2.92px;line-height:19px;margin-bottom:13px;position:relative;text-transform:uppercase}.see-more-button-inner--light{color:#b4b4b4}.see-more-button-inner__arrow{color:#6c6c6c;font-size:10px;position:absolute;right:9px;top:2px}.see-more-button-inner__arrow--light{color:#b4b4b4}.see-more-button-inner__text{margin-right:24px}.read-more-button{align-items:center;display:flex;flex-direction:column;font-weight:bold;position:relative;width:224px}.AdFrame{display:inline-flex}.AdFrame--default{background-color:#f6f6f6}.AdFrame--dark-grey{background-color:rgba(26,26,26,0.8)}.AdFrame--centre-aligned{align-items:center;display:flex;justify-content:center}.text-with-styled-background{height:inherit;position:relative;width:100%}.text-with-styled-background--collection{display:inline-block;width:unset}.text-with-styled-background--center-align{align-items:center;display:flex}.text-with-styled-background__text{font-family:'CuriousSansBold';color:#444;display:block;font-size:20px;line-height:24px;padding:0 0 0 10px;position:relative}.text-with-styled-background__text--large{font-size:26px;line-height:30px;padding:0 0 0 24px}.text-with-styled-background__text--medium{font-size:22px;line-height:28px}.text-with-styled-background__text--remove-padding{padding:0;width:100%}.text-with-styled-background__text--largest{font-size:38px;line-height:47px}.text-with-styled-background__text--worklife{color:#0052a1}.text-with-styled-background__text--future{color:#002856}.text-with-styled-background__text--culture{color:#472479}.text-with-styled-background__text--earth{color:#0fbb56}.text-with-styled-background__text--travel{color:#589e50}.text-with-styled-background__text--blue{color:#0052a1}.text-with-styled-background__text--collection{font-size:28px;line-height:34px;padding:0}.text-with-styled-background__text--collection--medium{font-size:32px;line-height:38px}.text-with-styled-background__text--collection--large{font-size:38px;line-height:47px}.text-with-styled-background__line-container{bottom:0;margin-left:13px;position:absolute;width:calc(100% - 26px)}.text-with-styled-background__line{background-color:rgba(25,62,109,0.05);height:26px;max-width:240px;position:relative}.text-with-styled-background__line--large{bottom:-10px;height:42px;max-width:340px}.text-with-styled-background__line--narrow{height:26px;max-width:100%}.text-with-styled-background__line--medium{bottom:-10px;height:36px;max-width:340px}.text-with-styled-background__line--largest{max-width:100%}.text-with-styled-background__line-container--collection{width:calc(100% + 26px)}.text-with-styled-background__line-container--no-margin{margin:0}.text-with-styled-background__line--collection{height:26px}.styled-line{background-color:#8beed9;height:3px;width:72px}.styled-line--small{width:45px}.styled-line--medium{width:135px}.styled-line--large{height:1px;width:auto}.styled-line--height--large{height:5px}.styled-line--height--small{height:1px}.styled-line--xs-small{width:25px}.styled-line--worklife{background-color:#8beed9}.styled-line--future{background-color:#ffc857}.styled-line--culture{background-color:#472479}.styled-line--earth{background-color:#002856}.styled-line--travel{background-color:#002856}.styled-line--white{background-color:#fff}.styled-line--dark-grey{background-color:#6a6a6a}.styled-line--light-grey{background-color:#4b4b4b}.styled-line--grey{background-color:#dedede}.simple-header{color:#444;font-size:18px;font-weight:bold;line-height:24px;margin:0}.simple-header--large{font-size:28px;line-height:34px}.simple-header--simple{font-size:18px;line-height:22px}.simple-header--small{font-size:18px;letter-spacing:-0.5px;line-height:28px}.simple-header--smallest{font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;line-height:24px}.simple-header--medium{font-size:24px;line-height:28px}.simple-header--regular{font-size:22px;line-height:28px}.simple-header--condensed-bold{font-stretch:condensed}.simple-header--condensed-bold.simple-header--large{line-height:37px}.simple-header--condensed-bold.simple-header--regular{line-height:28px}.simple-header--white{color:#fff} .article-intro{position:relative}.article-intro__line{margin-top:24px}.author-unit{display:flex;flex-direction:column;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:-0.1px;line-height:35px}.author-unit--small-mobile{line-height:30px}.author-unit .author-unit__container{color:#4a4a4a;margin:0 auto}.author-unit .author-unit__container--desktop{margin:0}.author-unit__container{align-items:baseline;display:flex;padding:10px 0}.author-unit__text{font-style:italic;font-weight:600;padding-right:10px;text-decoration:none}.author-unit__icon{color:#6a6a6a;padding-right:14px;position:relative;text-decoration:none;top:1px}.author-unit__icon:hover{color:#00bbf2}.partner-module{border-bottom:1px solid #472479;border-top:0}.partner-module__link,.partner-module__link:visited{align-items:center;color:#444;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-decoration:none}.partner-module__link:hover{background-color:#f5f5f5}.partner-module__heading{display:inline-block;font-size:16px;line-height:22px;margin:16px 0}.partner-module__partner-name{font-weight:bold}.partner-module__partner-logo{display:block;height:31px;margin:12px 0;margin-left:17px;width:88px}.uppercase-label{color:#8f8d8d;font-size:12px;font-style:condensed;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:1px;line-height:16px;margin:0;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;transition:color 0.4s}.uppercase-label--small{font-size:11px;font-weight:400;line-height:14px;margin:0}.uppercase-label--medium{font-size:14px;line-height:18px}.uppercase-label--reith-condensed{font-weight:400}.uppercase-label--white{color:#ebebeb}.uppercase-label--light-grey{color:#999}.uppercase-label--dark-grey{color:#444}.uppercase-label--large{font-size:16px;line-height:18px}.uppercase-label--true-white{color:#fff;text-shadow:0 1px 1px #193e6d}.uppercase-label--arial{font-family:Arial} .label-with-line{align-items:center;display:flex}.label-with-line__label{margin:0 16px 0 0}@keyframes spin{0%{transform:rotate(0deg)}100%{transform:rotate(360deg)}}.spinner{fill:#444}.spinner__image{animation:spin 1s linear infinite}.spinner--worklife{fill:#8beed9}.spinner--future{fill:#ffc857}.spinner--culture{fill:#472479}.spinner--travel{fill:#002856}.spinner--earth{fill:#002856}.spinner--white{fill:#fff}.spinner--audio{height:32px;width:32px}.play-button__inline-audio,.play-button__inline-video{align-items:center;background-color:#000;border:0;cursor:pointer;display:flex;font-size:16px;height:49px;justify-content:center;outline:none;transition-duration:0.6s;width:49px}.play-button__inline-audio .gelicon--play,.play-button__inline-video .gelicon--play{color:#ececec;transition-duration:0.6s}.play-button__inline-audio--worklife .gelicon--play,.play-button__inline-video--worklife .gelicon--play{color:#8beed9}.play-button__inline-audio--travel .gelicon--play,.play-button__inline-video--travel .gelicon--play{color:#002856}.play-button__inline-audio--future .gelicon--play,.play-button__inline-video--future .gelicon--play{color:#ffc857}.play-button__inline-audio--culture .gelicon--play,.play-button__inline-video--culture .gelicon--play{color:#472479}.play-button__inline-audio--earth .gelicon--play,.play-button__inline-video--earth .gelicon--play{color:#002856}.play-button__inline-video:hover{background-color:#ececec}.play-button__inline-video:hover .gelicon--play{color:#000}.play-button__inline-audio{color:#fff;font-size:22px;height:50px;padding:0;width:50px}.play-button{align-items:center;background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.2);border:2px solid #5ae9cb;border-radius:50%;box-shadow:0 2px 4px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.2);color:#fff;cursor:pointer;display:flex;font-size:22px;height:80px;justify-content:center;outline:none;transition-duration:0.6s;width:80px}.play-button:hover{color:#5ae9cb}.play-button--white{border:4px solid #fff}.play-button--white:hover{color:#fff}.play-button--white .gelicon--play{color:inherit}.play-button--worklife{border:2px solid #8beed9}.play-button--worklife:hover{color:#8beed9}.play-button--travel{border:2px solid #002856}.play-button--travel:hover{color:#002856}.play-button--future{border:2px solid #ffc857}.play-button--future:hover{color:#ffc857}.play-button--culture{border:2px solid #472479}.play-button--culture:hover{color:#472479}.play-button--earth{border:2px solid #002856}.play-button--earth:hover{color:#002856}.play-button--desktop{font-size:30px;height:76px;width:76px}.play-button--background-hover:hover{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.6)}.inline-video{height:100%}.inline-video__container{position:relative}.inline-video__border-line{padding:0 10px}.inline-video .play-button__inline-video{bottom:0;left:0;position:absolute;z-index:1000}.inline-video__smp{background-color:#000;padding-bottom:56.25%}.inline-video__smp--loaded{background-color:unset;padding-bottom:unset}.inline-video__description{border-bottom:1px solid rgba(106,106,106,0.43);color:#737373;font-size:16px;font-style:italic;line-height:24px;margin:0 10px 0 3%;padding:20px 0 12px}.inline-video__description--desktop{border-bottom:1px solid rgba(106,106,106,0.43);margin:0 18px;padding:28px 0 18px} .body-text-card-inline-video{margin:24px 0;position:relative}.previous-media-button{align-items:center;background-color:#000;border:0;cursor:pointer;display:flex;font-size:16px;height:50px;justify-content:center;outline:none;transition-duration:0.6s;width:50px}.previous-media-button__icon--white svg{fill:#fff}.previous-media-button span{height:18px;width:16px}.error-button{align-items:center;background-color:#000;border:0;display:flex;font-size:22px;height:50px;justify-content:center;outline:none;transition-duration:0.6s;width:50px}.error-button .gelicon--alert{color:#ececec}.inline-audio-player{background:none}.inline-audio-player__smp-container{display:inline-block;width:100%}.inline-audio-player__smp-container>div{display:inline-block;width:100%}.inline-audio-player__smp-container>div>div{height:50px;position:relative}.inline-audio-player__smp-container>div>div>div{padding:0 !important}.inline-audio-player__container{display:flex}.inline-audio-player__cta-holder{align-items:center;background-color:#ededed;display:flex;padding-right:8px}.inline-audio-player__cta-container{align-items:center;display:flex}.inline-audio-player__cta-container.initialising *{cursor:initial;pointer-events:none;user-select:none}.inline-audio-player__cta-container.initialising button{opacity:0.6}.inline-audio-player__text{background:none;border:0;color:#222;cursor:pointer;font-size:18px;height:25px;letter-spacing:-0.1px;line-height:25px;margin-left:12px;outline:inherit;padding:0}.inline-audio-player__text--offline{cursor:default;pointer-events:none}.inline-audio-player__disclaimer{background-color:#e6711b;color:#fff;cursor:pointer;height:25px;left:-110px;line-height:12px;margin-left:0;padding:0 7px;position:relative;top:25px;width:66px}.inline-audio-player__disclaimer:hover .inline-audio-player__arrow{transform:rotate(45deg)}.inline-audio-player__inner-arrow{color:#4d4d49;font-size:10px}.inline-audio-player__arrow-button{background-color:transparent;border:0;margin-left:auto;outline:none;transition:all 0.5s ease}.inline-audio-player__arrow-button__open{transform:rotate(180deg)}.inline-audio-player__disclaimer-copy{color:#444;display:block;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:0;line-height:17px;margin-top:16px}.inline-audio-player__arrow{border:solid #fff;border-width:0 2px 2px 0;display:inline-block;padding:3px;position:relative;top:-1px;transform:rotate(-45deg);transition:0.4s}.inline-audio-player__hidden{display:none}.inline-audio-player .collapsible-container{background-color:#ededed;color:#444;font-size:16px;line-height:24px;padding:1rem}.inline-audio-player .collapsible-container__hide{display:none}.inline-audio-player .previous-button__inline-audio{margin-right:1px}.inline-audio-player__line{margin-top:16px}.inline-audio-player .previous-media-button{height:50px;margin-right:1px;width:50px}.inline-audio-player .previous-button__inline-audio{margin-right:1px}.text-summary__text{font-size:16px;line-height:24px;margin:0;text-align:left}.text-summary__text--blue{color:#193e6d}.text-summary__text--black{color:#000}.text-summary__text--grey{color:#6a6a6a}.text-summary__text--dark-grey{color:#444}.text-summary__text--left{text-align:left}.text-summary__text--right{text-align:right}.inline-image__description{border-bottom:1px solid rgba(106,106,106,0.43);font-style:italic;margin:0 10px;padding:20px 0 12px}.inline-image__description--desktop{border-bottom:1px solid rgba(106,106,106,0.43);margin:0 18px;padding:20px 0 18px}.inline-image img{border-radius:0}.simple-p-tag{color:#444;font-size:18px;font-weight:bold;line-height:24px;margin:0}.simple-p-tag--large{font-size:28px;line-height:34px}.simple-p-tag--medium{font-size:27px;letter-spacing:-1.69px;line-height:32px}.simple-p-tag--quote{color:#575757}.simple-header--serif-light-italic{font-style:italic;line-height:inherit}.inline-quote{border-left:3px solid #575757;color:#575757;font-style:italic;letter-spacing:-1.69px;line-height:32px;margin:0;padding-left:22px}.inline-quote--worklife{border-left:3px solid #8beed9}.inline-quote--future{border-left:3px solid #ffc857}.inline-quote--culture{border-left:3px solid #472479}.inline-quote--earth{border-left:3px solid #002856}.inline-quote h2{font-weight:300}.article-video{height:100%;position:relative}.article-video img{bottom:-100%;display:block;height:100%;left:-100%;margin:auto;min-height:100%;min-width:100%;object-fit:cover;position:absolute;right:-100%;top:-100%;width:100%}.article-video__overlay{display:flex;height:100%;justify-content:center;top:0;width:100%}.article-video__play-button{align-items:center;display:flex;flex-direction:column;left:50%;padding:0;position:absolute;top:50%;transform:translate(-50%, -50%);z-index:1500}.article-video__label{margin-bottom:16px}.article-video__image{bottom:0;height:100%;position:absolute;top:0;width:100%}.article-video__image--hide{opacity:0}.article-video__playercore{display:block}.article-video__playercore--mobile{display:none;position:absolute;top:0;width:100%}.article-video__playercore--show{display:block}.article-video--bordered{border-radius:4px;overflow:hidden} .copyright__text{color:#737373;font-size:16px;font-style:italic;line-height:24px;margin-bottom:10px;text-align:center}@media (max-width: 767px){.copyright__text{margin-top:12px}}.hero-video{align-items:center;display:flex;height:180px;justify-content:center;position:relative;z-index:1}.hero-video__video{align-items:center;display:flex;height:80%;justify-content:center;position:relative;width:80%;z-index:2}.hero-video__video--desktop{left:0;top:65px;width:71.5% !important}.hero-video__video--mobile{height:100%;width:100%}.hero-video__video--small-desktop{height:70%;left:0;top:78px;width:67%}.hero-video--small-desktop,.hero-video--desktop{display:block;height:720px}.hero-video img{bottom:-100%;display:block;height:100%;left:-100%;margin:auto;min-height:100%;min-width:100%;object-fit:cover;position:absolute;right:-100%;top:-100%;width:100%;filter:brightness(40%)}@media all and (-ms-high-contrast: none), (-ms-high-contrast: active){.hero-video img{opacity:0.5}}.hero-video--mobile{height:280px}.hero-video--medium-mobile{height:430px}.hero-video--tablet{height:574px}.hero-video--tablet .hero-video__video{margin-bottom:10px}.hero-video__play-button{position:absolute;z-index:100}.hero-video__video div div{position:inherit !important;position:unset !important} .content-embed{width:100%} .infographic-embed__frame{width:100%} .screen-reader-only{border:0;clip:rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);clip-path:inset(50%);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute !important;width:1px;word-wrap:normal !important}.email-icon{align-items:center;background-color:#193e6d;border-radius:50%;color:#fff;cursor:pointer;display:flex;font-size:11px;height:50px;justify-content:center;transition-duration:0.6s;width:50px;z-index:55}.email-icon:hover{background-color:#000}.email-icon--red:hover{background-color:#f00}.facebook-icon{align-items:center;background-color:#193e6d;border-radius:50%;color:#fff;cursor:pointer;display:flex;font-size:15px;height:50px;justify-content:center;text-decoration:none;transition-duration:0.6s;width:50px;z-index:55}.facebook-icon:hover{background-color:#3b5998}.facebook-icon--blue{background-color:transparent;border:1px solid #3b5998;color:#3b5998}.facebook-icon--blue:hover{background-color:#3b5998;color:#fff}.facebook-icon--white{background-color:transparent;border:1px solid #fff;color:#fff}.facebook-icon--white:hover{background-color:#fff;color:#3b5998}.facebook-icon--small{font-size:20px;height:38px;width:38px} .ticked-icon{align-items:center;background-color:#13de99;border-radius:50%;box-shadow:0 2px 4px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.2);display:flex;height:50px;justify-content:center;width:50px;z-index:55}.ticked-icon--small{font-size:12px;height:38px;width:38px}.google-plus-icon{align-items:center;background-color:#193e6d;border-radius:50%;color:#fff;cursor:pointer;display:flex;font-size:26px;height:50px;justify-content:center;text-decoration:none;transition-duration:0.6s;width:50px;z-index:55}.google-plus-icon:hover{background-color:#d34836}.google-plus-icon--red:hover{background-color:#f00}.linkedin-icon{align-items:center;background-color:#193e6d;border-radius:50%;color:#fff;cursor:pointer;display:flex;font-size:13px;height:50px;justify-content:center;text-decoration:none;transition-duration:0.6s;width:50px;z-index:55}.linkedin-icon:hover{background-color:#0077b5}.linkedin-icon--red:hover{background-color:#f00}.reddit-icon{align-items:center;background-color:#193e6d;border-radius:50%;color:#fff;cursor:pointer;display:flex;font-size:26px;height:50px;justify-content:center;text-decoration:none;transition-duration:0.6s;width:50px;z-index:55}.reddit-icon:hover{background-color:#ff4500}.reddit-icon__hide{display:none}.reddit-icon--red:hover{background-color:#f00}.twitter-icon{align-items:center;background-color:#193e6d;border-radius:50%;color:#fff;cursor:pointer;display:flex;font-size:13px;height:50px;justify-content:center;text-decoration:none;transition-duration:0.6s;width:50px;z-index:55}.twitter-icon:hover{background-color:#1da1f2}.twitter-icon--light-blue{background-color:transparent;border:1px solid #1da1f2;color:#1da1f2}.twitter-icon--light-blue:hover{background-color:#1da1f2;color:#fff}.twitter-icon--white{background-color:transparent;border:1px solid #fff;color:#fff}.twitter-icon--white:hover{background-color:#fff;color:#1da1f2}.twitter-icon--small{font-size:18px;height:38px;width:38px}.whatsapp-icon{align-items:center;background-color:#193e6d;border-radius:50%;color:#fff;cursor:pointer;display:flex;font-size:13px;height:50px;justify-content:center;text-decoration:none;transition-duration:0.6s;width:50px;z-index:55}.whatsapp-icon:hover{background-color:#25d366}.whatsapp-icon--red:hover{background-color:#f00}.article-share-tools{display:flex}.article-share-tools a,.article-share-tools button{background-color:transparent;border:1px solid #e4e4e4;border-radius:0;box-sizing:border-box;color:#979797;display:flex;height:52px;margin-right:2px;width:52px}.article-share-tools--dark a,.article-share-tools--dark button{color:#444;height:54px;width:54px}.article-share-tools--dark a svg,.article-share-tools--dark button svg{stroke:#444}.article-share-tools a:hover,.article-share-tools button:hover{background-color:#fff}.article-share-tools .facebook-icon:hover{color:#3b5898}.article-share-tools .email-icon:hover{color:#615f5d}.article-share-tools .twitter-icon:hover{color:#47c7fa}.article-share-tools .linkedin-icon:hover{color:#0077b5}.article-share-tools .whatsapp-icon:hover{color:#25d366}.article-share-tools .facebook-messenger{color:#0184ff}.article-share-tools .ticked-icon{background-color:transparent;border:1px solid #e4e4e4;border-radius:0;box-shadow:none;font-size:11px;margin-right:2px;padding:3px}.article-share-tools--popout>*,.article-share-tools--popout a{color:#020203;margin-bottom:3px;transition:0.4s} .share-button{align-items:center;background-color:#fff;border:1px solid #e4e4e4;color:#444;cursor:pointer;display:flex;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;justify-content:center;letter-spacing:3px;padding:18px 16px;text-transform:uppercase;transition:0.6s;width:110px;z-index:55}.share-button .gelicon--share{margin-right:10px;transition:0.3s ease-in}.share-button:hover .gelicon--share,.share-button .gelicon--share-sharing{transform:rotate(-180deg)} .share-tools-popout{align-items:center;background-color:#fff;border:1px solid #979797;display:flex;flex-direction:column;padding:30px 0 20px;position:relative;width:300px}.share-tools-popout__text{color:#444;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:3px;margin:0 18px 18px;text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase}.share-tools-popout__url-container{padding:0 18px;width:100%}.share-tools-popout__articleurl{border:1px solid #979797;box-sizing:border-box;color:#a39f9f;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:-0.5px;margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:0;padding:12px 10px;text-align:center;width:262px}.share-tools-popout__close{align-items:center;background-color:unset;border:unset;cursor:pointer;display:flex;position:absolute;right:8px;top:20px}.share-tools-popout__close:hover .share-tools-popout__close-icon{color:#888;transform:rotate(90deg)}.share-tools-popout__close-icon{color:#000;font-size:16px;transition:0.4s}.share-tools-popout__border-arrow{background-color:#fff;border:1px solid #979797;border-bottom:0;border-right:0;height:12px;left:40px;position:absolute;top:-7px;transform:rotate(45deg);width:12px}.share-tools-popout__tools{margin-bottom:13px}.share-tools-popout__details{align-self:normal;color:#444;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:0;line-height:16px;margin:0;max-width:180px;padding-left:14px}.share-tools-popout__copied,.share-tools-popout__copy{background-color:#000;border:unset;color:#fff;cursor:pointer;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:3px;margin-bottom:18px;padding:12px 6px;text-transform:uppercase;transition:0.4s;width:110px}.share-tools-popout__copy:hover{background-color:#555}.share-tools-popout__copied .gelicon--yes{color:#ff9700;margin-left:8px} .share-button-with-popout{position:relative;z-index:9999}.share-button-with-popout__popout{max-width:330px;padding-right:8px;position:absolute;top:53px;width:100%}.share-button-with-popout__popout--desktop{width:auto} .article-end__line--long{margin-bottom:24px}.article-end__share-tools{margin-bottom:0}.article-end--tablet .article-end__line--long{margin-bottom:36px}.article-end--desktop .article-end__line--long{margin-bottom:44px}.article-end--desktop .article-end__share-tools{display:flex;margin-bottom:50px}.article-end--desktop .article-end__share{margin-top:0}.article-end__share{margin-top:5px}.section-header-text__text{background-color:#fff;border-radius:4px;box-shadow:0 0 20px 0 rgba(153,153,153,0.5),0 2px 5px 0 rgba(153,153,153,0.5);margin:0 8px;opacity:0.95;padding:16px;position:relative;z-index:3}.section-header-text__text--no-margin{margin:0}.section-header-text__ad{display:flex;justify-content:flex-end;margin:0 8px 8px;position:relative;top:unset}.section-header-text__ad--desktop{margin:0 0 8px}.section-header-text__title{display:inline-block}.section-header-text__title--large-margin{margin:0 40px 16px 0}.section-header-text__title--premium{border:1.78px solid;padding:8px}.section-header-text__title-content{color:#444;font-size:22px;font-weight:bold;margin:unset}.section-header-text__title-content--tablet{font-size:24px}.section-header-text__title-content--desktop{font-size:28px}.section-header-text__description{color:#555;font-size:14px;line-height:20px;margin:0}.section-header-text__description--large{font-size:16px;line-height:24px}.section-header-unit{max-width:1280px;position:relative}.section-header-unit--tablet{height:320px}.section-header-unit--desktop{border-radius:4px;height:320px;overflow:hidden}.section-header-unit__image{height:320px;max-height:320px;overflow:hidden;position:relative}.section-header-unit__image img{left:50%;position:relative;top:50%;transform:translate(-50%, -50%)}.section-header-unit__image--right img{left:unset;min-width:100%;right:0;width:unset}.section-header-unit__image--left img{left:unset;min-width:100%;right:unset;width:unset}.section-header-unit__content{position:relative;transform:translateY(-50%)}.section-header-unit__content--desktop{bottom:0;display:flex;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;max-width:420px;position:absolute;right:32px;top:0;transform:none}.section-header-unit__content--advert{transform:translateY(calc(-50% - 28px))} .domestic-disclaimer{background-color:#333;position:relative}.domestic-disclaimer__content{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;margin:auto;max-width:990px}.domestic-disclaimer__content--desktop-small{max-width:976px}.domestic-disclaimer__content--desktop{max-width:1248px}.domestic-disclaimer__text{color:#d8d8d8;font-size:13px;line-height:14px;margin:auto;padding:8px 16px}.domestic-disclaimer__text--tablet{font-size:14px;line-height:19px;padding:16px 54px 16px 16px}.domestic-disclaimer__text--desktop{font-size:14px;line-height:19px;margin-left:0;max-width:890px;padding:14px 16px}.domestic-disclaimer__close-button{align-items:center;background-color:unset;border:unset;cursor:pointer;display:flex;padding:0 16px 0 0;position:relative}.domestic-disclaimer__close-button--desktop{padding:0 16px 0 0}.domestic-disclaimer__close-icon{color:#d8d8d8;font-size:16px}.domestic-disclaimer__close-icon--desktop{font-size:22px}.drop-capped{align-items:center;border:2px solid #444;color:#444;display:flex;float:left;font-size:58px;font-weight:bold;height:84px;justify-content:center;margin:8px 10px 4px 0;text-transform:uppercase;width:84px}.drop-capped--worklife{border-color:#8beed9}.drop-capped--future{border-color:#ffc857}.drop-capped--culture{border-color:#444}.drop-capped--earth{border-color:#002856}.drop-capped--travel{border-color:#002856}.drop-capped--desktop{margin-right:24px}.label-list{display:flex;flex-direction:row;position:relative}.label-list__line{width:100%}.label-list__content{margin:30px 0 0 16px;width:100%}.label-list__content--tablet{margin:34px 0 0 38px}.label-list__content--desktop{margin:42px 0 0 32px}.label-list__list-item{margin:0;padding:0}.label-list__link{color:#444;font-size:18px;line-height:24px;text-decoration:none}.label-list__link:hover{color:#adadad}.label-list__link--large{font-size:22px;line-height:29px}.label-list__link:not(:first-of-type){margin-top:8px}.label-list__link--large:not(:first-of-type){margin-top:12px}.label-list__list-items{display:flex;flex-direction:column;margin-top:36px}.label-list__list-items--tablet{margin-top:52px}.label-list__list-items--desktop{margin-top:46px}.offline-reading{font-family:'CuriousSansBold';align-items:center;display:flex;flex-direction:column}.offline-reading__header{font-size:14px;line-height:20px;margin:0 0 16px;max-width:220px;text-align:center}.offline-reading__header--desktop{font-size:18px;max-width:460px}.offline-reading__buttons{align-items:center;display:flex;flex-direction:column;text-align:center}.offline-reading__buttons--desktop{align-items:center;flex-direction:row}.offline-reading__top-stories{margin-bottom:24px}.offline-reading__top-stories--desktop{margin:0 16px 0 0}.offline-reading__icon{display:block;height:auto;margin-bottom:24px;width:120px}.rectangle-image{background-size:cover;height:74px;max-width:100%;overflow:hidden;position:relative;width:132px}.rectangle-image img{height:100%;left:50%;position:absolute;top:50%;transform:translate(-50%, -50%);width:auto}.rectangle-image--small{box-sizing:border-box;height:32px;width:56px}.rectangle-image--large{box-sizing:border-box;height:162px;width:288px}.rectangle-image--medium{box-sizing:border-box;height:126px;width:222px}.rectangle-image--full-screen{padding-top:56.25%;width:100%}.rectangle-image img{transition:all 0.4s ease}.rectangle-image__overlay{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.6);bottom:0;height:100%;left:0;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;position:absolute;right:0;top:0;width:100%}.rectangle-image__overlay--culture{background-color:rgba(72,41,120,0.6)}.rectangle-image:hover .rectangle-image__overlay{opacity:1}.rectangle-image:hover img{height:108%}.rectangle-story-item{display:flex;flex-direction:column;height:100%;justify-content:space-between;margin:auto;max-width:100%;width:288px}.rectangle-story-item__image-container:hover .rectangle-image__overlay{opacity:1}.rectangle-story-item__image-container:hover .rectangle-story-item__icon{background-color:#000}.rectangle-story-item__image-container--culture:hover .rectangle-story-item__icon{background-color:#482978}.rectangle-story-item__image-container:hover .rectangle-image img{height:108%}.rectangle-story-item__image-container{position:relative;width:100%}.rectangle-story-item--tablet{width:222px}.rectangle-story-item__container{display:flex;flex:1 1 auto;flex-direction:column;justify-content:space-between;margin-top:3px;width:100%}.rectangle-story-item__label{color:#4a4a4a;display:block;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:3px;line-height:16px;margin-right:auto;margin-top:20px;padding-bottom:3px;text-decoration:none;text-transform:uppercase}.rectangle-story-item__label--worklife:hover,.rectangle-story-item__label--future:hover,.rectangle-story-item__label__travel:hover{background-image:none}.rectangle-story-item__label--worklife>span:hover,.rectangle-story-item__label--future>span:hover,.rectangle-story-item__label__travel>span:hover{border-bottom:1px solid #4a4a4a}.rectangle-story-item__label--culture:hover{background-image:none}.rectangle-story-item__label--culture>span:hover{border-bottom:1px solid #482978}.rectangle-story-item__line{display:block;margin:16px 0}.rectangle-story-item__author{color:#4a4a4a;display:block;font-size:14px;font-style:italic;letter-spacing:0.1px;line-height:35px;text-decoration:none}.rectangle-story-item__title{color:rgba(46,46,46,0.85);display:block;font-size:18px;letter-spacing:-0.21px;line-height:30px;text-decoration:none}.rectangle-story-item__icon{background-color:#000;bottom:0;color:#fff;font-size:14px;height:44px;line-height:44px;position:absolute;text-align:center;transition:0.4s ease;width:44px}.rectangle-story-item__title--white,.rectangle-story-item__author--white,.rectangle-story-item__label--white{color:#fff}.rectangle-story-item__label--white:hover{border-bottom:0}.rectangle-story-item__label--white>span:hover{border-bottom:1px solid #fff} .rectangle-article-group{display:flex;flex:1;flex-direction:column;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:center;position:relative}.rectangle-article-group--tablet,.rectangle-article-group--desktop{flex-direction:row}.rectangle-article-group__article{display:inline-block;padding-top:12px}.rectangle-article-group__article--tablet{padding:0 16px 0 0}.rectangle-article-group__article--desktop{padding:0 24px 0 0} .fake-ad{align-content:center;align-items:center;background:#f6f6f6;display:flex;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;padding:8px}.fake-ad__body{align-items:center;background:#5ae9cb;color:#fff;display:flex;flex:0 0 auto;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;justify-content:center}.fake-ad__text{align-self:center;color:#444;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.5;text-align:right;text-transform:uppercase}.fake-ad--mpu .fake-ad__body{height:320px;width:320px}.fake-ad--mpu .fake-ad__text{width:320px}.fake-ad--mobile-leaderboard .fake-ad__body{height:50px;width:300px}.fake-ad--mobile-leaderboard .fake-ad__text{width:300px}.fake-ad--leaderboard .fake-ad__body{height:90px;width:728px}.fake-ad--leaderboard .fake-ad__text{width:728px} .inline-html{display:block} .body-text-card-inline-image{margin:24px 0;position:relative}.body-text-card{color:#444;display:block;font-size:16px;line-height:1.5}.body-text-card__image,.body-text-card__video{margin:24px 0}.body-text-card__text{display:block}.body-text-card__advert{margin:20px 0}.body-text-card__text div a{cursor:pointer;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none}.body-text-card__text a:hover{text-decoration:underline}.body-text-card__text>div>p{margin:0 20px 16px}.body-text-card__text>div>p:last-child{margin-bottom:0;padding-bottom:0}.body-text-card__drop-capped{float:left;margin:0 8px 0 20px;padding-top:6px}.body-text-card__text--drop-capped p:first-of-type::first-letter{color:transparent;font-size:0}.body-text-card__text--flush-text>div>p{margin-left:0;margin-right:0}.body-text-card__text--future div a:visited{color:#666}.body-text-card__text--future div a{color:#002856;text-decoration-color:#002856}.body-text-card__text--travel div a{color:#589e50;text-decoration-color:#589e50}.body-text-card__text--worklife div a{color:#0052a1;text-decoration-color:#0052a1}.body-text-card__text--earth div a{color:#0fbb56;text-decoration-color:#0fbb56}.body-text-card__text--culture div a{color:#472479;text-decoration-color:#472479}.swimlane-inner{background-position:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:auto 100%;display:block;padding:24px 16px}.swimlane-inner--small{padding:24px 8px}.swimlane-inner--tablet{padding:28px 16px 42px}.swimlane-inner--small-desktop{padding:30px 16px 42px}.swimlane-inner--desktop{padding:38px 16px 42px}.swimlane{overflow:hidden;position:relative;z-index:0}.swimlane__black{background-color:#0e0e0e}.swimlane__background-image{height:500px;position:absolute;right:0;top:0;width:915px;z-index:-1}.swimlane__background-image--mobile{height:181px;width:320px}.swimlane__background-image--tablet{height:421px;width:752px}.swimlane__background-image--desktop{height:500px;width:915px}.swimlane__background-image--atb{background-color:rgba(51,51,51,0.8);background-size:cover;height:100%;width:100%}.swimlane__item{margin:0 0 25px;width:100%}.swimlane__item--desktop{margin:0}.swimlane__item--tablet{margin:0 16px 25px 0;width:calc((100% - 48px) / 3)}.swimlane__item--tablet:nth-of-type(3n+3){margin-right:0}.swimlane__item--two-columns{margin-right:0 !important;max-width:572px;width:50%}.swimlane__item--four-columns{box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:25px;margin-right:16px;width:calc((100% - 48px) / 4)}.swimlane__item--four-columns:nth-of-type(4n+4){margin-right:0}.swimlane__items{display:flex;flex-direction:column;margin-top:24px;text-align:left}.swimlane__items--desktop{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:center;margin-top:42px}.swimlane__items--small-desktop{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;margin-top:30px}.swimlane__items--tablet{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:space-between;margin-top:30px}.swimlane__items--no-title{margin-top:0}.swimlane__content{margin:auto;max-width:942px;text-align:center}.swimlane__content--desktop{max-width:1216px}.swimlane__title{color:#fff;font-size:14px;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:2.92px;line-height:19px;text-transform:uppercase}.swimlane__title--black{color:#010101;font-weight:400}.see-more-button-container-alt{color:#0e0e0e}.branding{box-sizing:content-box !important;display:inline-block;height:24px;padding:12px 16px;width:100%}.branding__icon{display:inline-block;height:24px;width:100%}.branding__icon g{fill:#fff}.branding--medium{padding:16px}.branding--large{padding:16px 24px}.branding--worklife{background-color:#0052a1}.branding--future{background-color:#002856}.branding--culture{background-color:#472479}.branding--earth{background-color:#0fbb56}.branding--travel{background-color:#589e50}.branding--travel svg,.branding--earth svg,.branding--culture svg,.branding--future svg,.branding--worklife svg{height:24px}.branding--small,.branding--small svg{height:17px}.branding__icon--medium,.branding--medium,.branding--medium svg{height:22px}.branding__icon--large,.branding--large,.branding--large svg{height:24px}.branding__icon--largest,.branding--largest,.branding--largest svg{height:32px}.branding__icon--small,.branding--travel .branding__icon--small svg,.branding--earth .branding__icon--small svg,.branding--culture .branding__icon--small svg,.branding--future .branding__icon--small svg,.branding--worklife .branding__icon--small svg{height:17px}.nav-label{color:#4e4e4e;font-size:16px;line-height:22px;margin:auto;max-width:1280px;transition:0.4s}.nav-label:hover{color:#8e8e8e}.nav-label--menu{color:#ebebeb}.nav-label--menu:hover{color:#cecece}.nav-label--white{color:#fff}.nav-label--curiousSans{font-family:'CuriousSansBold'}.nav-links__link{align-items:center;display:flex;height:100%;justify-content:center;padding-right:24px;position:relative;text-decoration:none;white-space:nowrap}.nav-links__link--active p{border-bottom:2px solid #002856;font-weight:bold}.nav-links__link--active--menu p{border-bottom:unset}.nav-links__link--active--worklife p{border-bottom:2px solid #0052a1}.nav-links__link--active--culture p{border-bottom:2px solid #472479}.nav-links__link--active--earth p{border-bottom:2px solid #0fbb56}.nav-links__link--active--travel p{border-bottom:2px solid #589e50}.nav-links__icon{background-color:#0052a1;bottom:10px;height:2px;position:absolute;width:80px}.nav-links__link--menu{display:block;padding-right:unset}.nav-links__icon--menu{display:none}.nav-links__icon--menu-tablet{width:60px}.nav-links__icon--worklife{background-color:#0052a1}.nav-links__icon--future{background-color:#002856}.nav-links__icon--culture{background-color:#472479}.nav-links__icon--earth{background-color:#0fbb56}.nav-links__icon--travel{background-color:#589e50}.nav-links__link--menu p{font-size:26px;padding:0 0 32px 24px}.nav-links__link--menu-desktop p{font-size:32px;line-height:42px;padding:0 0 44px 100px}.close-nav{align-items:center;background-color:unset;border:unset;cursor:pointer;display:flex;position:relative;transition:0.4s}.close-nav__icon{color:#fff;display:flex;font-size:20px;transition:0.4s}.close-nav:hover .close-nav__icon{color:#cecece;transform:rotate(90deg)}.close-nav__label{display:inline-block;margin-right:12px} .follow-us-on{align-items:center;display:flex;flex-direction:column;position:relative}.follow-us-on__text{color:#fff;font-size:16px;font-style:condensed;line-height:20px;margin:0 0 20px;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase}.follow-us-on__links{display:flex;flex-direction:row}.follow-us-on__link:first-child{margin-right:16px}.ad-slot{display:inline-block}.ad-slot__container{align-items:center;display:flex}.ad-slot__label{max-width:120px;min-width:112px;padding-right:8px;text-align:right}.ad-slot--leaderboard{align-items:center;display:flex;justify-content:center}.ad-slot__label--mpu,.ad-slot__label--leaderboard{margin-bottom:8px;max-width:unset;padding-right:unset;text-align:right}.ad-slot__container--mpu,.ad-slot__container--leaderboard{display:inline-block;flex-wrap:unset}.ad-slot__fake--sponsor{background-color:#5ae9cb;height:31px;min-width:88px}.ad-slot__fake--mpu{background-color:#5ae9cb;height:250px;min-width:300px}.ad-slot__fake--mpu-large{background-color:#5ae9cb;height:600px;min-width:300px}.ad-slot__fake--leaderboard-large{background-color:#5ae9cb;height:90px;min-width:728px}.ad-slot__fake--leaderboard-medium{background-color:#5ae9cb;height:50px;min-width:320px}.ad-slot__fake--leaderboard-small{background-color:#5ae9cb;height:50px;min-width:300px}.ad-slot__label--dark{color:#dcdcdc}.ad-slot--dark{background-color:#f6f6f6;padding:8px}.ad-slot--black{background-color:rgba(26,26,26,0.8);padding:8px} .sponsor-section{display:flex;flex-direction:column;height:100%;max-width:530px}.sponsor-section--menu{padding:20px 0 16px 24px}.sponsor-section__container{display:flex;flex-direction:column;height:100%}.sponsor-section__container--desktop{align-items:center;flex-direction:row;justify-content:space-between}.sponsor-section__sponsor{color:#fff;padding-right:16px}.sponsor-section__sponsor-name{font-family:'CuriousSansBold';color:#4e4e4e;font-size:26px;margin:0;white-space:nowrap}.sponsor-section__sponsor-name--mobile{padding-bottom:16px}.sponsor-section__sponsor-name--desktop{font-size:22px}.sponsor-section__sponsor-name--menu{color:#fff}.sponsor-section__sponsor-name--menu-desktop{font-size:32px}.sponsor-section__summary{color:#ebebeb;font-size:16px;line-height:24px;padding-top:16px}.sponsor-section__advert{display:inline-block}.nav-menu{background-color:#0052a1;display:block;height:100%;left:0;min-height:100vh;opacity:0.98;overflow:auto;position:fixed;top:0;width:100vw}.nav-menu--worklife{background-color:#0052a1}.nav-menu--future{background-color:#002856}.nav-menu--culture{background-color:#472479}.nav-menu--earth{background-color:#0fbb56}.nav-menu--travel{background-color:#589e50}.nav-menu__close-nav{align-items:center;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;margin:auto;max-width:1280px;padding:16px 8px 60px}.nav-menu__close-nav--desktop{padding:20px 16px 70px}.nav-menu__sponsored{background-color:rgba(34,34,34,0.5);height:100%;margin-bottom:32px}.nav-menu__sponsored--desktop{margin-bottom:44px}.nav-menu__sponsored-container{padding:20px 16px 16px 24px}.nav-menu__sponsored--desktop-container{margin:auto;max-width:1264px;padding:20px 16px 20px 100px}.nav-menu__follow-us{padding:52px 0 34px}.burger-nav{background:transparent;border:0;color:#0052a1;cursor:pointer;font-size:20px;outline:none;padding:0}.burger-nav--worklife{color:#0052a1}.burger-nav--future{color:#002856}.burger-nav--culture{color:#472479}.burger-nav--earth{color:#0fbb56}.burger-nav--travel{color:#589e50}.burger-nav--medium{font-size:16px}.burger-nav--small{font-size:12px} .open-nav{align-items:center;background-color:unset;border:unset;cursor:pointer;display:flex;justify-content:flex-end;padding:0;position:relative;transition:0.4s}.open-nav__icon{display:flex}.open-nav__label{display:inline-block;margin-right:12px}.nav-build-bar{align-items:center;display:flex;height:auto;margin:auto;max-width:1280px;width:100%}.nav-build-bar--mobile{height:auto;justify-content:space-between}.nav-build-bar--mobile .nav-build-bar__title-content{white-space:pre-wrap}.nav-build-bar--tablet{height:58px}.nav-build-bar--desktop{height:60px}.nav-build-bar__links{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;height:100%;justify-content:flex-end;margin-left:auto;overflow:hidden}.nav-build-bar__sponsored-brand{align-items:center;display:flex;margin-left:8px;text-decoration:none;white-space:nowrap}.nav-build-bar__sponsored-brand--no-brand{margin-left:0}.nav-build-bar__branding{display:flex;padding:0 8px 0 0}.nav-build-bar__branding--tablet{padding:0 30px 0 0}.nav-build-bar__branding--desktop{padding:0 80px 0 0}.nav-build-bar__title-content{border:1.78px solid;color:#444;font-size:22px;font-weight:bold;margin:unset;padding:8px;width:fit-content}.nav-build-bar__title-content--tablet{font-size:24px;white-space:nowrap}.nav-build-bar__title-content--desktop{font-size:28px}.nav-build-bar__open-nav{display:flex;height:48px}.nav-build-bar__open-nav-button{display:flex;padding-left:8px}.nav-build-bar__sponsored{background-color:#f6f6f6;border:1px solid #d3d3d3;height:48px;padding:0 16px}.nav-build-bar__open-nav--desktop{padding-right:16px}.nav-build-bar__open-nav--mobile{justify-content:flex-end;max-width:100px;width:100%}.nav-bar{background-color:#fff}.nav-bar__hidden-menu{display:none}.nav-bar__visible-menu{display:block}.nav-bar__no-scroll{max-height:100vh;overflow:hidden}.styled-dot{background-color:#5ae9cb;border-radius:50%;box-shadow:0 1px 2px 0 rgba(25,62,109,0.5);cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;height:6px;width:6px}.styled-dot--no-cursor{cursor:unset}.styled-dot--medium{box-shadow:unset;height:10px;width:10px}.styled-dot--dark-blue{background-color:#193e6d}.styled-dot--purple{background-color:#362e67;box-shadow:unset}.styled-dot--black{background-color:#000;box-shadow:unset}.styled-dot--grey-green{background-color:#008e9b;box-shadow:unset}.styled-dot--dark-green{background-color:#589e50;box-shadow:unset}.styled-dot--worklife{background-color:#8beed9}.styled-dot--future{background-color:#ffc857}.styled-dot--culture{background-color:#472479}.styled-dot--earth{background-color:#002856}.styled-dot--travel{background-color:#002856}.styled-dot--worklife-prime{background-color:#0052a1}.styled-dot--future-prime{background-color:#002856}.styled-dot--culture-prime{background-color:#472479}.styled-dot--earth-prime{background-color:#0fbb56}.styled-dot--travel-prime{background-color:#589e50}.styled-dot--large{box-shadow:0 1px 1px 0 rgba(25,62,109,0.5);height:16px;width:16px}.styled-dot--small{box-shadow:unset;height:8px;width:8px}.styled-dot--grey{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.2)}.dot-with-label{align-items:center;display:flex}.dot-with-label__text{padding-left:8px}.dot-with-label__text a{text-decoration:none}.dot-with-label__text:hover h2{color:#adadad} .play-icon{background:transparent;border:0;color:#fff;font-size:12px;outline:none;padding:0}.play-icon--red{color:#f00}.play-icon--grey{color:#999}.play-icon--medium{font-size:16px}.play-icon--large{font-size:20px} .camera-icon{background:transparent;border:0;color:#fff;font-size:12px;outline:none;padding:0}.camera-icon--red{color:#f00}.camera-icon--grey{color:#999}.camera-icon--medium{font-size:16px}.camera-icon--large{font-size:20px} .info-icon{background:transparent;border:0;color:#fff;font-size:12px;outline:none;padding:0}.info-icon--red{color:#f00}.info-icon--grey{color:#999}.info-icon--medium{font-size:16px}.info-icon--large{font-size:20px} .icon-with-label{align-items:center;display:flex}.icon-with-label__icon{padding-right:10px}.more-articles-item{display:flex;flex-direction:column;position:relative;z-index:5}.more-articles-item__link{text-decoration:none}.more-articles-item__container{display:flex;width:100%}.more-articles-item__label{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;margin-top:8px}.more-articles-item__type{margin-right:16px;position:relative}.more-articles-item__icon{color:#fff;font-size:12px;margin-right:8px}.more-articles-item__text{color:#fff;font-size:20px;font-weight:bold;line-height:24px;padding:0;position:relative;text-shadow:0 1px 2px rgba(25,62,109,0.7);transition:color 0.4s}.more-articles-item__text--medium{font-size:22px;line-height:28px}.more-articles-item__text--large{color:#ebebeb;font-size:30px;line-height:37px}.more-articles-item__container--column{flex-direction:column}.more-articles-item__image-container{position:relative}.more-articles-item--two-columns{margin-right:16px}.more-articles-item__label--desktop{margin-top:16px}.more-articles-item__label--tablet{margin-top:16px}.more-articles-item__link:hover .more-articles-item__text{color:#adadad} .more-articles{background-position:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:cover;object-fit:cover;overflow:hidden;position:relative;transition:background-image 0.4s}.more-articles__heading{display:inline-block;margin:auto;max-width:1272px;padding:20px 0 0 16px;position:relative;z-index:5}.more-articles__stories{margin:10px 16px 42px;max-width:1232px;padding:8px;position:relative;z-index:4}.more-articles__stories--small{padding:0}.more-articles__stories--tablet{margin:24px 16px 72px;max-width:1216px}.more-articles__stories--desktop{margin:56px 48px 92px;max-width:1152px}.more-articles__story-container:not(:first-of-type){padding-top:16px}.more-articles__line{opacity:0.3;padding-top:16px;z-index:5}.more-articles__image-overlay{background-color:rgba(25,62,109,0.3);bottom:-100%;display:block;height:100%;left:-100%;margin:auto;min-height:100%;min-width:100%;object-fit:cover;pointer-events:none;position:absolute;right:-100%;top:-100%;width:100%;z-index:1}.more-articles__image{opacity:0;transition:0.6s}.more-articles__image img{bottom:-100%;display:block;height:100%;left:-100%;margin:auto;min-height:100%;min-width:100%;object-fit:cover;position:absolute;right:-100%;top:-100%;width:100%}.more-articles__image--right img{left:unset;min-width:100%;right:0;width:unset}.more-articles__image--left img{left:unset;min-width:100%;right:unset;width:unset}.more-articles__image--visible{opacity:1}.more-articles__story--two-columns,.more-articles__story--three-columns{padding-right:16px;width:310px}.more-articles__story-container:nth-child(even) .more-articles__story--two-columns{padding-right:0}.more-articles__story-container:nth-child(3n+3) .more-articles__story--three-columns{padding-right:0}.more-articles__stories--two-columns,.more-articles__stories--three-columns{align-items:flex-end;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;padding:16px}.more-articles__stories--two-columns .more-articles-item__link,.more-articles__stories--three-columns .more-articles-item__link{pointer-events:all}.more-articles__story-container--two-columns{display:flex;justify-content:center;width:50%}.more-articles__story-container--two-columns:nth-child(2){padding-top:0}.more-articles__story-container--three-columns{display:flex;justify-content:center;width:33%}.more-articles__story-container--three-columns:nth-child(-n+3){padding-top:0}.more-articles__heading--small{padding:20px 0 0 8px}.more-articles__heading--desktop{max-width:1264px;padding:38px 0 0 16px}.more-articles__heading--tablet{max-width:1264px;padding:24px 0 0 16px} .full-width-image-article{width:100%}.full-width-image-article__container{min-height:325px;overflow:hidden;position:relative}.full-width-image-article__container--desktop{min-height:400px}.full-width-image-article__image{height:100%;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;width:100%}.full-width-image-article__image img{bottom:-100%;display:block;height:100%;left:-100%;margin:auto;min-height:100%;min-width:100%;object-fit:cover;position:absolute;right:-100%;top:-100%;width:100%}.full-width-image-article__text{align-items:center;color:#fff;left:50%;max-width:488px;padding:0 20px;position:absolute;text-align:center;top:50%;transform:translate(-50%, -50%);width:100%}.full-width-image-article__text a{color:#fff;text-decoration:none}.full-width-image-article__text .full-width-image-article-text__label{display:inline-block;font-size:14.4px;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:3.6px;line-height:19px;margin-bottom:11px;text-transform:uppercase}.full-width-image-article__text .full-width-image-article-text__header{font-size:24px;letter-spacing:-0.25px;line-height:42px;margin:0;padding:0}.full-width-image-article__text .full-width-image-article-text__header--desktop{font-size:33.6px}.full-width-image-article__text .full-width-image-article-text__author{font-size:16.6px;font-style:italic;letter-spacing:-0.13px;line-height:42px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:28px}.full-width-image-article__text .full-width-image-article-text__author--desktop{margin-top:32px}.full-width-image-article__background{background-image:radial-gradient(50% 49%, rgba(5,36,53,0.37) 50%, rgba(0,0,0,0) 83%);height:100%;pointer-events:none;position:absolute;top:0;width:100%}.full-width-image-article__link{color:#fff;text-decoration:none} .most-popular{background-color:#f9f9f9}.most-popular__inner{margin:0 auto;max-width:894px;padding:45px 24px 21px}.most-popular__inner--desktop{padding:47px 0 86px}.most-popular__header{color:#010101;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:2.92px;line-height:19px;margin:0;text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase}.most-popular__items{display:block}.most-popular__items--desktop{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;margin-top:57px}.most-popular-item{box-sizing:border-box;padding-top:33px}.most-popular-item:last-of-type{margin-bottom:42px}.most-popular-item--desktop{padding:0 20px;width:calc(33.333%)}.most-popular-item--desktop:nth-child(3n+2){order:2;padding:38px 20px}.most-popular-item--desktop:nth-child(3n+3){order:3}.most-popular-item--desktop:nth-child(n+4){border-left:1px solid #dadada}.most-popular-item--desktop:last-of-type{margin-bottom:0}.most-popular-item a{text-decoration:none}.most-popular-item__content{align-items:flex-end;display:flex;margin-top:5px}.most-popular-item__number{color:#cbcbcb;font-size:40px;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;line-height:32px;margin:0 20px 0 0;width:25px}.most-popular-item__label{color:#4a4a4a;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:3px;margin:0 0 0 45px;text-transform:uppercase}.most-popular-item__title{color:#2e2e2ecc;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:-0.17px;line-height:22px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0}.most-popular-item__title--desktop{font-size:16px}.image-gallery-item{margin:26px 0}.image-gallery-item img{height:100%;object-fit:cover;width:100%}.image-gallery-item__image--landscape{margin:20px 0 20px -3%;width:106%}@media (max-width: 1000px) and (min-width: 767px){.image-gallery-item__image--landscape{margin:20px 0 20px -16%;width:116%}}@media (max-width: 1180px) and (min-width: 1024px){.image-gallery-item__image--landscape{margin:20px 0 20px -8%;width:108%}}@media (max-width: 1365px) and (min-width: 1280px){.image-gallery-item__image--landscape{margin:20px 0 20px -42%;width:142%}}@media (min-width: 1366px){.image-gallery-item__image--landscape{margin:20px 0 20px -55%;width:155%}}.image-gallery-item__image--portrait{margin:20px 0;width:100%}@media (max-width: 599px){.image-gallery-item__image--portrait{margin-left:-3%;width:106%}}.image-gallery-item__image--portrait,.image-gallery-item__image--portrait img{max-height:507px;min-height:463px}@media (max-width: 1279px) and (min-width: 768px){.image-gallery-item__image--portrait,.image-gallery-item__image--portrait img{min-height:818px}} .StickyElementContent{transition:transform 0.5s}.StickyElementContent--is-undocked{left:0;position:fixed;top:0;width:100%}.StickyElementContent--is-hidden{transform:translateY(-100%)}.styled-list{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.styled-list__item{display:flex;flex-direction:row}.styled-list__item:not(:first-of-type){padding-top:8px}.styled-list__item a{font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none}.styled-list__item--worklife a{color:#8beed9}.styled-list__item--future a{color:#ffc857}.styled-list__item--culture a{color:#472479}.styled-list__item--earth a{color:#002856}.styled-list__item--travel a{color:#002856}.styled-list__text{color:#444;font-size:16px;line-height:24px;padding-left:20px}.styled-list__dot{display:flex;margin-top:8px}.hero-header{align-items:center;display:flex}.hero-header__header{font-family:'CuriousSansBold';color:#fff;font-size:38px;line-height:40px;margin:0;text-shadow:0 1px 2px rgba(25,62,109,0.7)}.hero-header__header--large{font-size:44px;line-height:48px}.hero-header__header--medium{font-size:38px;line-height:47px}.hero-header__header--small{font-size:28px;line-height:34px}.hero-header__header--black{color:#000;text-shadow:unset}.hero-header__header--grey{color:#adadad;text-shadow:unset}.error-page-header{position:relative}.error-page-header__headers{margin-bottom:16px;position:relative;z-index:1}.error-page-header__headers--tablet-plus{margin-bottom:32px}.error-page-header__description{color:#444;font-size:16px;line-height:20px}.error-page-header__play-icon{margin-right:16px}.error-page-header__play-icon button{color:#adadad}.error-page-header__dot-label{display:flex} .error-page{position:relative}.error-page__container{margin-bottom:16px}.error-page__container--tablet-plus{margin-bottom:32px}.error-page__title{margin-bottom:12px}.error-page__title--desktop{margin-bottom:24px} .article-title-card-rectangle{width:100%}.article-title-card-rectangle__image:hover .article-title-card-rectangle__overlay{opacity:1}.article-title-card-rectangle__overlay{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.6);bottom:0;height:100%;left:0;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;position:absolute;right:0;top:0;transition:transform 0.5s ease;width:100%;will-change:transform}.article-title-card-rectangle__overlay--culture{background-color:rgba(72,41,120,0.6)}.article-title-card-rectangle__image{margin-right:40px;max-height:390px;max-width:620px;overflow:hidden;position:relative;width:auto}.article-title-card-rectangle__image img{display:block;min-height:194px;min-width:344px;width:100%}.article-title-card-rectangle__image--tablet,.article-title-card-rectangle__image--desktop{margin-right:0;width:100%}.article-title-card-rectangle__image--tablet img,.article-title-card-rectangle__image--desktop img{width:110%}.article-title-card-rectangle__image--preview-article{margin-right:0}.article-title-card-rectangle__image--index{margin-right:0;max-width:100%}.article-title-card-rectangle__container{display:flex;flex-direction:column;position:relative}.article-title-card-rectangle__container--tablet,.article-title-card-rectangle__container--desktop{align-items:center;flex-direction:row}.article-title-card-rectangle__container--preview-article{margin-right:8px}.article-title-card-rectangle__container--index{align-items:initial;flex-direction:column}.article-title-card-rectangle__text-box{background-color:#fff;margin-left:40px;padding:16px 22px 0;position:relative;top:-22px}.article-title-card-rectangle__text-box__label{color:#4a4a4a;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:3px;line-height:20px;margin:0;text-transform:uppercase;width:fit-content}.article-title-card-rectangle__text-box__label--worklife:hover,.article-title-card-rectangle__text-box__label--future:hover{border-bottom:1px solid #4a4a4a}.article-title-card-rectangle__text-box__label--culture:hover{border-bottom:1px solid #482978}.article-title-card-rectangle__text-box__label--index{color:#000;font-size:20px;font-weight:300;letter-spacing:-0.53px;line-height:30px}.article-title-card-rectangle__text-box__label--index--tablet{font-size:28px;letter-spacing:-0.74px;line-height:44px}.article-title-card-rectangle__text-box__label--index--desktop{font-size:32px;letter-spacing:-0.84px;line-height:44px}.article-title-card-rectangle__text-box__header{color:#2e2e2e;font-size:18px;letter-spacing:-0.21px;line-height:30px;margin-bottom:30px;margin-top:12px}.article-title-card-rectangle__text-box__header--desktop{font-size:28px}.article-title-card-rectangle__text-box__header--tablet{font-size:26px}.article-title-card-rectangle__text-box__header--index{color:#3d3d3d;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:16px;letter-spacing:-0.12px;line-height:31px;margin-top:4px}.article-title-card-rectangle__text-box__author{color:#4a4a4a;font-size:14px;font-style:italic;letter-spacing:-0.1px;line-height:35px;margin:8px 0 0}.article-title-card-rectangle__text-box__author--tablet{margin:14px 0 0}.article-title-card-rectangle__text-box--tablet,.article-title-card-rectangle__text-box--desktop{left:-40px;margin:0;padding:40px;top:0;transform:none}.article-title-card-rectangle__text-box--desktop{display:flex;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center}.article-title-card-rectangle__text-box--tablet{padding:35px 22px 22px}.article-title-card-rectangle__text-box--index{left:0;margin-right:40px}.article-title-card-rectangle__text-box--index--tablet{margin-left:50px;margin-right:50px;padding:30px 36px 0;top:-80px}.article-title-card-rectangle__text-box--index--desktop{margin-left:50px;max-width:560px;top:-88px;width:100%}.article-title-card-rectangle__link{color:#000;text-decoration:none}.article-title-card-rectangle__text-container{display:block;max-width:252px}.article-title-card-rectangle__text-container--tablet,.article-title-card-rectangle__text-container--desktop{max-width:320px}.article-title-card-rectangle__preview-container{color:#4d4d4d;text-decoration:none}.article-title-card-rectangle__preview-text{display:block;font-size:16px;line-height:24px;margin-top:27px;max-width:396px}.article-title-card-rectangle__read-more{display:inline-block;font-size:15px;letter-spacing:4px;margin:25px 16px 0 0;text-transform:uppercase}.article-title-card-rectangle__arrow{color:#bababa;display:inline-block;transform:rotate(-90deg)}.rectangle-story-group{display:flex;flex-direction:column;margin:auto;position:relative}.rectangle-story-group__articles{display:flex;flex:1;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:center;position:relative}.rectangle-story-group__articles--small-tablet{justify-content:unset}.rectangle-story-group__articles--full-screen{display:block}.rectangle-story-group__article{display:inline-block;padding-left:18px;padding-top:16px}.rectangle-story-group__article--tablet{padding-left:20px;padding-top:22px}.rectangle-story-group__article--desktop{padding-left:22px;padding-top:24px}.rectangle-story-group__article--desktop:first-of-type{padding-left:8px}.rectangle-story-group__article--small-tablet{box-sizing:border-box;width:50%}.rectangle-story-group__article--full-screen{display:block;padding:16px}.rectangle-story-group__article--full-screen:first-of-type{padding-top:0}.rectangle-story-group__article--small-desktop{padding-left:10px}.rectangle-story-group__article--small-desktop:last-of-type{padding-right:8px}.rectangle-story-group__articles-container{margin:auto;max-width:950px;overflow:hidden;width:100%}.rectangle-story-group__advert-mpu{display:flex;justify-content:center;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding:16px 16px 24px}.rectangle-story-group__advert-mpu--desktop{border-left:1px solid #dadada;display:block;padding:0 0 0 16px;padding-top:0}.rectangle-story-group__advert-mpu--small-desktop{display:block;padding:0 0 0 8px}.rectangle-story-group__hero--desktop{display:flex}.rectangle-story-group__article-hero--tablet{display:flex}.article-labels{font-size:12px;line-height:16px;text-transform:uppercase}.article-labels a{color:#fff;letter-spacing:1px;text-decoration:none}.article-labels__text:first-child{font-weight:bold} .article-headline{align-items:center;display:flex;flex-direction:column;padding:43px 0}.article-headline .article-labels{text-align:center}.article-headline__line--short{margin-bottom:40px}.article-headline--largeTablet .article-headline__text{font-size:32px;text-align:center}.article-headline--tablet{padding:31px 0}.article-headline--tablet .article-headline__collection{margin-bottom:24px}.article-headline--tablet .article-headline__text{font-size:32px;letter-spacing:-0.84px;margin:0 15px 23px;text-align:center}.article-headline--mobile{padding:20px 0}.article-headline--mobile .article-headline__text{font-size:24px;letter-spacing:-0.63px;margin:0 15px 15px;text-align:center}.article-headline--mobile .article-headline__collection{margin-bottom:15px}.article-headline__collection{margin-bottom:40px}.article-headline__collection a{color:#242424}.article-headline__text{font-size:45px;letter-spacing:-1.26px;line-height:30px;margin-bottom:44px} @media only screen and (min-width: 1600px){.hero-image{height:900px;position:relative}.hero-image img{bottom:-100%;display:block;height:100%;left:-100%;margin:auto;min-height:100%;min-width:100%;object-fit:cover;position:absolute;right:-100%;top:-100%;width:100%}}@media only screen and (max-width: 1600px){.hero-image{height:0;overflow:hidden;padding-top:56.25%;position:relative}.hero-image img{height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;top:0;width:100%}}.loading-spinner{margin:0 auto;text-align:center}.loading-spinner__message{color:#002756;display:block;font-size:1.2rem;font-weight:bold;margin:12px 0;text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase}.loading-spinner__image{display:block;margin:0 auto;width:48px}.article-hero{height:672px;margin:0;overflow:hidden;position:relative;width:100%}.article-hero--small-mobile{height:373px}.article-hero--mobile{height:486px}.article-hero--small-tablet{height:433px}.article-hero--tablet{height:433px}.article-hero--tablet .article-hero__content{padding:60px 15px 0}.article-hero__content{margin:auto;max-width:1004px;pointer-events:none;position:relative;z-index:1}.article-hero--desktop{height:573px}.article-hero--desktop .article-hero__content{padding:50px 30px 0}.article-hero--large-desktop .article-hero__content{max-width:1276px}.article-hero--small-tablet .article-hero__content,.article-hero--mobile .article-hero__content,.article-hero--small-mobile .article-hero__content{padding:60px 10px 0}.article-hero--small-tablet .article-hero__content-title,.article-hero--mobile .article-hero__content-title,.article-hero--small-mobile .article-hero__content-title{font-size:24px;line-height:30px;max-width:220px}.article-hero--small-tablet .article-hero__content-line,.article-hero--mobile .article-hero__content-line,.article-hero--small-mobile .article-hero__content-line{margin-bottom:16px;margin-top:16px}.article-hero--small-tablet .article-hero__content-labels,.article-hero--mobile .article-hero__content-labels,.article-hero--small-mobile .article-hero__content-labels{margin-bottom:15px}.article-hero--small-tablet .article-hero__content-cta,.article-hero--mobile .article-hero__content-cta,.article-hero--small-mobile .article-hero__content-cta{line-height:22px}.article-hero--small-tablet .article-hero__content-cta a,.article-hero--mobile .article-hero__content-cta a,.article-hero--small-mobile .article-hero__content-cta a{letter-spacing:3px}.article-hero__ambient-hidden{display:none}.article-hero__background-ambient{bottom:0;left:0;position:absolute;right:0;top:0;z-index:-1}.article-hero__background::after{background-image:linear-gradient(-63deg, rgba(0,0,0,0) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.06) 24%, rgba(0,0,0,0.2) 51%, rgba(0,0,0,0.32) 67%, rgba(0,0,0,0.51) 100%);content:'';height:100%;left:0;pointer-events:none;position:absolute;top:0;width:100%}.article-hero__background img{bottom:-100%;display:block;height:100%;left:-100%;margin:auto;min-height:100%;min-width:100%;object-fit:cover;position:absolute;right:-100%;top:-100%;width:100%}.article-hero__background--parallax img{transform:scale(1.1)}.article-hero a{color:#fff;letter-spacing:3px;text-decoration:none}.article-hero__content-cta{clear:both;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:4px;line-height:20px;max-width:170px;pointer-events:all;text-shadow:0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);text-transform:uppercase}.article-hero__content-cta a{display:flex;letter-spacing:4px}.article-hero__content-labels{font-size:12px;letter-spacing:1px;line-height:16px;margin-bottom:20px;pointer-events:all}.article-hero__content-line{background-color:#fff;border:0;display:block;float:left;height:1px;margin-bottom:18px;margin-right:300px;margin-top:25px;width:120px}.article-hero__content-right-arrow{position:relative}.article-hero__content-right-arrow::before{background:#fff;content:'';height:2px;left:5px;margin-top:-1px;opacity:0.4;position:absolute;top:50%;transition:all 0.3s ease;width:20px}.article-hero__content-right-arrow::after{border-right:2px solid #fff;border-top:2px solid #fff;content:'';display:inline-block;height:10px;left:16px;margin-top:5px;opacity:0.4;position:absolute;transform:rotate(45deg);width:10px}.article-hero__content-right-arrow--small::before{opacity:1}.article-hero__content-right-arrow--small::after{margin-top:6px;opacity:1}.article-hero__content-right-arrow img{height:11px;margin-left:10px;width:19px}.article-hero__content-title{color:#fff;font-size:50px;line-height:54px;margin-top:0;max-width:450px;pointer-events:all;text-shadow:0 1px 2px rgba(51,51,51,0.7)}.article-hero__content-title a{letter-spacing:-1.32px}.article-hero__title-text{display:inline}.article-hero__content-title>a:hover>div,.article-hero__content-subtitle>a:hover{background-image:linear-gradient(to right, currentColor 100%, transparent 0%);background-position:0 1.15em;background-repeat:repeat-x;background-size:100% 2px}.article-hero__content-subtitle{clear:both;color:#fff;font-size:23px;font-weight:500;line-height:32px;margin-bottom:16px;margin-top:0;max-width:440px;pointer-events:all;text-shadow:0 1px 2px rgba(51,51,51,0.5)}.article-hero__content-subtitle a{letter-spacing:-1px}.article-hero__content-title--small{font-size:30px;line-height:35px}.article-hero__content-title--tablet{clear:both;font-size:32px;letter-spacing:-0.84px;line-height:42px;max-width:264px}.article-hero__content-title--small a{letter-spacing:-0.63px}.article-hero__down-arrow{background-color:transparent;border:0;bottom:0;color:#fff;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;left:calc(50% - 29px);margin:0;margin-bottom:15px;padding:0;position:absolute;transform:scale(0.5)}.see-more-button-container{color:#fff}.see-more-button{border-bottom:1px solid #979797;text-align:center}.see-more-button__inner{background-color:transparent;border:0;color:#6c6c6c;cursor:pointer;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:2.92px;line-height:19px;margin-bottom:13px;position:relative;text-transform:uppercase;transition:linear 0.6s}.see-more-button__inner-arrow{color:#6c6c6c;font-size:10px;position:absolute;right:9px;top:2px;transition:linear 0.3s}.see-more-button__inner-text{margin-right:24px}.see-more-button__inner:hover{color:#4a4a4a}.see-more-button__inner:hover .see-more-button__inner-arrow{color:#4a4a4a;transform:rotate(90deg)} @media screen and (min-width: 1000px){.similar-articles-story{max-width:900px}}@media screen and (min-width: 601px) and (max-width: 999px){.similar-articles-story{max-width:600px}}@media screen and (max-width: 600px){.similar-articles-story{max-width:300px}}.related-articles{position:relative}.related-articles__header{text-align:center;background-color:#000;color:#fff;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:3px;margin:0 0 20px;padding:8px;text-transform:uppercase}.related-articles__header--bright{margin:20px 0 1.15ex;font-size:13px;background-color:#d8d8d8;color:rgba(0,0,0,0.7);letter-spacing:2px;line-height:3}.related-articles__list{list-style:none;padding:0 0 1.5ex 0;margin:0;display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap}.related-articles__list li{flex-basis:100%;display:flex;flex-flow:row nowrap;justify-content:flex-start;align-items:stretch;align-content:stretch}.related-articles__list li>div{flex:1}.related-articles__list.with-numbers{counter-reset:related-numbers;list-style-image:url(data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7);margin:0 35px}.related-articles__list.with-numbers li::before{counter-increment:related-numbers;content:counter(related-numbers);font-weight:bold;font-size:40px;align-self:flex-end;line-height:1.85;font-style:italic;letter-spacing:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,0.18);flex:0.1 0.1;flex-basis:1ex;padding-right:1ex;text-align:center;display:block}.related-articles__list.with-numbers li{margin-bottom:10px}.related-articles--wide-layout{background-color:initial;margin-top:20px}ul.related-articles__list:not(.list-wide) li{max-width:100%}ul.related-articles__list:not(.list-wide).with-borders li:not(:last-of-type){border-bottom:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.1)}ul.related-articles__list.list-wide li{max-width:49.8%}ul.related-articles__list.list-wide.with-borders li{border-bottom:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.1)}.related-article{align-items:stretch;display:flex;flex-flow:row nowrap;box-sizing:border-box;font-size:16px;min-height:90px}.related-article__image{width:calc(90px + 0.5ex);flex:0.3 0.3;min-width:90px;max-width:calc(90px + 0.5ex);margin:0;display:block;line-height:0;order:-1}.related-article__image img{width:100%;border:0;margin:0 12px 0 0}.related-article__text{display:flex;flex-flow:column nowrap;width:100%;justify-content:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;position:relative;padding:12px 6px 12px 0;line-height:1.5}.related-article__text a{width:100%;padding-left:12px;display:flex;text-decoration:none}.related-article__text a+a{margin-top:1ex}.related-article__text br{display:none}.related-article__title{color:rgba(46,46,46,0.85);letter-spacing:-0.01em;flex:1}.related-article__title:hover{color:#2e2e2e}.related-article__collection{display:block;color:#4a4a4a;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:2.5px;line-height:1.2;text-decoration:none;text-transform:uppercase}.related-article__collection span{display:none}.related-articles__list.square-images .related-article{margin:0.75ex 0}.related-articles__list.square-images .related-article:hover{background-color:#f9f9f9}.related-articles__list.square-images.list-wide .related-article{margin:1.25ex 1.75ex}.related-articles__list.round-images a:hover{color:#000}.related-articles__list.round-images .related-article{margin:1.25ex 1.75ex}.related-articles__list.round-images .related-article__title{padding-left:10px}.related-articles__list.round-images .related-article__image{width:calc(90px + 15px);max-width:calc(90px + 15px);margin:0}.related-articles__list.round-images .related-article__image img{border-radius:50%}.related-articles__list.round-images.list-wide .related-article{margin:1.75ex 1.75ex} .vertical-story-card-item{cursor:pointer;font-family:'ReithSans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;height:456px;margin:20px 10px;position:relative;width:297px}@media only screen and (max-width: 1007px){.vertical-story-card-item{width:276px}}@media only screen and (max-width: 600px){.vertical-story-card-item{width:276px}}.vertical-story-card-item img{width:100%}.vertical-story-card-item__content-box{background-color:#fff;bottom:0;box-shadow:0 0 5px #d8d8d8;display:flex;flex-direction:column;height:111px;justify-content:center;position:absolute;right:0;width:275px}@media only screen and (max-width: 1007px){.vertical-story-card-item__content-box{width:261px}}.vertical-story-card-item__content-box h1{color:#4a4a4a;font-size:0.75rem;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:3px;margin:0;padding:0 10px;text-transform:uppercase}.vertical-story-card-item__content-box h2{color:#3d3d3d;font-size:1.3125rem;font-weight:lighter;letter-spacing:-0.06px;line-height:42px;margin:0;padding:0 10px} .vertical-story-group{font-family:'ReithSans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;position:relative}.vertical-story-group img{object-fit:cover;width:100%}.vertical-story-group__image-container{height:370px;position:relative;width:100%}.vertical-story-group__image-container img{height:100%}.vertical-story-group__image-mask{background:linear-gradient(to right, rgba(0,0,0,0.6), rgba(0,0,0,0));bottom:0;left:0;position:absolute;right:0;top:0}.vertical-story-group__heading-container{color:#fff;left:50%;position:absolute;text-align:center;top:80px;transform:translate(-50%, -50%)}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.vertical-story-group__heading-container{top:120px}}.vertical-story-group__heading-container button{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.8);border:0;color:#fff;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;font-size:0.875rem;letter-spacing:0.183rem;outline:none;padding:15px 32px;text-align:center;text-decoration:none}.vertical-story-group__heading-container h1{font-size:0.9rem;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:3.6px;margin-bottom:20px}.vertical-story-group__heading-container h2{font-size:2.1rem;font-weight:lighter;letter-spacing:-0.25px;line-height:42px}.vertical-story-group__heading-container-landscape{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;left:0;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;position:absolute;right:0;top:65px;width:70%}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.vertical-story-group__heading-container-landscape{align-items:center;flex-direction:column}}.vertical-story-group__heading-container-landscape h1{color:#fff;font-size:2.25rem;font-weight:lighter;letter-spacing:0.95px;margin:0}.vertical-story-group__heading-container-landscape button{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.8);border:0;color:#fff;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;font-size:0.875rem;height:60px;letter-spacing:0.183rem;outline:none;padding:15px 32px;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:260px}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.vertical-story-group__heading-container-landscape button{margin-top:50px}}.vertical-story-group__container{display:grid;grid-auto-rows:minmax(auto, auto);grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit, minmax(290px, 310px));height:100%;justify-content:center;justify-items:center;margin-top:-210px;width:100%}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.vertical-story-group__container{margin-top:-120px}}.beta-btn{background-color:#e6711b;color:#fff;cursor:pointer;height:25px;line-height:12px;padding:0 7px;width:66px}.beta-btn:hover .beta-btn__arrow{cursor:pointer;transform:rotate(45deg)}.beta-btn:hover .beta-btn__arrow--expanded{transform:rotate(-35deg)}.beta-btn__copy{color:#444;display:block;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:0;line-height:17px;margin:16px auto;max-width:50%}.beta-btn__arrow{border:solid #fff;border-width:0 2px 2px 0;display:inline-block;padding:3px;position:relative;top:-1px;transform:rotate(-45deg);transition:0.4s}.beta-btn__arrow--expanded{transform:rotate(45deg)} .location-header{font-size:14px;letter-spacing:2.92px;line-height:19px;text-transform:uppercase} .temperature-switcher{background:transparent;border:0;cursor:pointer;font-size:14px;font-style:italic;font-weight:300;white-space:nowrap}.temperature-switcher:active{color:currentColor}.temperature-switcher__active{font-weight:bold}.temperature-switcher span{margin:0 0.2ex} .day{--w-day-font-size: 14px;--w-day-temp-font-size: 20px;--w-day-temp-font-size-big: 32px;--w-day-temp-font-weight: 600;--w-day-name-font-weight: 500;align-items:center;color:#959595;display:flex;flex-direction:column;font-size:var(--w-day-font-size)}.day--desktop{--w-day-temp-font-size: 24px;--w-day-temp-font-weight: normal;--w-day-name-font-weight: 600}.day:first-of-type{color:#4b4b4b}.day__name{font-weight:var(--w-day-name-font-weight);line-height:1;margin-bottom:0.75em;text-transform:uppercase}.day__symbol-header{display:block;height:80px;margin:7px 0 5px;width:98px}.day__symbol{display:block;height:40px;margin:7px 0 5px;width:50px}.day--desktop .day__symbol{height:60px;margin-top:15px;width:70px}.day__temp{font-size:var(--w-day-temp-font-size);font-weight:var(--w-day-temp-font-weight);line-height:1.2;margin-top:0.75em;text-transform:lowercase}.day__temp--header{color:#4b4b4b;font-size:32px;font-weight:bold}.day--mobile:first-of-type{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:3em}.day--mobile:first-of-type .day__symbol{height:60px;margin-right:10px;overflow:visible;width:80px}.day--mobile:first-of-type .day__temp{font-size:var(--w-day-temp-font-size-big);font-weight:bold;margin-top:0}.day--mobile:first-of-type .day__location{font-size:120%;font-weight:500;margin:1em 0}.day--mobile:first-of-type .day__name{color:#959595}.day--mobile:first-of-type .day__location,.day--mobile:first-of-type .day__name{text-align:center;width:100%} .weather{--w-height: 50px;--w-wrapper-margin: 24px;--w-days-flexbasis: 33%;margin-bottom:2rem}.weather--desktop{--w-height: 80px;--w-wrapper-margin: 50px;--w-days-flexbasis: initial;margin-bottom:1rem}.weather:not(.weather--desktop) .weather__days{flex-flow:row wrap}.weather:not(.weather--desktop) .day:first-of-type{flex-basis:100%;width:auto}.weather__separator{border-right:1px solid #dcdcdc;display:block;height:var(--w-height)}.weather__days{align-items:center;display:flex;flex-basis:var(--w-days-flexbasis);justify-content:space-evenly;margin-top:2.5rem}.weather__days--desktop{margin-top:4rem}.weather__header{align-items:center;display:flex;flex-flow:column;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:var(--w-wrapper-margin)}.weather__header button{margin-top:1.5rem}.weather__header--desktop{position:relative}.weather__header--desktop button{margin:0;position:absolute;right:0} .destination-header{width:100%}.destination-header__container{align-items:center;display:flex;justify-content:center;min-height:380px;overflow:hidden;padding:0 16px;position:relative}.destination-header__image{height:100%;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;width:100%}.destination-header__image img{bottom:-100%;display:block;height:100%;left:-100%;margin:auto;min-height:100%;min-width:100%;object-fit:cover;position:absolute;right:-100%;top:-100%;width:100%}.destination-header__text{color:#fff;font-size:28px;letter-spacing:-0.95px;line-height:37.4px;max-width:488px;padding:0 20px;position:relative;text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;width:100%}.destination-header__text a{color:#fff;font-weight:300;text-decoration:none}.destination-header__text--desktop{font-size:36px}.destination-header__text-container{border-bottom:solid 1px #fff;display:inline-block;line-height:1.3;padding-bottom:17px}.destination-header__text-container--desktop{padding-bottom:0.75ex}.destination-header__link-page,.destination-header__advert{color:#fff;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:0.5px;margin-top:20px;position:relative;text-align:center}.destination-header__link-page span,.destination-header__advert span{display:block;width:100%}.destination-header__link-page--desktop,.destination-header__advert--desktop{margin-top:40px}.destination-header__link-page{left:14px;margin:0;position:absolute;text-transform:uppercase;top:20px}.destination-header__link-page--desktop{left:25px;top:36px}.destination-header__background{background-image:radial-gradient(50% 49%, rgba(5,36,53,0.37) 50%, rgba(0,0,0,0) 83%);height:100%;pointer-events:none;position:absolute;top:0;width:100%}.destination-header a{color:#fff;text-decoration:none} .image-card{position:relative}.image-card img{object-fit:cover;width:100%}.image-card__heading-container{color:#fff;left:50%;position:absolute;text-align:center;top:80px;transform:translate(-50%, -50%)}.image-card__heading-container button{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.8);border:0;color:#fff;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;font-size:0.875rem;letter-spacing:0.183rem;outline:none;padding:15px 32px;text-align:center;text-decoration:none}.image-card__heading-container h1{font-size:0.9rem;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:3.6px;margin-top:0}.image-card__heading-container h2{font-size:2.1rem;font-weight:lighter;letter-spacing:-0.25px;line-height:42px;margin-top:0}.image-card__heading-container-landscape{align-items:center;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;left:50%;position:absolute;text-align:center;top:50%;transform:translate(-50%, -50%);width:90%}.image-card__heading-container-landscape__mobile{align-items:center;flex-direction:column}.image-card__heading-container-landscape h1{color:#fff;font-size:2.25rem;font-weight:lighter;letter-spacing:0.95px;margin-top:0}.image-card__heading-container-landscape button{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.8);border:0;color:#fff;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;font-size:0.875rem;height:60px;letter-spacing:0.183rem;outline:none;padding:15px 32px;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:260px} .filter{display:inline-block;max-width:160px;position:relative}.filter__button{background-color:#000;border:0;color:#fff;font-size:16px;padding:16px;width:160px}.filter__content{background-color:#000;display:none;position:absolute;width:160px;z-index:1}.filter:focus .filter__content,.filter:hover .filter__content{display:block}.filter__content--open{display:block}.filter__content button{background-color:#000;border:0;color:#fff;cursor:pointer;display:block;font-style:italic;padding:12px 16px;text-decoration:none;width:100%}.filter__content button:hover{background-color:#494848} .callout-box-card{background-color:#eaeaea;color:#4a4a4a;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:left}.callout-box-card img{height:100%;width:100%}.callout-box-card__container{padding:0.2rem 1.5rem}.callout-box-card__container h3{font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:3px;line-height:16px;margin:1rem 0;text-transform:uppercase}.callout-box-card__container h4{font-size:28px;font-weight:lighter;letter-spacing:-0.21px;line-height:35px}.callout-box-card__container .body{font-size:16px;font-weight:lighter;letter-spacing:-0.12px;line-height:31px}.callout-box-card__container .body a{color:#4a4a4a;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none}.mapboxgl-map{font:12px/20px Helvetica Neue,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;overflow:hidden;position:relative;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:rgba(0,0,0,0)}.mapboxgl-canvas{position:absolute;left:0;top:0}.mapboxgl-map:-webkit-full-screen{width:100%;height:100%}.mapboxgl-canary{background-color:salmon}.mapboxgl-canvas-container.mapboxgl-interactive,.mapboxgl-ctrl-group button.mapboxgl-ctrl-compass{cursor:-webkit-grab;cursor:-moz-grab;cursor:grab;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none}.mapboxgl-canvas-container.mapboxgl-interactive.mapboxgl-track-pointer{cursor:pointer}.mapboxgl-canvas-container.mapboxgl-interactive:active,.mapboxgl-ctrl-group button.mapboxgl-ctrl-compass:active{cursor:-webkit-grabbing;cursor:-moz-grabbing;cursor:grabbing}.mapboxgl-canvas-container.mapboxgl-touch-zoom-rotate,.mapboxgl-canvas-container.mapboxgl-touch-zoom-rotate .mapboxgl-canvas{touch-action:pan-x pan-y}.mapboxgl-canvas-container.mapboxgl-touch-drag-pan,.mapboxgl-canvas-container.mapboxgl-touch-drag-pan .mapboxgl-canvas{touch-action:pinch-zoom}.mapboxgl-canvas-container.mapboxgl-touch-zoom-rotate.mapboxgl-touch-drag-pan,.mapboxgl-canvas-container.mapboxgl-touch-zoom-rotate.mapboxgl-touch-drag-pan .mapboxgl-canvas{touch-action:none}.mapboxgl-ctrl-bottom-left,.mapboxgl-ctrl-bottom-right,.mapboxgl-ctrl-top-left,.mapboxgl-ctrl-top-right{position:absolute;pointer-events:none;z-index:2}.mapboxgl-ctrl-top-left{top:0;left:0}.mapboxgl-ctrl-top-right{top:0;right:0}.mapboxgl-ctrl-bottom-left{bottom:0;left:0}.mapboxgl-ctrl-bottom-right{right:0;bottom:0}.mapboxgl-ctrl{clear:both;pointer-events:auto;transform:translate(0)}.mapboxgl-ctrl-top-left .mapboxgl-ctrl{margin:10px 0 0 10px;float:left}.mapboxgl-ctrl-top-right .mapboxgl-ctrl{margin:10px 10px 0 0;float:right}.mapboxgl-ctrl-bottom-left .mapboxgl-ctrl{margin:0 0 10px 10px;float:left}.mapboxgl-ctrl-bottom-right .mapboxgl-ctrl{margin:0 10px 10px 0;float:right}.mapboxgl-ctrl-group{border-radius:4px;background:#fff}.mapboxgl-ctrl-group:not(:empty){-moz-box-shadow:0 0 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.1)}@media (-ms-high-contrast: active){.mapboxgl-ctrl-group:not(:empty){box-shadow:0 0 0 2px ButtonText}}.mapboxgl-ctrl-group button{width:29px;height:29px;display:block;padding:0;outline:none;border:0;box-sizing:border-box;background-color:transparent;cursor:pointer}.mapboxgl-ctrl-group button+button{border-top:1px solid #ddd}.mapboxgl-ctrl button .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{display:block;width:100%;height:100%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:50%}@media (-ms-high-contrast: active){.mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-color:transparent}.mapboxgl-ctrl-group button+button{border-top:1px solid ButtonText}}.mapboxgl-ctrl button::-moz-focus-inner{border:0;padding:0}.mapboxgl-ctrl-group button:focus{box-shadow:0 0 2px 2px #0096ff}.mapboxgl-ctrl button:disabled{cursor:not-allowed}.mapboxgl-ctrl button:disabled .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{opacity:.25}.mapboxgl-ctrl button:not(:disabled):hover{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.05)}.mapboxgl-ctrl-group button:focus:focus-visible{box-shadow:0 0 2px 2px #0096ff}.mapboxgl-ctrl-group button:focus:not(:focus-visible){box-shadow:none}.mapboxgl-ctrl-group button:focus:first-child{border-radius:4px 4px 0 0}.mapboxgl-ctrl-group button:focus:last-child{border-radius:0 0 4px 4px}.mapboxgl-ctrl-group button:focus:only-child{border-radius:inherit}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-zoom-out .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 29 29' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%23333'%3E%3Cpath d='M10 13c-.75 0-1.5.75-1.5 1.5S9.25 16 10 16h9c.75 0 1.5-.75 1.5-1.5S19.75 13 19 13h-9z'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-zoom-in .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 29 29' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%23333'%3E%3Cpath d='M14.5 8.5c-.75 0-1.5.75-1.5 1.5v3h-3c-.75 0-1.5.75-1.5 1.5S9.25 16 10 16h3v3c0 .75.75 1.5 1.5 1.5S16 19.75 16 19v-3h3c.75 0 1.5-.75 1.5-1.5S19.75 13 19 13h-3v-3c0-.75-.75-1.5-1.5-1.5z'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}@media (-ms-high-contrast: active){.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-zoom-out .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 29 29' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%23fff'%3E%3Cpath d='M10 13c-.75 0-1.5.75-1.5 1.5S9.25 16 10 16h9c.75 0 1.5-.75 1.5-1.5S19.75 13 19 13h-9z'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-zoom-in .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 29 29' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%23fff'%3E%3Cpath d='M14.5 8.5c-.75 0-1.5.75-1.5 1.5v3h-3c-.75 0-1.5.75-1.5 1.5S9.25 16 10 16h3v3c0 .75.75 1.5 1.5 1.5S16 19.75 16 19v-3h3c.75 0 1.5-.75 1.5-1.5S19.75 13 19 13h-3v-3c0-.75-.75-1.5-1.5-1.5z'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}}@media (-ms-high-contrast: black-on-white){.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-zoom-out .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 29 29' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%3E%3Cpath d='M10 13c-.75 0-1.5.75-1.5 1.5S9.25 16 10 16h9c.75 0 1.5-.75 1.5-1.5S19.75 13 19 13h-9z'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-zoom-in .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 29 29' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%3E%3Cpath d='M14.5 8.5c-.75 0-1.5.75-1.5 1.5v3h-3c-.75 0-1.5.75-1.5 1.5S9.25 16 10 16h3v3c0 .75.75 1.5 1.5 1.5S16 19.75 16 19v-3h3c.75 0 1.5-.75 1.5-1.5S19.75 13 19 13h-3v-3c0-.75-.75-1.5-1.5-1.5z'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-fullscreen .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 29 29' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%23333'%3E%3Cpath d='M24 16v5.5c0 1.75-.75 2.5-2.5 2.5H16v-1l3-1.5-4-5.5 1-1 5.5 4 1.5-3h1zM6 16l1.5 3 5.5-4 1 1-4 5.5 3 1.5v1H7.5C5.75 24 5 23.25 5 21.5V16h1zm7-11v1l-3 1.5 4 5.5-1 1-5.5-4L6 13H5V7.5C5 5.75 5.75 5 7.5 5H13zm11 2.5c0-1.75-.75-2.5-2.5-2.5H16v1l3 1.5-4 5.5 1 1 5.5-4 1.5 3h1V7.5z'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-shrink .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 29 29' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%3E%3Cpath d='M18.5 16c-1.75 0-2.5.75-2.5 2.5V24h1l1.5-3 5.5 4 1-1-4-5.5 3-1.5v-1h-5.5zM13 18.5c0-1.75-.75-2.5-2.5-2.5H5v1l3 1.5L4 24l1 1 5.5-4 1.5 3h1v-5.5zm3-8c0 1.75.75 2.5 2.5 2.5H24v-1l-3-1.5L25 5l-1-1-5.5 4L17 5h-1v5.5zM10.5 13c1.75 0 2.5-.75 2.5-2.5V5h-1l-1.5 3L5 4 4 5l4 5.5L5 12v1h5.5z'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}@media (-ms-high-contrast: active){.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-fullscreen .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 29 29' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%23fff'%3E%3Cpath d='M24 16v5.5c0 1.75-.75 2.5-2.5 2.5H16v-1l3-1.5-4-5.5 1-1 5.5 4 1.5-3h1zM6 16l1.5 3 5.5-4 1 1-4 5.5 3 1.5v1H7.5C5.75 24 5 23.25 5 21.5V16h1zm7-11v1l-3 1.5 4 5.5-1 1-5.5-4L6 13H5V7.5C5 5.75 5.75 5 7.5 5H13zm11 2.5c0-1.75-.75-2.5-2.5-2.5H16v1l3 1.5-4 5.5 1 1 5.5-4 1.5 3h1V7.5z'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-shrink .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 29 29' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%23fff'%3E%3Cpath d='M18.5 16c-1.75 0-2.5.75-2.5 2.5V24h1l1.5-3 5.5 4 1-1-4-5.5 3-1.5v-1h-5.5zM13 18.5c0-1.75-.75-2.5-2.5-2.5H5v1l3 1.5L4 24l1 1 5.5-4 1.5 3h1v-5.5zm3-8c0 1.75.75 2.5 2.5 2.5H24v-1l-3-1.5L25 5l-1-1-5.5 4L17 5h-1v5.5zM10.5 13c1.75 0 2.5-.75 2.5-2.5V5h-1l-1.5 3L5 4 4 5l4 5.5L5 12v1h5.5z'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}}@media (-ms-high-contrast: black-on-white){.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-fullscreen .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 29 29' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%3E%3Cpath d='M24 16v5.5c0 1.75-.75 2.5-2.5 2.5H16v-1l3-1.5-4-5.5 1-1 5.5 4 1.5-3h1zM6 16l1.5 3 5.5-4 1 1-4 5.5 3 1.5v1H7.5C5.75 24 5 23.25 5 21.5V16h1zm7-11v1l-3 1.5 4 5.5-1 1-5.5-4L6 13H5V7.5C5 5.75 5.75 5 7.5 5H13zm11 2.5c0-1.75-.75-2.5-2.5-2.5H16v1l3 1.5-4 5.5 1 1 5.5-4 1.5 3h1V7.5z'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-shrink .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 29 29' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%3E%3Cpath d='M18.5 16c-1.75 0-2.5.75-2.5 2.5V24h1l1.5-3 5.5 4 1-1-4-5.5 3-1.5v-1h-5.5zM13 18.5c0-1.75-.75-2.5-2.5-2.5H5v1l3 1.5L4 24l1 1 5.5-4 1.5 3h1v-5.5zm3-8c0 1.75.75 2.5 2.5 2.5H24v-1l-3-1.5L25 5l-1-1-5.5 4L17 5h-1v5.5zM10.5 13c1.75 0 2.5-.75 2.5-2.5V5h-1l-1.5 3L5 4 4 5l4 5.5L5 12v1h5.5z'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-compass .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 29 29' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%23333'%3E%3Cpath d='M10.5 14l4-8 4 8h-8z'/%3E%3Cpath d='M10.5 16l4 8 4-8h-8z' fill='%23ccc'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}@media (-ms-high-contrast: active){.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-compass .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 29 29' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%23fff'%3E%3Cpath d='M10.5 14l4-8 4 8h-8z'/%3E%3Cpath d='M10.5 16l4 8 4-8h-8z' fill='%23999'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}}@media (-ms-high-contrast: black-on-white){.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-compass .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 29 29' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%3E%3Cpath d='M10.5 14l4-8 4 8h-8z'/%3E%3Cpath d='M10.5 16l4 8 4-8h-8z' fill='%23ccc'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 20 20' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%23333'%3E%3Cpath d='M10 4C9 4 9 5 9 5v.1A5 5 0 005.1 9H5s-1 0-1 1 1 1 1 1h.1A5 5 0 009 14.9v.1s0 1 1 1 1-1 1-1v-.1a5 5 0 003.9-3.9h.1s1 0 1-1-1-1-1-1h-.1A5 5 0 0011 5.1V5s0-1-1-1zm0 2.5a3.5 3.5 0 110 7 3.5 3.5 0 110-7z'/%3E%3Ccircle cx='10' cy='10' r='2'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate:disabled .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 20 20' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%23aaa'%3E%3Cpath d='M10 4C9 4 9 5 9 5v.1A5 5 0 005.1 9H5s-1 0-1 1 1 1 1 1h.1A5 5 0 009 14.9v.1s0 1 1 1 1-1 1-1v-.1a5 5 0 003.9-3.9h.1s1 0 1-1-1-1-1-1h-.1A5 5 0 0011 5.1V5s0-1-1-1zm0 2.5a3.5 3.5 0 110 7 3.5 3.5 0 110-7z'/%3E%3Ccircle cx='10' cy='10' r='2'/%3E%3Cpath d='M14 5l1 1-9 9-1-1 9-9z' fill='red'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate-active .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 20 20' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%2333b5e5'%3E%3Cpath d='M10 4C9 4 9 5 9 5v.1A5 5 0 005.1 9H5s-1 0-1 1 1 1 1 1h.1A5 5 0 009 14.9v.1s0 1 1 1 1-1 1-1v-.1a5 5 0 003.9-3.9h.1s1 0 1-1-1-1-1-1h-.1A5 5 0 0011 5.1V5s0-1-1-1zm0 2.5a3.5 3.5 0 110 7 3.5 3.5 0 110-7z'/%3E%3Ccircle cx='10' cy='10' r='2'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate-active-error .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 20 20' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%23e58978'%3E%3Cpath d='M10 4C9 4 9 5 9 5v.1A5 5 0 005.1 9H5s-1 0-1 1 1 1 1 1h.1A5 5 0 009 14.9v.1s0 1 1 1 1-1 1-1v-.1a5 5 0 003.9-3.9h.1s1 0 1-1-1-1-1-1h-.1A5 5 0 0011 5.1V5s0-1-1-1zm0 2.5a3.5 3.5 0 110 7 3.5 3.5 0 110-7z'/%3E%3Ccircle cx='10' cy='10' r='2'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate-background .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 20 20' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%2333b5e5'%3E%3Cpath d='M10 4C9 4 9 5 9 5v.1A5 5 0 005.1 9H5s-1 0-1 1 1 1 1 1h.1A5 5 0 009 14.9v.1s0 1 1 1 1-1 1-1v-.1a5 5 0 003.9-3.9h.1s1 0 1-1-1-1-1-1h-.1A5 5 0 0011 5.1V5s0-1-1-1zm0 2.5a3.5 3.5 0 110 7 3.5 3.5 0 110-7z'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate-background-error .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 20 20' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%23e54e33'%3E%3Cpath d='M10 4C9 4 9 5 9 5v.1A5 5 0 005.1 9H5s-1 0-1 1 1 1 1 1h.1A5 5 0 009 14.9v.1s0 1 1 1 1-1 1-1v-.1a5 5 0 003.9-3.9h.1s1 0 1-1-1-1-1-1h-.1A5 5 0 0011 5.1V5s0-1-1-1zm0 2.5a3.5 3.5 0 110 7 3.5 3.5 0 110-7z'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate-waiting .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{-webkit-animation:mapboxgl-spin 2s linear infinite;-moz-animation:mapboxgl-spin 2s infinite linear;-o-animation:mapboxgl-spin 2s infinite linear;-ms-animation:mapboxgl-spin 2s infinite linear;animation:mapboxgl-spin 2s linear infinite}@media (-ms-high-contrast: active){.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 20 20' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%23fff'%3E%3Cpath d='M10 4C9 4 9 5 9 5v.1A5 5 0 005.1 9H5s-1 0-1 1 1 1 1 1h.1A5 5 0 009 14.9v.1s0 1 1 1 1-1 1-1v-.1a5 5 0 003.9-3.9h.1s1 0 1-1-1-1-1-1h-.1A5 5 0 0011 5.1V5s0-1-1-1zm0 2.5a3.5 3.5 0 110 7 3.5 3.5 0 110-7z'/%3E%3Ccircle cx='10' cy='10' r='2'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate:disabled .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 20 20' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%23999'%3E%3Cpath d='M10 4C9 4 9 5 9 5v.1A5 5 0 005.1 9H5s-1 0-1 1 1 1 1 1h.1A5 5 0 009 14.9v.1s0 1 1 1 1-1 1-1v-.1a5 5 0 003.9-3.9h.1s1 0 1-1-1-1-1-1h-.1A5 5 0 0011 5.1V5s0-1-1-1zm0 2.5a3.5 3.5 0 110 7 3.5 3.5 0 110-7z'/%3E%3Ccircle cx='10' cy='10' r='2'/%3E%3Cpath d='M14 5l1 1-9 9-1-1 9-9z' fill='red'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate-active .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 20 20' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%2333b5e5'%3E%3Cpath d='M10 4C9 4 9 5 9 5v.1A5 5 0 005.1 9H5s-1 0-1 1 1 1 1 1h.1A5 5 0 009 14.9v.1s0 1 1 1 1-1 1-1v-.1a5 5 0 003.9-3.9h.1s1 0 1-1-1-1-1-1h-.1A5 5 0 0011 5.1V5s0-1-1-1zm0 2.5a3.5 3.5 0 110 7 3.5 3.5 0 110-7z'/%3E%3Ccircle cx='10' cy='10' r='2'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate-active-error .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 20 20' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%23e58978'%3E%3Cpath d='M10 4C9 4 9 5 9 5v.1A5 5 0 005.1 9H5s-1 0-1 1 1 1 1 1h.1A5 5 0 009 14.9v.1s0 1 1 1 1-1 1-1v-.1a5 5 0 003.9-3.9h.1s1 0 1-1-1-1-1-1h-.1A5 5 0 0011 5.1V5s0-1-1-1zm0 2.5a3.5 3.5 0 110 7 3.5 3.5 0 110-7z'/%3E%3Ccircle cx='10' cy='10' r='2'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate-background .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 20 20' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%2333b5e5'%3E%3Cpath d='M10 4C9 4 9 5 9 5v.1A5 5 0 005.1 9H5s-1 0-1 1 1 1 1 1h.1A5 5 0 009 14.9v.1s0 1 1 1 1-1 1-1v-.1a5 5 0 003.9-3.9h.1s1 0 1-1-1-1-1-1h-.1A5 5 0 0011 5.1V5s0-1-1-1zm0 2.5a3.5 3.5 0 110 7 3.5 3.5 0 110-7z'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate-background-error .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 20 20' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%23e54e33'%3E%3Cpath d='M10 4C9 4 9 5 9 5v.1A5 5 0 005.1 9H5s-1 0-1 1 1 1 1 1h.1A5 5 0 009 14.9v.1s0 1 1 1 1-1 1-1v-.1a5 5 0 003.9-3.9h.1s1 0 1-1-1-1-1-1h-.1A5 5 0 0011 5.1V5s0-1-1-1zm0 2.5a3.5 3.5 0 110 7 3.5 3.5 0 110-7z'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}}@media (-ms-high-contrast: black-on-white){.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 20 20' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%3E%3Cpath d='M10 4C9 4 9 5 9 5v.1A5 5 0 005.1 9H5s-1 0-1 1 1 1 1 1h.1A5 5 0 009 14.9v.1s0 1 1 1 1-1 1-1v-.1a5 5 0 003.9-3.9h.1s1 0 1-1-1-1-1-1h-.1A5 5 0 0011 5.1V5s0-1-1-1zm0 2.5a3.5 3.5 0 110 7 3.5 3.5 0 110-7z'/%3E%3Ccircle cx='10' cy='10' r='2'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}.mapboxgl-ctrl button.mapboxgl-ctrl-geolocate:disabled .mapboxgl-ctrl-icon{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='29' height='29' viewBox='0 0 20 20' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='%23666'%3E%3Cpath d='M10 4C9 4 9 5 9 5v.1A5 5 0 005.1 9H5s-1 0-1 1 1 1 1 1h.1A5 5 0 009 14.9v.1s0 1 1 1 1-1 1-1v-.1a5 5 0 003.9-3.9h.1s1 0 1-1-1-1-1-1h-.1A5 5 0 0011 5.1V5s0-1-1-1zm0 2.5a3.5 3.5 0 110 7 3.5 3.5 0 110-7z'/%3E%3Ccircle cx='10' cy='10' r='2'/%3E%3Cpath d='M14 5l1 1-9 9-1-1 9-9z' fill='red'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}}@-webkit-keyframes mapboxgl-spin{0%{-webkit-transform:rotate(0deg)}to{-webkit-transform:rotate(1turn)}}@-moz-keyframes mapboxgl-spin{0%{-moz-transform:rotate(0deg)}to{-moz-transform:rotate(1turn)}}@-o-keyframes mapboxgl-spin{0%{-o-transform:rotate(0deg)}to{-o-transform:rotate(1turn)}}@-ms-keyframes mapboxgl-spin{0%{-ms-transform:rotate(0deg)}to{-ms-transform:rotate(1turn)}}@keyframes mapboxgl-spin{0%{transform:rotate(0deg)}to{transform:rotate(1turn)}}a.mapboxgl-ctrl-logo{width:88px;height:23px;margin:0 0 -4px -4px;display:block;background-repeat:no-repeat;cursor:pointer;overflow:hidden;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='88' height='23' viewBox='0 0 88 23' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' xmlns:xlink='http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink' fill-rule='evenodd'%3E%3Cdefs%3E%3Cpath id='a' d='M11.5 2.25c5.105 0 9.25 4.145 9.25 9.25s-4.145 9.25-9.25 9.25-9.25-4.145-9.25-9.25 4.145-9.25 9.25-9.25zM6.997 15.983c-.051-.338-.828-5.802 2.233-8.873a4.395 4.395 0 013.13-1.28c1.27 0 2.49.51 3.39 1.42.91.9 1.42 2.12 1.42 3.39 0 1.18-.449 2.301-1.28 3.13C12.72 16.93 7 16 7 16l-.003-.017zM15.3 10.5l-2 .8-.8 2-.8-2-2-.8 2-.8.8-2 .8 2 2 .8z'/%3E%3Cpath id='b' d='M50.63 8c.13 0 .23.1.23.23V9c.7-.76 1.7-1.18 2.73-1.18 2.17 0 3.95 1.85 3.95 4.17s-1.77 4.19-3.94 4.19c-1.04 0-2.03-.43-2.74-1.18v3.77c0 .13-.1.23-.23.23h-1.4c-.13 0-.23-.1-.23-.23V8.23c0-.12.1-.23.23-.23h1.4zm-3.86.01c.01 0 .01 0 .01-.01.13 0 .22.1.22.22v7.55c0 .12-.1.23-.23.23h-1.4c-.13 0-.23-.1-.23-.23V15c-.7.76-1.69 1.19-2.73 1.19-2.17 0-3.94-1.87-3.94-4.19 0-2.32 1.77-4.19 3.94-4.19 1.03 0 2.02.43 2.73 1.18v-.75c0-.12.1-.23.23-.23h1.4zm26.375-.19a4.24 4.24 0 00-4.16 3.29c-.13.59-.13 1.19 0 1.77a4.233 4.233 0 004.17 3.3c2.35 0 4.26-1.87 4.26-4.19 0-2.32-1.9-4.17-4.27-4.17zM60.63 5c.13 0 .23.1.23.23v3.76c.7-.76 1.7-1.18 2.73-1.18 1.88 0 3.45 1.4 3.84 3.28.13.59.13 1.2 0 1.8-.39 1.88-1.96 3.29-3.84 3.29-1.03 0-2.02-.43-2.73-1.18v.77c0 .12-.1.23-.23.23h-1.4c-.13 0-.23-.1-.23-.23V5.23c0-.12.1-.23.23-.23h1.4zm-34 11h-1.4c-.13 0-.23-.11-.23-.23V8.22c.01-.13.1-.22.23-.22h1.4c.13 0 .22.11.23.22v.68c.5-.68 1.3-1.09 2.16-1.1h.03c1.09 0 2.09.6 2.6 1.55.45-.95 1.4-1.55 2.44-1.56 1.62 0 2.93 1.25 2.9 2.78l.03 5.2c0 .13-.1.23-.23.23h-1.41c-.13 0-.23-.11-.23-.23v-4.59c0-.98-.74-1.71-1.62-1.71-.8 0-1.46.7-1.59 1.62l.01 4.68c0 .13-.11.23-.23.23h-1.41c-.13 0-.23-.11-.23-.23v-4.59c0-.98-.74-1.71-1.62-1.71-.85 0-1.54.79-1.6 1.8v4.5c0 .13-.1.23-.23.23zm53.615 0h-1.61c-.04 0-.08-.01-.12-.03-.09-.06-.13-.19-.06-.28l2.43-3.71-2.39-3.65a.213.213 0 01-.03-.12c0-.12.09-.21.21-.21h1.61c.13 0 .24.06.3.17l1.41 2.37 1.4-2.37a.34.34 0 01.3-.17h1.6c.04 0 .08.01.12.03.09.06.13.19.06.28l-2.37 3.65 2.43 3.7c0 .05.01.09.01.13 0 .12-.09.21-.21.21h-1.61c-.13 0-.24-.06-.3-.17l-1.44-2.42-1.44 2.42a.34.34 0 01-.3.17zm-7.12-1.49c-1.33 0-2.42-1.12-2.42-2.51 0-1.39 1.08-2.52 2.42-2.52 1.33 0 2.42 1.12 2.42 2.51 0 1.39-1.08 2.51-2.42 2.52zm-19.865 0c-1.32 0-2.39-1.11-2.42-2.48v-.07c.02-1.38 1.09-2.49 2.4-2.49 1.32 0 2.41 1.12 2.41 2.51 0 1.39-1.07 2.52-2.39 2.53zm-8.11-2.48c-.01 1.37-1.09 2.47-2.41 2.47s-2.42-1.12-2.42-2.51c0-1.39 1.08-2.52 2.4-2.52 1.33 0 2.39 1.11 2.41 2.48l.02.08zm18.12 2.47c-1.32 0-2.39-1.11-2.41-2.48v-.06c.02-1.38 1.09-2.48 2.41-2.48s2.42 1.12 2.42 2.51c0 1.39-1.09 2.51-2.42 2.51z'/%3E%3C/defs%3E%3Cmask id='c'%3E%3Crect width='100%25' height='100%25' fill='%23fff'/%3E%3Cuse xlink:href='%23a'/%3E%3Cuse xlink:href='%23b'/%3E%3C/mask%3E%3Cg opacity='.3' stroke='%23000' stroke-width='3'%3E%3Ccircle mask='url(%23c)' cx='11.5' cy='11.5' r='9.25'/%3E%3Cuse xlink:href='%23b' mask='url(/web/20220713234819im_/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/%23c)'/%3E%3C/g%3E%3Cg opacity='.9' fill='%23fff'%3E%3Cuse xlink:href='%23a'/%3E%3Cuse xlink:href='%23b'/%3E%3C/g%3E%3C/svg%3E")}a.mapboxgl-ctrl-logo.mapboxgl-compact{width:23px}@media (-ms-high-contrast: active){a.mapboxgl-ctrl-logo{background-color:transparent;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='88' height='23' viewBox='0 0 88 23' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' xmlns:xlink='http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink' fill-rule='evenodd'%3E%3Cdefs%3E%3Cpath id='a' d='M11.5 2.25c5.105 0 9.25 4.145 9.25 9.25s-4.145 9.25-9.25 9.25-9.25-4.145-9.25-9.25 4.145-9.25 9.25-9.25zM6.997 15.983c-.051-.338-.828-5.802 2.233-8.873a4.395 4.395 0 013.13-1.28c1.27 0 2.49.51 3.39 1.42.91.9 1.42 2.12 1.42 3.39 0 1.18-.449 2.301-1.28 3.13C12.72 16.93 7 16 7 16l-.003-.017zM15.3 10.5l-2 .8-.8 2-.8-2-2-.8 2-.8.8-2 .8 2 2 .8z'/%3E%3Cpath id='b' d='M50.63 8c.13 0 .23.1.23.23V9c.7-.76 1.7-1.18 2.73-1.18 2.17 0 3.95 1.85 3.95 4.17s-1.77 4.19-3.94 4.19c-1.04 0-2.03-.43-2.74-1.18v3.77c0 .13-.1.23-.23.23h-1.4c-.13 0-.23-.1-.23-.23V8.23c0-.12.1-.23.23-.23h1.4zm-3.86.01c.01 0 .01 0 .01-.01.13 0 .22.1.22.22v7.55c0 .12-.1.23-.23.23h-1.4c-.13 0-.23-.1-.23-.23V15c-.7.76-1.69 1.19-2.73 1.19-2.17 0-3.94-1.87-3.94-4.19 0-2.32 1.77-4.19 3.94-4.19 1.03 0 2.02.43 2.73 1.18v-.75c0-.12.1-.23.23-.23h1.4zm26.375-.19a4.24 4.24 0 00-4.16 3.29c-.13.59-.13 1.19 0 1.77a4.233 4.233 0 004.17 3.3c2.35 0 4.26-1.87 4.26-4.19 0-2.32-1.9-4.17-4.27-4.17zM60.63 5c.13 0 .23.1.23.23v3.76c.7-.76 1.7-1.18 2.73-1.18 1.88 0 3.45 1.4 3.84 3.28.13.59.13 1.2 0 1.8-.39 1.88-1.96 3.29-3.84 3.29-1.03 0-2.02-.43-2.73-1.18v.77c0 .12-.1.23-.23.23h-1.4c-.13 0-.23-.1-.23-.23V5.23c0-.12.1-.23.23-.23h1.4zm-34 11h-1.4c-.13 0-.23-.11-.23-.23V8.22c.01-.13.1-.22.23-.22h1.4c.13 0 .22.11.23.22v.68c.5-.68 1.3-1.09 2.16-1.1h.03c1.09 0 2.09.6 2.6 1.55.45-.95 1.4-1.55 2.44-1.56 1.62 0 2.93 1.25 2.9 2.78l.03 5.2c0 .13-.1.23-.23.23h-1.41c-.13 0-.23-.11-.23-.23v-4.59c0-.98-.74-1.71-1.62-1.71-.8 0-1.46.7-1.59 1.62l.01 4.68c0 .13-.11.23-.23.23h-1.41c-.13 0-.23-.11-.23-.23v-4.59c0-.98-.74-1.71-1.62-1.71-.85 0-1.54.79-1.6 1.8v4.5c0 .13-.1.23-.23.23zm53.615 0h-1.61c-.04 0-.08-.01-.12-.03-.09-.06-.13-.19-.06-.28l2.43-3.71-2.39-3.65a.213.213 0 01-.03-.12c0-.12.09-.21.21-.21h1.61c.13 0 .24.06.3.17l1.41 2.37 1.4-2.37a.34.34 0 01.3-.17h1.6c.04 0 .08.01.12.03.09.06.13.19.06.28l-2.37 3.65 2.43 3.7c0 .05.01.09.01.13 0 .12-.09.21-.21.21h-1.61c-.13 0-.24-.06-.3-.17l-1.44-2.42-1.44 2.42a.34.34 0 01-.3.17zm-7.12-1.49c-1.33 0-2.42-1.12-2.42-2.51 0-1.39 1.08-2.52 2.42-2.52 1.33 0 2.42 1.12 2.42 2.51 0 1.39-1.08 2.51-2.42 2.52zm-19.865 0c-1.32 0-2.39-1.11-2.42-2.48v-.07c.02-1.38 1.09-2.49 2.4-2.49 1.32 0 2.41 1.12 2.41 2.51 0 1.39-1.07 2.52-2.39 2.53zm-8.11-2.48c-.01 1.37-1.09 2.47-2.41 2.47s-2.42-1.12-2.42-2.51c0-1.39 1.08-2.52 2.4-2.52 1.33 0 2.39 1.11 2.41 2.48l.02.08zm18.12 2.47c-1.32 0-2.39-1.11-2.41-2.48v-.06c.02-1.38 1.09-2.48 2.41-2.48s2.42 1.12 2.42 2.51c0 1.39-1.09 2.51-2.42 2.51z'/%3E%3C/defs%3E%3Cmask id='c'%3E%3Crect width='100%25' height='100%25' fill='%23fff'/%3E%3Cuse xlink:href='%23a'/%3E%3Cuse xlink:href='%23b'/%3E%3C/mask%3E%3Cg stroke='%23000' stroke-width='3'%3E%3Ccircle mask='url(%23c)' cx='11.5' cy='11.5' r='9.25'/%3E%3Cuse xlink:href='%23b' mask='url(/web/20220713234819im_/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/%23c)'/%3E%3C/g%3E%3Cg fill='%23fff'%3E%3Cuse xlink:href='%23a'/%3E%3Cuse xlink:href='%23b'/%3E%3C/g%3E%3C/svg%3E")}}@media (-ms-high-contrast: black-on-white){a.mapboxgl-ctrl-logo{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='88' height='23' viewBox='0 0 88 23' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' xmlns:xlink='http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink' fill-rule='evenodd'%3E%3Cdefs%3E%3Cpath id='a' d='M11.5 2.25c5.105 0 9.25 4.145 9.25 9.25s-4.145 9.25-9.25 9.25-9.25-4.145-9.25-9.25 4.145-9.25 9.25-9.25zM6.997 15.983c-.051-.338-.828-5.802 2.233-8.873a4.395 4.395 0 013.13-1.28c1.27 0 2.49.51 3.39 1.42.91.9 1.42 2.12 1.42 3.39 0 1.18-.449 2.301-1.28 3.13C12.72 16.93 7 16 7 16l-.003-.017zM15.3 10.5l-2 .8-.8 2-.8-2-2-.8 2-.8.8-2 .8 2 2 .8z'/%3E%3Cpath id='b' d='M50.63 8c.13 0 .23.1.23.23V9c.7-.76 1.7-1.18 2.73-1.18 2.17 0 3.95 1.85 3.95 4.17s-1.77 4.19-3.94 4.19c-1.04 0-2.03-.43-2.74-1.18v3.77c0 .13-.1.23-.23.23h-1.4c-.13 0-.23-.1-.23-.23V8.23c0-.12.1-.23.23-.23h1.4zm-3.86.01c.01 0 .01 0 .01-.01.13 0 .22.1.22.22v7.55c0 .12-.1.23-.23.23h-1.4c-.13 0-.23-.1-.23-.23V15c-.7.76-1.69 1.19-2.73 1.19-2.17 0-3.94-1.87-3.94-4.19 0-2.32 1.77-4.19 3.94-4.19 1.03 0 2.02.43 2.73 1.18v-.75c0-.12.1-.23.23-.23h1.4zm26.375-.19a4.24 4.24 0 00-4.16 3.29c-.13.59-.13 1.19 0 1.77a4.233 4.233 0 004.17 3.3c2.35 0 4.26-1.87 4.26-4.19 0-2.32-1.9-4.17-4.27-4.17zM60.63 5c.13 0 .23.1.23.23v3.76c.7-.76 1.7-1.18 2.73-1.18 1.88 0 3.45 1.4 3.84 3.28.13.59.13 1.2 0 1.8-.39 1.88-1.96 3.29-3.84 3.29-1.03 0-2.02-.43-2.73-1.18v.77c0 .12-.1.23-.23.23h-1.4c-.13 0-.23-.1-.23-.23V5.23c0-.12.1-.23.23-.23h1.4zm-34 11h-1.4c-.13 0-.23-.11-.23-.23V8.22c.01-.13.1-.22.23-.22h1.4c.13 0 .22.11.23.22v.68c.5-.68 1.3-1.09 2.16-1.1h.03c1.09 0 2.09.6 2.6 1.55.45-.95 1.4-1.55 2.44-1.56 1.62 0 2.93 1.25 2.9 2.78l.03 5.2c0 .13-.1.23-.23.23h-1.41c-.13 0-.23-.11-.23-.23v-4.59c0-.98-.74-1.71-1.62-1.71-.8 0-1.46.7-1.59 1.62l.01 4.68c0 .13-.11.23-.23.23h-1.41c-.13 0-.23-.11-.23-.23v-4.59c0-.98-.74-1.71-1.62-1.71-.85 0-1.54.79-1.6 1.8v4.5c0 .13-.1.23-.23.23zm53.615 0h-1.61c-.04 0-.08-.01-.12-.03-.09-.06-.13-.19-.06-.28l2.43-3.71-2.39-3.65a.213.213 0 01-.03-.12c0-.12.09-.21.21-.21h1.61c.13 0 .24.06.3.17l1.41 2.37 1.4-2.37a.34.34 0 01.3-.17h1.6c.04 0 .08.01.12.03.09.06.13.19.06.28l-2.37 3.65 2.43 3.7c0 .05.01.09.01.13 0 .12-.09.21-.21.21h-1.61c-.13 0-.24-.06-.3-.17l-1.44-2.42-1.44 2.42a.34.34 0 01-.3.17zm-7.12-1.49c-1.33 0-2.42-1.12-2.42-2.51 0-1.39 1.08-2.52 2.42-2.52 1.33 0 2.42 1.12 2.42 2.51 0 1.39-1.08 2.51-2.42 2.52zm-19.865 0c-1.32 0-2.39-1.11-2.42-2.48v-.07c.02-1.38 1.09-2.49 2.4-2.49 1.32 0 2.41 1.12 2.41 2.51 0 1.39-1.07 2.52-2.39 2.53zm-8.11-2.48c-.01 1.37-1.09 2.47-2.41 2.47s-2.42-1.12-2.42-2.51c0-1.39 1.08-2.52 2.4-2.52 1.33 0 2.39 1.11 2.41 2.48l.02.08zm18.12 2.47c-1.32 0-2.39-1.11-2.41-2.48v-.06c.02-1.38 1.09-2.48 2.41-2.48s2.42 1.12 2.42 2.51c0 1.39-1.09 2.51-2.42 2.51z'/%3E%3C/defs%3E%3Cmask id='c'%3E%3Crect width='100%25' height='100%25' fill='%23fff'/%3E%3Cuse xlink:href='%23a'/%3E%3Cuse xlink:href='%23b'/%3E%3C/mask%3E%3Cg stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='3' fill='%23fff'%3E%3Ccircle mask='url(%23c)' cx='11.5' cy='11.5' r='9.25'/%3E%3Cuse xlink:href='%23b' mask='url(/web/20220713234819im_/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/%23c)'/%3E%3C/g%3E%3Cuse xlink:href='%23a'/%3E%3Cuse xlink:href='%23b'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}}.mapboxgl-ctrl.mapboxgl-ctrl-attrib{padding:0 5px;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0.5);margin:0}@media screen{.mapboxgl-ctrl-attrib.mapboxgl-compact{min-height:20px;padding:0;margin:10px;position:relative;background-color:#fff;border-radius:3px 12px 12px 3px}.mapboxgl-ctrl-attrib.mapboxgl-compact:hover{padding:2px 24px 2px 4px;visibility:visible;margin-top:6px}.mapboxgl-ctrl-bottom-left>.mapboxgl-ctrl-attrib.mapboxgl-compact:hover,.mapboxgl-ctrl-top-left>.mapboxgl-ctrl-attrib.mapboxgl-compact:hover{padding:2px 4px 2px 24px;border-radius:12px 3px 3px 12px}.mapboxgl-ctrl-attrib.mapboxgl-compact .mapboxgl-ctrl-attrib-inner{display:none}.mapboxgl-ctrl-attrib.mapboxgl-compact:hover .mapboxgl-ctrl-attrib-inner{display:block}.mapboxgl-ctrl-attrib.mapboxgl-compact:after{content:"";cursor:pointer;position:absolute;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='24' height='24' viewBox='0 0 20 20' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill-rule='evenodd'%3E%3Cpath d='M4 10a6 6 0 1012 0 6 6 0 10-12 0m5-3a1 1 0 102 0 1 1 0 10-2 0m0 3a1 1 0 112 0v3a1 1 0 11-2 0'/%3E%3C/svg%3E");background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0.5);width:24px;height:24px;box-sizing:border-box;border-radius:12px}.mapboxgl-ctrl-bottom-right>.mapboxgl-ctrl-attrib.mapboxgl-compact:after{bottom:0;right:0}.mapboxgl-ctrl-top-right>.mapboxgl-ctrl-attrib.mapboxgl-compact:after{top:0;right:0}.mapboxgl-ctrl-top-left>.mapboxgl-ctrl-attrib.mapboxgl-compact:after{top:0;left:0}.mapboxgl-ctrl-bottom-left>.mapboxgl-ctrl-attrib.mapboxgl-compact:after{bottom:0;left:0}}@media screen and (-ms-high-contrast: active){.mapboxgl-ctrl-attrib.mapboxgl-compact:after{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='24' height='24' viewBox='0 0 20 20' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill-rule='evenodd' fill='%23fff'%3E%3Cpath d='M4 10a6 6 0 1012 0 6 6 0 10-12 0m5-3a1 1 0 102 0 1 1 0 10-2 0m0 3a1 1 0 112 0v3a1 1 0 11-2 0'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}}@media screen and (-ms-high-contrast: black-on-white){.mapboxgl-ctrl-attrib.mapboxgl-compact:after{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg width='24' height='24' viewBox='0 0 20 20' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill-rule='evenodd'%3E%3Cpath d='M4 10a6 6 0 1012 0 6 6 0 10-12 0m5-3a1 1 0 102 0 1 1 0 10-2 0m0 3a1 1 0 112 0v3a1 1 0 11-2 0'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}}.mapboxgl-ctrl-attrib a{color:rgba(0,0,0,0.75);text-decoration:none}.mapboxgl-ctrl-attrib a:hover{color:inherit;text-decoration:underline}.mapboxgl-ctrl-attrib .mapbox-improve-map{font-weight:700;margin-left:2px}.mapboxgl-attrib-empty{display:none}.mapboxgl-ctrl-scale{background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0.75);font-size:10px;border:2px solid #333;border-top:#333;padding:0 5px;color:#333;box-sizing:border-box}.mapboxgl-popup{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;display:-webkit-flex;display:flex;will-change:transform;pointer-events:none}.mapboxgl-popup-anchor-top,.mapboxgl-popup-anchor-top-left,.mapboxgl-popup-anchor-top-right{-webkit-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column}.mapboxgl-popup-anchor-bottom,.mapboxgl-popup-anchor-bottom-left,.mapboxgl-popup-anchor-bottom-right{-webkit-flex-direction:column-reverse;flex-direction:column-reverse}.mapboxgl-popup-anchor-left{-webkit-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row}.mapboxgl-popup-anchor-right{-webkit-flex-direction:row-reverse;flex-direction:row-reverse}.mapboxgl-popup-tip{width:0;height:0;border:10px solid transparent;z-index:1}.mapboxgl-popup-anchor-top .mapboxgl-popup-tip{-webkit-align-self:center;align-self:center;border-top:none;border-bottom-color:#fff}.mapboxgl-popup-anchor-top-left .mapboxgl-popup-tip{-webkit-align-self:flex-start;align-self:flex-start;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom-color:#fff}.mapboxgl-popup-anchor-top-right .mapboxgl-popup-tip{-webkit-align-self:flex-end;align-self:flex-end;border-top:none;border-right:none;border-bottom-color:#fff}.mapboxgl-popup-anchor-bottom .mapboxgl-popup-tip{-webkit-align-self:center;align-self:center;border-bottom:none;border-top-color:#fff}.mapboxgl-popup-anchor-bottom-left .mapboxgl-popup-tip{-webkit-align-self:flex-start;align-self:flex-start;border-bottom:none;border-left:none;border-top-color:#fff}.mapboxgl-popup-anchor-bottom-right .mapboxgl-popup-tip{-webkit-align-self:flex-end;align-self:flex-end;border-bottom:none;border-right:none;border-top-color:#fff}.mapboxgl-popup-anchor-left .mapboxgl-popup-tip{-webkit-align-self:center;align-self:center;border-left:none;border-right-color:#fff}.mapboxgl-popup-anchor-right .mapboxgl-popup-tip{-webkit-align-self:center;align-self:center;border-right:none;border-left-color:#fff}.mapboxgl-popup-close-button{position:absolute;right:0;top:0;border:0;border-radius:0 3px 0 0;cursor:pointer;background-color:transparent}.mapboxgl-popup-close-button:hover{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.05)}.mapboxgl-popup-content{position:relative;background:#fff;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);padding:10px 10px 15px;pointer-events:auto}.mapboxgl-popup-anchor-top-left .mapboxgl-popup-content{border-top-left-radius:0}.mapboxgl-popup-anchor-top-right .mapboxgl-popup-content{border-top-right-radius:0}.mapboxgl-popup-anchor-bottom-left .mapboxgl-popup-content{border-bottom-left-radius:0}.mapboxgl-popup-anchor-bottom-right .mapboxgl-popup-content{border-bottom-right-radius:0}.mapboxgl-popup-track-pointer{display:none}.mapboxgl-popup-track-pointer *{pointer-events:none;user-select:none}.mapboxgl-map:hover .mapboxgl-popup-track-pointer{display:flex}.mapboxgl-map:active .mapboxgl-popup-track-pointer{display:none}.mapboxgl-marker{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;will-change:transform}.mapboxgl-user-location-dot,.mapboxgl-user-location-dot:before{background-color:#1da1f2;width:15px;height:15px;border-radius:50%}.mapboxgl-user-location-dot:before{content:"";position:absolute;-webkit-animation:mapboxgl-user-location-dot-pulse 2s infinite;-moz-animation:mapboxgl-user-location-dot-pulse 2s infinite;-ms-animation:mapboxgl-user-location-dot-pulse 2s infinite;animation:mapboxgl-user-location-dot-pulse 2s infinite}.mapboxgl-user-location-dot:after{border-radius:50%;border:2px solid #fff;content:"";height:19px;left:-2px;position:absolute;top:-2px;width:19px;box-sizing:border-box;box-shadow:0 0 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.35)}@-webkit-keyframes mapboxgl-user-location-dot-pulse{0%{-webkit-transform:scale(1);opacity:1}70%{-webkit-transform:scale(3);opacity:0}to{-webkit-transform:scale(1);opacity:0}}@-ms-keyframes mapboxgl-user-location-dot-pulse{0%{-ms-transform:scale(1);opacity:1}70%{-ms-transform:scale(3);opacity:0}to{-ms-transform:scale(1);opacity:0}}@keyframes mapboxgl-user-location-dot-pulse{0%{transform:scale(1);opacity:1}70%{transform:scale(3);opacity:0}to{transform:scale(1);opacity:0}}.mapboxgl-user-location-dot-stale{background-color:#aaa}.mapboxgl-user-location-dot-stale:after{display:none}.mapboxgl-user-location-accuracy-circle{background-color:rgba(29,161,242,0.2);width:1px;height:1px;border-radius:100%}.mapboxgl-crosshair,.mapboxgl-crosshair .mapboxgl-interactive,.mapboxgl-crosshair .mapboxgl-interactive:active{cursor:crosshair}.mapboxgl-boxzoom{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:0;height:0;background:#fff;border:2px dotted #202020;opacity:.5}@media print{.mapbox-improve-map{display:none}}.styled-line{background-color:#8beed9;height:3px;width:72px}.styled-line--small{width:45px}.styled-line--medium{width:135px}.styled-line--large{height:1px;width:auto}.styled-line--height--large{height:5px}.styled-line--height--small{height:1px}.styled-line--xs-small{width:25px}.styled-line--worklife{background-color:#8beed9}.styled-line--future{background-color:#ffc857}.styled-line--culture{background-color:#472479}.styled-line--earth{background-color:#002856}.styled-line--travel{background-color:#002856}.styled-line--white{background-color:#fff}.styled-line--dark-grey{background-color:#6a6a6a}.styled-line--light-grey{background-color:#4b4b4b}.styled-line--grey{background-color:#dedede}.mapContainer .mapTitle{background:transparent;color:#fff;display:block;font-family:'curiousSans-Bold', Arial, sans-serif;font-size:0.9rem;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:3.6px;line-height:1.1875em;margin-top:2%;min-width:25%;padding:2%;padding-bottom:0.375em;padding-left:8px;padding-right:16px;padding-top:0.375em;position:relative;text-align:center;z-index:100}@media only screen and (max-width: 600px){.mapContainer .mapTitle{font-size:2.4em}}.mapContainer .styled-line{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto}.mapContainer button{background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0.9);border:0;box-sizing:border-box;cursor:pointer;display:block;height:60px;outline:none;padding:2px;width:60px}.mapContainer button .gelicon{color:#589e50;font-size:2.5em;vertical-align:middle}.mapContainer button:hover{background-color:#f2f2f2}@media only screen and (max-width: 600px){.mapContainer button{height:50px;width:50px}.mapContainer button .gelicon{font-size:2em}}.mapContainer .navigationPanel{align-items:flex-end;bottom:0;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;left:50%;max-width:1200px;padding:10px;position:absolute;transform:translate(-50%, 0);width:100%}.mapContainer .zoomControls{background-color:#fff}.mapContainer .mapboxgl-popup-content{border-radius:0;box-shadow:0 3px 0 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.1) !important;cursor:default;font-family:'curiousSans-Bold', Arial, sans-serif;max-width:300px;padding:0 !important;text-align:left}.mapContainer .mapboxgl-popup-content img{width:300px}@media only screen and (max-width: 600px){.mapContainer .mapboxgl-popup-content{max-width:190px}.mapContainer .mapboxgl-popup-content img{width:190px}}.mapContainer .mapboxgl-ctrl-logo{display:none !important}.mapContainer .map-marker svg{transition:all 0.1s ease-out}@media only screen and (max-width: 600px){.mapContainer .map-marker svg{height:52px;transform:scale(0.75)}}.mapContainer .map-marker-active svg{transform:scale(1.3)}@media only screen and (max-width: 600px){.mapContainer .map-marker-active svg{height:52px;transform:scale(1)}}.mapContainer__articleInfo{padding:0 18px}.mapContainer__articleInfo .article-vertical a{color:#4a4a4a;display:block;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:3px;line-height:16px;margin-right:auto;margin-top:20px;text-decoration:none;text-transform:uppercase}.mapContainer__articleInfo .article-title{font-size:18px;letter-spacing:-0.21px;line-height:30px;margin:0.725em 0}.mapContainer__articleInfo .article-title a{color:rgba(46,46,46,0.85);text-decoration:none}@media only screen and (max-width: 600px){.mapContainer__articleInfo .article-title{font-size:1.7em}}.mapContainer__articleInfo .article-author{color:#4a4a4a;display:block;font-size:14px;font-style:italic;letter-spacing:0.1px;line-height:35px;margin:1.45em 0;text-decoration:none}html,body{margin:0;padding:0}#root *,#root *::before,#root *::after{box-sizing:border-box}#root article,#root aside,#root figure,#root footer,#root header,#root nav,#root section{display:block}body{background:#fff}.app__body{display:flex;flex-direction:column;min-height:100vh;overflow:visible;position:relative}.app__domestic-disclaimer{bottom:0;position:fixed;width:100%;z-index:5000}.main{display:flex;flex:1 0 auto;flex-direction:column} .navigation{display:none;margin:auto;max-width:1248px;padding:4px 16px 0;position:relative;z-index:1000}@media (min-width: 1008px) and (max-width: 1279px){.navigation{max-width:976px}}@media (min-width: 600px){.navigation{padding:0 16px 1px}}@media (min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1007px){.navigation{max-width:990px}}@media (min-width: 300px) and (max-width: 399px){.navigation{padding:4px 8px}}.navigation>.nav-bar{background-color:unset;margin-top:1px}.navigation--display{display:block}.navigation-sticky--undocked{background-color:#fff;width:100%;z-index:10000}.StickyElement{position:relative;z-index:1501} .loader{display:none;height:100%;left:-99999px;opacity:0;position:absolute;top:0;transition:0.2s opacity;width:100%;z-index:1000}.loader--is-active{background:#fff;display:block;left:0;opacity:1}.loader__body{display:none;left:50%;position:fixed;top:50%;transform:translateX(-50%) translateY(-50%)}.loader__body--show-loader{display:block}.no-js .loader{display:none} .article-headline__text:focus{outline:none}.article__main{display:flex;justify-content:flex-end;margin:0;width:100%}@media (max-width: 1023px) and (min-width: 768px){.article__main{width:80%}}.article__subcontainer{display:flex;justify-content:flex-end;position:relative;width:100%;z-index:999}@media (max-width: 1667px) and (min-width: 1194px){.article__subcontainer{width:97%}}@media (min-width: 1680px){.article__subcontainer{justify-content:center;width:80% !important}}@media (min-width: 1900px){.article__subcontainer{margin:auto;width:71% !important}}.article__side-mpu{min-height:810px}.article__side-mpu>div{background:#f1f1f1;display:inline-block;padding:0 8px 8px}.bbccom_standard_slot{background:transparent !important}.article__body{background-color:#fff;flex:1 1 auto;margin-top:-56px;max-width:700px;width:100%}.article__body-content{overflow-wrap:break-word}@media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1007px){.article__body{margin:0 auto;position:relative;top:-56px;width:82%;z-index:100}}@media (max-width: 767px){.article__body{margin-top:0}}@media (min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1180px){.article__body{margin-left:3%;width:97%}}@media (max-width: 1007px){.article__body{margin-top:0}}.article__mpu{flex-basis:333px;flex-grow:0;height:auto}.article__body-content,.article__body .article__partner,.article__author-unit{padding:0 10px;margin-bottom:0}@media (min-width: 650px){.article__body-content,.article__body .article__partner,.article__author-unit{padding:0 18px}}@media (min-width: 1023px){.article__body-content,.article__body .article__partner,.article__author-unit{padding:0 6% 0 18px}}.article__container{display:flex;justify-content:center;width:100%}.article__container+.related-articles{margin-top:30px;margin-bottom:20px}.article__intro{color:#4d4d49;font-size:18px;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:-0.5px;line-height:28px;margin-bottom:24px;padding:14px 0 0}@media (min-width: 650px){.article__intro{font-size:26px;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:-1.63px;line-height:37px}}.article__end{clear:both;padding-top:36px}.article__fade-story{background:linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(255,255,255,0) 0%, #fff 100%);bottom:0;left:0;height:210px;position:absolute;width:100%;z-index:1501}.article__fade-story--show{display:block !important}.article__body--short{height:770px;overflow:hidden;position:relative}@media (min-width: 481px){.article__body--short{height:800px}}.article__load-more{bottom:24px;display:block !important;-ms-grid-column:1;-ms-grid-column-span:1;grid-column:1 / span 1;left:50%;position:absolute;transform:translateX(-50%);z-index:1502}.article--hidden{display:none !important}.article__similar-articles{flex:1 0 333px;max-width:333px}.article__similar-articles>.related-articles{position:-webkit-sticky;position:sticky;top:16px}.article__similar-articles>.related-articles .related-article__collection{display:none}@media (max-width: 1365px) and (min-width: 1280px){.hero-video__video{max-height:534px;width:73.5% !important}}@media (min-width: 1366px){.hero-video__video{left:5.5%;max-height:534px;max-width:949px;width:70% !important}}@media (min-width: 1668px){.hero-video__video{left:14%}}@media (min-width: 1900px){.hero-video__video{left:18.5%}}.inline-audio{display:block;padding-top:8px}.article__audio-ad{display:flex;position:relative;margin:17px 0 14px}@media (max-width: 767px){.article__audio-ad{margin:2px 0 6px}}.article__audio-ad .bbccom_slot{padding:0}.article__audio-ad .bbccom_advert{display:flex !important;max-width:100%}.article__audio-ad .bbccom_slot .bbccom_text{color:#000 !important;font-size:9px !important;font-family:ArialMT !important;font-weight:normal !important;line-height:15px !important;letter-spacing:0 !important;text-transform:uppercase !important;text-align:left !important;margin:auto 12px 0 0 !important;width:144px}aside.article__similar-articles .related-article__text{padding:10px 6px 10px 0}aside.article__similar-articles .related-article__collection:hover{color:#000} @media (min-width: 1280px){.article-header .article-headline__text{font-size:48px !important}}.article-header__leaderboard{background:#f1f1f1 !important}.article-header__leaderboard>div>div.bbccom_visible{background:#f1f1f1 !important;min-height:100px}.article-header__hero-ad{display:flex;flex-direction:row-reverse}.article-header__hero-ad>div>div.bbccom_visible>div{background:#f1f1f1 !important}.article-header__video .article-video__video{height:100%;margin:auto;width:100%}@media (max-width: 1179px) and (min-width: 768px){.article-header__video .article-video__video{height:80%;width:64%}}@media (max-width: 1180px) and (min-width: 1024px){.article-header__video .article-video__video{height:80%;margin-left:0;width:90%}}@media (min-width: 1181px){.article-header__video .article-video__video{height:80%;width:64%}}@media (min-width: 1024px){.article-header__video--ads .article-video__video{margin-left:0;width:calc(100% - 333px)}}.WaypointsList>div+div .article .article-headline::before{content:' ';font-size:0;display:block;width:25px;height:3px;background:var(--brand-active-colour, currentColor);margin:0 auto 40px} .article-body-native-ad{margin-bottom:41px}.article-body-native-ad>div>div>div{background:#f1f1f1;clear:both;overflow:hidden;padding:8px !important}.article-body-native-ad a{padding-right:15px}@media screen and (max-width: 320px){.article-body-native-ad{margin-left:-10px;width:320px}}.article-body__iframe{padding-top:20px}.article-body__pull-quote{clear:both;margin:20px 0;padding-top:0}.article-body__video-text{clear:both;margin:0;padding:20px 0 0;width:100%}@media (max-width: 767px){.article-body__video-text{margin-left:-10px;width:107%}}.article-body__callout-box{float:left;clear:both;margin:1rem 1rem 1rem -8rem}.article-body__callout-box-mobile{float:left;clear:both;margin:3rem 0;width:100%}.article-body__image-text{padding:0}.article-body__mpu-title{color:#444;font-family:inherit;font-size:14px;font-style:italic;text-align:center}.article-body__image-text--square{margin:20px 0}.article-body__image-text--portrait{margin:20px 0}@media (max-width: 599px){.article-body__image-text--portrait{margin-left:-3%;width:106%}}.article-body__image-text img{width:100%}.article-body__video-text,.article-body__image-text--landscape{margin:20px 0 20px -3%;width:106%}@media (max-width: 1000px) and (min-width: 767px){.article-body__video-text,.article-body__image-text--landscape{margin:20px 0 20px -16%;width:116%}}@media (max-width: 1180px) and (min-width: 1024px){.article-body__video-text,.article-body__image-text--landscape{margin:20px 0 20px -8%;width:108%}}@media (max-width: 1365px) and (min-width: 1280px){.article-body__video-text,.article-body__image-text--landscape{margin:20px 0 20px -39%;width:139%}}@media (min-width: 1366px){.article-body__video-text,.article-body__image-text--landscape{margin:20px 0 20px -52%;width:152%}}.article-body__image-gallery .swipe-items__container,.article-body__image-gallery .swipe-items__gallery{padding:0}.article-body__image-gallery{margin:20px 0} </style> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819js_/https://cdn.optimizely.com/public/4621041136/s/features_prod.js"></script> </head> <body> <div id="cookiePrompt"></div> <noscript><p style="position: absolute; top: -999em"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://a1.api.bbc.co.uk/hit.xiti?&col=1&from=p&ptag=js&s=598253&p=lovelife::premium_lovelife::worklife.article.20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex.page&x2=[responsive]&x3=[bbc_website]&x4=[en]&x7=[article]&x8=[reverb-3.5.0-nojs]&x11=[FEATURE_SITES_GNL]&x12=[GNL_CAPITAL]" height="1" width="1" alt=""></p></noscript><style>body.dotcom .feature-ad { display: block; }</style><div id="bbccom_interstitial_ad" class="bbccom_display_none"></div><div id="bbccom_interstitial" class="bbccom_display_none"></div><div id="bbccom_wallpaper_ad" class="bbccom_display_none"></div><div id="bbccom_wallpaper" class="bbccom_display_none"></div> <div class="orbit-header-container" id="orbit-header"><header id="orb-banner" role="banner" aria-label="BBC-wide" class="orbit-header geo orbit-default orbit-language-en orbit-ux-v5"><div id="orb-header" class="orb-nav-pri orb-nav-pri-white orb-nav-empty" dir="ltr"><div class="orb-nav-pri-container b-r b-g-p"><div class="orb-nav-section orb-nav-blocks"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/" id="homepage-link"><svg width="112" height="32" viewbox="0 0 112 32" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M8.99999 6.99999H15.7552C17.7458 6.99999 19.2878 7.39887 20.3811 8.19576C21.4741 8.99309 22.021 10.1385 22.021 11.6321C22.021 12.4881 21.8252 13.2308 21.4335 13.8601C21.0419 14.4894 20.4625 14.9891 19.6958 15.358C20.7563 15.7104 21.5682 16.2686 22.1311 17.0321C22.6941 17.796 22.9755 18.7232 22.9755 19.814C22.9755 20.8882 22.7021 21.8114 22.1555 22.5832C21.6087 23.3553 20.8296 23.9513 19.8182 24.3706C18.8062 24.7903 17.5909 25 16.1713 25H8.99999V6.99999ZM0 32H32V0H0V32ZM48.9999 6.99999H55.7551C57.7457 6.99999 59.2877 7.39887 60.3811 8.19576C61.4741 8.99309 62.0209 10.1385 62.0209 11.6321C62.0209 12.4881 61.8251 13.2308 61.4334 13.8601C61.0419 14.4894 60.4624 14.9891 59.6957 15.358C60.7562 15.7104 61.568 16.2686 62.1311 17.0321C62.694 17.796 62.9753 18.7232 62.9753 19.814C62.9753 20.8882 62.7019 21.8114 62.1554 22.5832C61.6087 23.3553 60.8297 23.9513 59.818 24.3706C58.8062 24.7903 57.5908 25 56.1712 25H48.9999V6.99999ZM39.9999 32H71.9999V0H39.9999V32ZM55.8775 17.2209H52.6469V22.0797H55.8286C56.9216 22.0797 57.7622 21.8743 58.3497 21.4629C58.9369 21.0518 59.2308 20.4602 59.2308 19.6881C59.2308 18.0435 58.1128 17.2209 55.8775 17.2209ZM55.4125 9.92026C57.3541 9.92026 58.3252 10.6338 58.3252 12.06C58.3252 12.7988 58.0763 13.3735 57.5787 13.7846C57.0808 14.196 56.3588 14.4014 55.4125 14.4014H52.6469V9.92026H55.4125ZM15.4126 9.92026C17.3542 9.92026 18.3253 10.6338 18.3253 12.06C18.3253 12.7988 18.0763 13.3735 17.5787 13.7846C17.0808 14.196 16.3588 14.4014 15.4126 14.4014H12.6469V9.92026H15.4126ZM15.8776 17.2209H12.6469V22.0797H15.8287C16.9217 22.0797 17.7623 21.8743 18.3497 21.4629C18.937 21.0518 19.2308 20.4602 19.2308 19.6881C19.2308 18.0435 18.1129 17.2209 15.8776 17.2209ZM100.391 24.8338C101.373 24.5956 102.237 24.2706 102.982 23.8592V20.4292C101.407 21.4001 99.6879 21.8851 97.8249 21.8851C96.6052 21.8851 95.5677 21.6549 94.7125 21.1942C93.857 20.7338 93.2048 20.0633 92.7562 19.1831C92.3071 18.3032 92.0829 17.238 92.0829 15.9876C92.0829 14.7377 92.3155 13.6766 92.7814 12.8045C93.2472 11.9327 93.9161 11.2665 94.7887 10.8058C95.6608 10.3454 96.7153 10.1148 97.9519 10.1148C98.8494 10.1148 99.705 10.2343 100.518 10.4726C101.331 10.7113 102.084 11.0609 102.779 11.5212V8.01737C102.017 7.62259 101.191 7.32259 100.302 7.1167C99.4128 6.91126 98.4683 6.80826 97.4691 6.80826C96.0292 6.80826 94.7292 7.02226 93.5691 7.44981C92.4088 7.87781 91.4136 8.4947 90.5839 9.30048C89.7537 10.1067 89.1187 11.0732 88.6783 12.1999C88.2377 13.3269 88.0176 14.5896 88.0176 15.9876C88.0176 17.4188 88.2295 18.7062 88.6529 19.8493C89.0761 20.9929 89.6859 21.9591 90.4822 22.7488C91.2782 23.5383 92.252 24.143 93.404 24.5624C94.5557 24.9819 95.8515 25.1917 97.2912 25.1917C98.375 25.1917 99.4085 25.0721 100.391 24.8338ZM112 32H79.9998V4.44444e-05H112V32Z"></svg><span class="orbit-button-text">Homepage</span></a></div><section><div class="orb-skip-links"><h2>Accessibility links</h2><ul><li><a href="#orb-modules"><span>Skip to content</span></a></li><li><a id="orb-accessibility-help" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/"><span>Accessibility Help</span></a></li></ul></div></section><div class="orbit-header-left"><div class="orbit-module-idcta"><div id="idcta-statusbar" class="orbit-header-account" data-bbc-container="id-cta" data-bbc-event-type="click" data-bbc-ignore-views="1" data-bbc-metadata="{"id-cta-type": "statusbar-orbit"}" data-bbc-source="responsive_web" data-bbc-title="id-cta-sign-in"><a id="idcta-link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://account.bbc.com/account"><span id="idcta-username">BBC Account</span></a></div><script type="text/javascript">require(['idcta/statusbar'], function (statusbar) {new statusbar.Statusbar({id: 'idcta-statusbar', publiclyCacheable: true});});</script></div><div class="orbit-module-notifications"><div class="orbit-module-notifications"><a class="orbit-header-notifications" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/notifications"><svg width="23" height="24" viewbox="0 0 23 24" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M19.35 15.1883C19.8562 15.7235 20.6674 16.0612 21.7837 16.1996L23 16.3481V18.6667H0V16.3481L1.21634 16.1996C2.35241 16.0612 3.16834 15.7235 3.66602 15.1883C4.16276 14.6532 4.41113 13.8413 4.41113 12.7517V9.71992C4.41113 7.97614 4.87764 6.53868 5.81068 5.40938C6.74371 4.28008 8.06204 3.54752 9.76567 3.20983V0H13.2343V3.20983C14.938 3.54752 16.2553 4.28008 17.1893 5.40938C18.1224 6.53868 18.5889 7.97614 18.5889 9.71992V12.7517C18.5889 13.8413 18.8429 14.6532 19.35 15.1883ZM11.4996 24C10.4854 24 9.66944 23.6713 9.05088 23.0122C8.43232 22.353 8.12351 21.5721 8.12351 20.6667H14.8767C14.8767 21.5721 14.5669 22.353 13.9493 23.0122C13.3307 23.6713 12.5139 24 11.4996 24Z"></svg><span class="orbit-button-text">Notifications</span></a></div></div></div><nav class="orbit-header-links domestic"><ul><li class="orb-nav-home"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/"><span>Home</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-news"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news"><svg class="product-icon" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 512 512" enable-background="new 0 0 512 512" xml:space="preserve" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true"><g><path fill="#B80000" d="M302,424h-68c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S232,422.552,232,422V306c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S233.448,304,234,304h68c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S304,305.448,304,306v116c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S302.552,424,302,424z"></path><path fill="#EB0000" d="M422,280H234c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S232,278.552,232,278V90c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S233.448,88,234,88h188c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S424,89.448,424,90v188c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S422.552,280,422,280z"></path><path fill="#D30000" d="M206,328H90c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S88,326.552,88,326V210c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S89.448,208,90,208h116c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S208,209.448,208,210v116c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S206.552,328,206,328z"></path></g></svg><span>News</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-sport"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport"><svg class="product-icon" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 512 512" enable-background="new 0 0 512 512" xml:space="preserve" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true"><g><path fill="#FFD230" d="M90,184h332c0.552,0,1.052-0.224,1.414-0.586S424,182.552,424,182V90c0-0.552-0.224-1.052-0.586-1.414 S422.552,88,422,88H90c-0.552,0-1.052,0.224-1.414,0.586S88,89.448,88,90v92c0,0.552,0.224,1.052,0.586,1.414S89.448,184,90,184z"></path><path fill="#FFA100" d="M306,424h116c0.552,0,1.052-0.224,1.414-0.586S424,422.552,424,422v-92c0-0.552-0.224-1.052-0.586-1.414 S422.552,328,422,328H306c-0.552,0-1.052,0.224-1.414,0.586S304,329.448,304,330v92c0,0.552,0.224,1.052,0.586,1.414 S305.448,424,306,424z"></path><path fill="#FFBA00" d="M210,304h212c0.552,0,1.052-0.224,1.414-0.586S424,302.552,424,302v-92c0-0.552-0.224-1.052-0.586-1.414 S422.552,208,422,208H210c-0.552,0-1.052,0.224-1.414,0.586S208,209.448,208,210v92c0,0.552,0.224,1.052,0.586,1.414 S209.448,304,210,304z"></path></g></svg><span>Sport</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-weather"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather"><svg class="product-icon" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 512 512" enable-background="new 0 0 512 512" xml:space="preserve" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true"><g><path fill="#067EB3" d="M316.234,368.56l52.326-52.326c0.391-0.391,0.586-0.902,0.586-1.414c0-0.512-0.195-1.024-0.586-1.414 L252.594,197.44c-0.391-0.391-0.902-0.586-1.414-0.586s-1.024,0.195-1.414,0.586l-52.326,52.326 c-0.391,0.391-0.586,0.902-0.586,1.414s0.195,1.024,0.586,1.414L313.406,368.56c0.391,0.391,0.902,0.586,1.414,0.586 C315.332,369.146,315.844,368.95,316.234,368.56z"></path><path fill="#1969A6" d="M90,424h74c0.552,0,1.052-0.224,1.414-0.586S166,422.552,166,422V258c0-0.552-0.224-1.052-0.586-1.414 S164.552,256,164,256H90c-0.552,0-1.052,0.224-1.414,0.586S88,257.448,88,258v164c0,0.552,0.224,1.052,0.586,1.414 S89.448,424,90,424z"></path><path fill="#149EDC" d="M258,166h164c0.552,0,1.052-0.224,1.414-0.586S424,164.552,424,164V90c0-0.552-0.224-1.052-0.586-1.414 S422.552,88,422,88H258c-0.552,0-1.052,0.224-1.414,0.586S256,89.448,256,90v74c0,0.552,0.224,1.052,0.586,1.414 S257.448,166,258,166z"></path></g></svg><span>Weather</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-iplayer"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer"><svg class="product-icon" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 512 512" enable-background="new 0 0 512 512" xml:space="preserve" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true"><g><path fill="#DC2878" d="M182,358h-68c-0.55,0-1.05-0.225-1.412-0.587C112.225,357.05,112,356.55,112,356V156 c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414S113.448,154,114,154h68c0.55,0,1.05,0.225,1.413,0.587C183.775,154.95,184,155.45,184,156v200 c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414S182.552,358,182,358z"></path><path fill="#FF4C98" d="M372.106,248.243l34-58.89c0.275-0.476,0.33-1.022,0.197-1.517c-0.133-0.495-0.453-0.94-0.93-1.215 l-173.205-100c-0.478-0.276-1.023-0.332-1.518-0.2c-0.494,0.132-0.938,0.454-1.214,0.932l-34,58.89 c-0.275,0.476-0.33,1.022-0.197,1.517c0.133,0.495,0.453,0.94,0.93,1.215l173.205,100c0.478,0.276,1.023,0.332,1.518,0.2 C371.386,249.042,371.83,248.721,372.106,248.243z"></path><path fill="#AF0D5B" d="M372.106,263.757l34,58.89c0.275,0.476,0.33,1.022,0.197,1.517c-0.133,0.495-0.453,0.94-0.93,1.215 l-173.205,100c-0.478,0.276-1.023,0.332-1.518,0.2c-0.494-0.132-0.938-0.454-1.214-0.932l-34-58.89 c-0.275-0.476-0.33-1.022-0.197-1.517c0.133-0.495,0.453-0.94,0.93-1.215l173.205-100c0.478-0.276,1.023-0.332,1.518-0.2 C371.386,262.958,371.83,263.279,372.106,263.757z"></path></g></svg><span>iPlayer</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-sounds"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds"><svg class="product-icon" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 512 512" enable-background="new 0 0 512 512" xml:space="preserve" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true"><g><path fill="#A13104" d="M122,304H78c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S76,302.552,76,302v-92c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S77.448,208,78,208h44c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S124,209.448,124,210v92c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S122.552,304,122,304z"></path><path fill="#D24712" d="M230,376h-80c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S148,374.552,148,374V138c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S149.448,136,150,136h80c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S232,137.448,232,138v236c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S230.552,376,230,376z"></path><path fill="#FA6400" d="M422,424H258c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S256,422.552,256,422V90c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S257.448,88,258,88h164c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S424,89.448,424,90v332c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S422.552,424,422,424z"></path></g></svg><span>Sounds</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-bitesize"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize"><svg class="product-icon" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 512 512" enable-background="new 0 0 512 512" xml:space="preserve" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true"><g><path fill="#6100A8" d="M134,400H78c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S76,398.552,76,398V162c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S77.448,160,78,160h56c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S136,161.448,136,162v236c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S134.552,400,134,400z"></path><path fill="#7222C6" d="M254,400h-92c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S160,398.552,160,398V114c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S161.448,112,162,112h92c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S256,113.448,256,114v284c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S254.552,400,254,400z"></path><path fill="#963CE1" d="M444.77,373.863l-85.829,26.232c-0.529,0.162-1.073,0.093-1.526-0.148s-0.812-0.655-0.973-1.184 L273.901,126.63c-0.16-0.528-0.091-1.07,0.149-1.521c0.241-0.451,0.653-0.811,1.18-0.972l85.829-26.232 c0.529-0.162,1.073-0.093,1.526,0.148s0.812,0.655,0.973,1.184l82.542,272.133c0.16,0.528,0.091,1.07-0.149,1.521 C445.71,373.342,445.297,373.702,444.77,373.863z"></path></g></svg><span>Bitesize</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-cbeebies"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies"><span>CBeebies</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-cbbc"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc"><span>CBBC</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-food"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/food"><span>Food</span></a></li></ul></nav><nav class="orbit-header-links international"><ul><li class="orb-nav-homedotcom"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/"><span>Home</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-newsdotcom"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/news"><span>News</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-sport"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/sport"><span>Sport</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-reeldotcom"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/reel"><span>Reel</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-worklife"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife"><span>Worklife</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-traveldotcom"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/travel"><span>Travel</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-future"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/future"><span>Future</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-culture"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/culture"><span>Culture</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-tv"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m"><span>TV</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-weather"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/weather"><span>Weather</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-sounds"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds"><span>Sounds</span></a></li></ul></nav><div class="orbit-header-right"><a aria-label="All BBC destinations menu" class="orbit-header-more" href="#orbit-more-drawer" id="orbit-more-button"><svg class="orbit-header-more-desktop" width="20" height="4" viewbox="0 0 20 4" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g id="Overflow" transform="translate(-14.000000, -22.000000)"><path d="M18,22 L18,26 L14,26 L14,22 L18,22 Z M34,22 L34,26 L30,26 L30,22 L34,22 Z M26,22 L26,26 L22,26 L22,22 L26,22 Z" id="More"></path></g></svg><svg class="orbit-header-more-mobile" width="24" height="22" viewbox="0 0 20 19" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M0 3.63393H20V0H0V3.63393ZM0 10.9018H20V7.26787H0V10.9018ZM0 18.5H20V14.8661H0V18.5Z"></svg><span class="orbit-button-text">More menu</span></a><div class="orb-nav-section orb-nav-search" role="search"> <a id="orbit-search-button" class="orbit-search__button" aria-expanded="false" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://search.bbc.co.uk/search?scope=all" title="Search BBC"><span class="ux-v4">Search BBC</span> <span class="ux-v5"><svg class="orbit-search-button-icon-only" width="28" height="29" viewbox="0 0 28 29" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><path d="M11,-0.0001 C17.0751322,-0.0001 22,4.92476775 22,10.9999 C22,13.5276632 21.1473793,15.8562862 19.7140404,17.7138664 L28,26 L25,29 L16.518046,20.5178339 C14.8960209,21.4602385 13.0110328,21.9999 11,21.9999 C4.92486775,21.9999 0,17.0750322 0,10.9999 C0,4.92476775 4.92486775,-0.0001 11,-0.0001 Z M11,2.5 C6.30557963,2.5 2.5,6.30557963 2.5,11 C2.5,15.6944204 6.30557963,19.5 11,19.5 C15.6944204,19.5 19.5,15.6944204 19.5,11 C19.5,6.30557963 15.6944204,2.5 11,2.5 Z"></path></svg><svg class="orbit-search-button-icon-with-text" width="15" height="16" viewbox="0 0 15 16" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><path d="M6,-5.32907052e-15 C9.3137085,-5.32907052e-15 12,2.6862915 12,6 C12,7.43892143 11.4934776,8.75953821 10.6490096,9.79327337 L15,14.24 L13.2782609,16 L8.72578477,11.3465317 C7.90789326,11.7643456 6.98146665,12 6,12 C2.6862915,12 -1.687539e-14,9.3137085 -1.687539e-14,6 C-1.687539e-14,2.6862915 2.6862915,-5.32907052e-15 6,-5.32907052e-15 Z M6,1.5 C3.51471863,1.5 1.5,3.51471863 1.5,6 C1.5,8.48528137 3.51471863,10.5 6,10.5 C8.48528137,10.5 10.5,8.48528137 10.5,6 C10.5,3.51471863 8.48528137,1.5 6,1.5 Z"></path></svg><span>Search BBC</span></span></a> </div></div></div></div></header><div id="orbit-drawer-container" class="orbit-drawer-container"></div><section class="orbit-more-drawer geo orbit-default orbit-language-en b-r b-g-p" id="orbit-more-drawer"><div class="orbit-more-drawer-content"><ul class="more-domestic"><li class="orb-nav-home"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/"><span>Home</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-news"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news"><svg class="product-icon" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 512 512" enable-background="new 0 0 512 512" xml:space="preserve" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true"><g><path fill="#B80000" d="M302,424h-68c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S232,422.552,232,422V306c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S233.448,304,234,304h68c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S304,305.448,304,306v116c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S302.552,424,302,424z"></path><path fill="#EB0000" d="M422,280H234c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S232,278.552,232,278V90c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S233.448,88,234,88h188c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S424,89.448,424,90v188c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S422.552,280,422,280z"></path><path fill="#D30000" d="M206,328H90c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S88,326.552,88,326V210c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S89.448,208,90,208h116c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S208,209.448,208,210v116c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S206.552,328,206,328z"></path></g></svg><span>News</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-sport"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport"><svg class="product-icon" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 512 512" enable-background="new 0 0 512 512" xml:space="preserve" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true"><g><path fill="#FFD230" d="M90,184h332c0.552,0,1.052-0.224,1.414-0.586S424,182.552,424,182V90c0-0.552-0.224-1.052-0.586-1.414 S422.552,88,422,88H90c-0.552,0-1.052,0.224-1.414,0.586S88,89.448,88,90v92c0,0.552,0.224,1.052,0.586,1.414S89.448,184,90,184z"></path><path fill="#FFA100" d="M306,424h116c0.552,0,1.052-0.224,1.414-0.586S424,422.552,424,422v-92c0-0.552-0.224-1.052-0.586-1.414 S422.552,328,422,328H306c-0.552,0-1.052,0.224-1.414,0.586S304,329.448,304,330v92c0,0.552,0.224,1.052,0.586,1.414 S305.448,424,306,424z"></path><path fill="#FFBA00" d="M210,304h212c0.552,0,1.052-0.224,1.414-0.586S424,302.552,424,302v-92c0-0.552-0.224-1.052-0.586-1.414 S422.552,208,422,208H210c-0.552,0-1.052,0.224-1.414,0.586S208,209.448,208,210v92c0,0.552,0.224,1.052,0.586,1.414 S209.448,304,210,304z"></path></g></svg><span>Sport</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-weather"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather"><svg class="product-icon" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 512 512" enable-background="new 0 0 512 512" xml:space="preserve" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true"><g><path fill="#067EB3" d="M316.234,368.56l52.326-52.326c0.391-0.391,0.586-0.902,0.586-1.414c0-0.512-0.195-1.024-0.586-1.414 L252.594,197.44c-0.391-0.391-0.902-0.586-1.414-0.586s-1.024,0.195-1.414,0.586l-52.326,52.326 c-0.391,0.391-0.586,0.902-0.586,1.414s0.195,1.024,0.586,1.414L313.406,368.56c0.391,0.391,0.902,0.586,1.414,0.586 C315.332,369.146,315.844,368.95,316.234,368.56z"></path><path fill="#1969A6" d="M90,424h74c0.552,0,1.052-0.224,1.414-0.586S166,422.552,166,422V258c0-0.552-0.224-1.052-0.586-1.414 S164.552,256,164,256H90c-0.552,0-1.052,0.224-1.414,0.586S88,257.448,88,258v164c0,0.552,0.224,1.052,0.586,1.414 S89.448,424,90,424z"></path><path fill="#149EDC" d="M258,166h164c0.552,0,1.052-0.224,1.414-0.586S424,164.552,424,164V90c0-0.552-0.224-1.052-0.586-1.414 S422.552,88,422,88H258c-0.552,0-1.052,0.224-1.414,0.586S256,89.448,256,90v74c0,0.552,0.224,1.052,0.586,1.414 S257.448,166,258,166z"></path></g></svg><span>Weather</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-iplayer"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer"><svg class="product-icon" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 512 512" enable-background="new 0 0 512 512" xml:space="preserve" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true"><g><path fill="#DC2878" d="M182,358h-68c-0.55,0-1.05-0.225-1.412-0.587C112.225,357.05,112,356.55,112,356V156 c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414S113.448,154,114,154h68c0.55,0,1.05,0.225,1.413,0.587C183.775,154.95,184,155.45,184,156v200 c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414S182.552,358,182,358z"></path><path fill="#FF4C98" d="M372.106,248.243l34-58.89c0.275-0.476,0.33-1.022,0.197-1.517c-0.133-0.495-0.453-0.94-0.93-1.215 l-173.205-100c-0.478-0.276-1.023-0.332-1.518-0.2c-0.494,0.132-0.938,0.454-1.214,0.932l-34,58.89 c-0.275,0.476-0.33,1.022-0.197,1.517c0.133,0.495,0.453,0.94,0.93,1.215l173.205,100c0.478,0.276,1.023,0.332,1.518,0.2 C371.386,249.042,371.83,248.721,372.106,248.243z"></path><path fill="#AF0D5B" d="M372.106,263.757l34,58.89c0.275,0.476,0.33,1.022,0.197,1.517c-0.133,0.495-0.453,0.94-0.93,1.215 l-173.205,100c-0.478,0.276-1.023,0.332-1.518,0.2c-0.494-0.132-0.938-0.454-1.214-0.932l-34-58.89 c-0.275-0.476-0.33-1.022-0.197-1.517c0.133-0.495,0.453-0.94,0.93-1.215l173.205-100c0.478-0.276,1.023-0.332,1.518-0.2 C371.386,262.958,371.83,263.279,372.106,263.757z"></path></g></svg><span>iPlayer</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-sounds"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds"><svg class="product-icon" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 512 512" enable-background="new 0 0 512 512" xml:space="preserve" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true"><g><path fill="#A13104" d="M122,304H78c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S76,302.552,76,302v-92c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S77.448,208,78,208h44c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S124,209.448,124,210v92c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S122.552,304,122,304z"></path><path fill="#D24712" d="M230,376h-80c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S148,374.552,148,374V138c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S149.448,136,150,136h80c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S232,137.448,232,138v236c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S230.552,376,230,376z"></path><path fill="#FA6400" d="M422,424H258c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S256,422.552,256,422V90c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S257.448,88,258,88h164c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S424,89.448,424,90v332c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S422.552,424,422,424z"></path></g></svg><span>Sounds</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-bitesize"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize"><svg class="product-icon" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 512 512" enable-background="new 0 0 512 512" xml:space="preserve" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true"><g><path fill="#6100A8" d="M134,400H78c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S76,398.552,76,398V162c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S77.448,160,78,160h56c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S136,161.448,136,162v236c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S134.552,400,134,400z"></path><path fill="#7222C6" d="M254,400h-92c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S160,398.552,160,398V114c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S161.448,112,162,112h92c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S256,113.448,256,114v284c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S254.552,400,254,400z"></path><path fill="#963CE1" d="M444.77,373.863l-85.829,26.232c-0.529,0.162-1.073,0.093-1.526-0.148s-0.812-0.655-0.973-1.184 L273.901,126.63c-0.16-0.528-0.091-1.07,0.149-1.521c0.241-0.451,0.653-0.811,1.18-0.972l85.829-26.232 c0.529-0.162,1.073-0.093,1.526,0.148s0.812,0.655,0.973,1.184l82.542,272.133c0.16,0.528,0.091,1.07-0.149,1.521 C445.71,373.342,445.297,373.702,444.77,373.863z"></path></g></svg><span>Bitesize</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-cbeebies"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies"><span>CBeebies</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-cbbc"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc"><span>CBBC</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-food"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/food"><span>Food</span></a></li></ul><ul class="more-international"><li class="orb-nav-homedotcom"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/"><span>Home</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-newsdotcom"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/news"><span>News</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-sport"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/sport"><span>Sport</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-reeldotcom"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/reel"><span>Reel</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-worklife"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife"><span>Worklife</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-traveldotcom"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/travel"><span>Travel</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-future"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/future"><span>Future</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-culture"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/culture"><span>Culture</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-tv"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m"><span>TV</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-weather"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/weather"><span>Weather</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-sounds"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds"><span>Sounds</span></a></li></ul><a href="#" class="orbit-more-drawer-close" role="button"><svg width="32" height="32" viewbox="0 0 28 28" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M7.48651 5.71054L5.79834 7.39871L12.3428 14.0225L5.81992 20.6229L7.46434 22.2673L13.9778 15.6768L20.5123 22.2895H20.5135L22.2017 20.6007L15.6567 13.9781L22.1795 7.37712L20.5351 5.73271L14.0216 12.3232L7.48651 5.71054Z"></svg><span class="orbit-button-text">Close menu</span></a></div></section></div>  <div id="orb-modules"> <div id="root"><div id="ad-portal"></div><nav class="navigation navigation--display"><div class="nav-bar"><div class="nav-build-bar nav-build-bar--desktop"><div class="nav-build-bar__branding nav-build-bar__branding--desktop"><a class="nav-build-bar__sponsored-brand nav-build-bar__sponsored-brand--no-brand" target="" rel="" id="" href="/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/lovelife"><h2 class="nav-build-bar__title-content b-font-family-serif nav-build-bar__title-content--desktop" style="border-color:#f9429e">Lovelife</h2></a></div><div id="nav-build-bar__links" class="nav-build-bar__links"><a class="nav-links__link" target="" rel="" id="" href="/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20190721-what-is-bbc-worklife/"><p class="nav-label b-reith-sans-font">What is Worklife?</p></a><a class="nav-links__link" target="" rel="" id="" href="/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/tags/how-we-work/"><p class="nav-label b-reith-sans-font">How We Work</p></a><a class="nav-links__link" target="" rel="" id="" href="/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/tags/how-we-live/"><p class="nav-label b-reith-sans-font">How We Live</p></a><a class="nav-links__link" target="" rel="" id="" href="/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/tags/how-we-think/"><p class="nav-label b-reith-sans-font">How We Think</p></a></div><div class="nav-build-bar__open-nav"><div class="nav-build-bar__open-nav-button"><button class="open-nav" aria-label="Open more navigation" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false" id="open-nav"><div class="open-nav__label"><p class="nav-label b-reith-sans-font">More</p></div><div class="open-nav__icon"><div class="burger-nav gelicon--menu" style="color:#f9429e"></div></div></button></div></div></div></div></nav><div class="app__body"><div class="loader loader--is-active"><div class="loader__body loader__body--show-loader"><div class="loading-spinner"><span class="loading-spinner__image"><span class="spinner--worklife"><svg class="spinner__image" viewbox="0 0 32 32" id="gel-icon-loading" width="100%" height="100%"><path d="M29.8 8l-3.5 2c1 1.8 1.6 3.8 1.6 6 0 6.6-5.4 12-12 12S4 22.6 4 16 9.4 4 16 4V0C7.2 0 0 7.2 0 16s7.2 16 16 16 16-7.2 16-16c0-2.9-.8-5.6-2.2-8z"></path></svg></span></span><span class="loading-spinner__message b-reith-sans-font">Loading</span></div></div></div><main class="main"><div class="WaypointsList"><div class="WaypointsList__item WaypointsList__item--is-active"><section class="article" id="worklifearticle20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex"><div id="headline-worklifearticle20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex"><div class="article-headline " role="heading" aria-level="1"><div class="article-headline__collection"><div class="article-labels b-reith-sans-font b-font-weight-300"><a class="article-labels__text b-reith-sans-font" target="" rel="" id="" href="/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/lovelife"><span>Lovelife</span><span class="article-labels__delimiter b-font-weight-300"> | </span></a><a class="article-labels__text b-reith-sans-font" target="" rel="" id="" href="/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/tags/how-we-live">How We Live</a></div></div><div class="article-headline__text b-reith-sans-font b-font-weight-300" tabindex="-1">Dry dating: The rise of sober love and sex</div><div class="article-share-tools"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/mailto:/?subject=Shared from BBC:Dry%20dating:%20The%20rise%20of%20sober%20love%20and%20sex&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fworklife%2Farticle%2F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex%3Focid%3Dww.social.link.email" class="email-icon gelicon--mail" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" id=""><span class="screen-reader-only">Share using Email</span><div id="EmailIcon"></div></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Dry%20dating:%20The%20rise%20of%20sober%20love%20and%20sex&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fworklife%2Farticle%2F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex%3Focid%3Dww.social.link.twitter&via=BBC_Worklife" class="twitter-icon gelicon--twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" id=""><div id="TwitterIcon"></div><span class="screen-reader-only">Share on Twitter</span></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fworklife%2Farticle%2F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex%3Focid%3Dww.social.link.facebook&t=Dry%20dating:%20The%20rise%20of%20sober%20love%20and%20sex" class="facebook-icon gelicon--facebook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" id=""><div id="FacebookIcon"></div><span class="screen-reader-only">Share on Facebook</span></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fworklife%2Farticle%2F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex%3Focid%3Dww.social.link.linkedin&title=Dry%20dating:%20The%20rise%20of%20sober%20love%20and%20sex" class="linkedin-icon gelicon--linkedin" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" id=""><span class="screen-reader-only">Share on Linkedin</span><div id="LinkedInIcon"></div></a></div></div><div class="copyright__text b-reith-sans-font">(Image credit: Getty Images)</div><div class="hero-image"><picture><source media="(min-width:1200px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/1600x900/p0bn2qzq.webp" type="image/webp"/><source media="(min-width:1200px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/1600x900/p0bn2qzq.jpg" type="image/jpeg"/><source media="(min-width:880px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/1280x720/p0bn2qzq.webp" type="image/webp"/><source media="(min-width:880px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/1280x720/p0bn2qzq.jpg" type="image/jpeg"/><source media="(min-width:576px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/976x549/p0bn2qzq.webp" type="image/webp"/><source media="(min-width:576px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/976x549/p0bn2qzq.jpg" type="image/jpeg"/><source media="(min-width:224px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/624x351/p0bn2qzq.webp" type="image/webp"/><source media="(min-width:224px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/624x351/p0bn2qzq.jpg" type="image/jpeg"/><img draggable="false" title="(Credit: Getty Images)" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/976x549/p0bn2qzq.jpg" alt="(Credit: Getty Images)" id=""/></picture></div></div><div class="article__container"><div class="article__main"><div class="article__subcontainer"><article class="article__body"><div class="article__author-unit"><div class="author-unit"><div class="author-unit__container author-unit__container--desktop"><a class="author-unit__text b-font-family-serif" target="" rel="" id="">By Jessica Klein</a><span class="b-font-family-serif b-font-weight-300">11th February 2022</span></div><div class="author-unit__line"><div class="styled-line styled-line--dark-grey styled-line--large"></div></div></div></div><div class="article__body-content"><div class="article__intro b-font-family-serif">Alcohol has long been a player in getting people together, but an increasing number of daters are trying romance without ‘liquid courage’.</div><div><div class="body-text-card b-reith-sans-font"><div class="drop-capped b-reith-sans-font" style="border-color:#f9429e">N</div><div class="body-text-card__text body-text-card__text--worklife body-text-card__text--drop-capped body-text-card__text--flush-text"><div><p>Naomi Bridgman started ‘dry dating’ by accident. During UK lockdowns amid Covid-19, “the usual route of going to a pub… was no longer an option”, says the 30-year-old social-service worker, from Sheffield. She and many other singles had to get “inventive” with their dates, opting for sober activities, like walks in the park.</p> <p>Now that many pubs have re-opened their doors, however, Bridgman still prefers to avoid them for first dates. She’s cut down her alcohol consumption in general since the beginning of the pandemic, and says she’s happier dating without drinking. “I found myself feeling like I had more meaningful connections with people when at least the first date was sober,” she says. </p> <p>For some singles, dry dating has become increasingly appealing amid the pandemic. According to a 2022 trends survey by dating app Bumble, seen by BBC Worklife, 34% of UK users said they’re more likely to go on a sober date now than they were before the pandemic, with 62% saying they think they’d “form a more genuine connection” on an alcohol-free date, and 54% aiming for more “mindful and intentional” dating. In May 2020, Canadian dating service Plenty of Fish surveyed 2,000 single adults in the UK, and found that 83% said they’d be “open” to trying a “dry date”.</p> <p>There are several reasons alcohol-free romance is piquing interest in a new way. Many people re-evaluated their wellness habits during lockdown, lessening their drinking, or even taking it off the table entirely. As a new frontier of sober dating and sex emerges – taking the place of alcohol as the once ‘necessary’ component of getting to know someone – the way people form and maintain relationships may be changing along with it.</p> <p><strong>A rise in creative dating</strong></p> <p>Like Bridgman, many people stumbled into sober dating out of necessity, due to Covid-19 restrictions. “I don’t think sober dating started as an intention, but rather became a result of the current pandemic,” Russ Ross<strong>, </strong>a dating coach at The Social Collective in Sydney, Australia, says of the sober daters he has encountered during the past two years. </p> <p>But the trend towards “sober curiosity” has been increasing throughout the past several years, says Laura Silverman, who writes about the “booze-free lifestyle” with the blogs Booze Free in DC (based in Washington, DC, US) and Zero Proof Nation.</p></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body__image-text article-body__image-text--portrait"><div id="worklife/article/20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex-p0bn2r1s"><div><picture><source media="(min-width:624px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/1024x1280/p0bn2r1s.webp" type="image/webp"/><source media="(min-width:624px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/1024x1280/p0bn2r1s.jpg" type="image/jpeg"/><source media="(min-width:485px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/885x1280/p0bn2r1s.webp" type="image/webp"/><source media="(min-width:485px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/885x1280/p0bn2r1s.jpg" type="image/jpeg"/><source media="(min-width:320px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/720x900/p0bn2r1s.webp" type="image/webp"/><source media="(min-width:320px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/720x900/p0bn2r1s.jpg" type="image/jpeg"/><img draggable="false" title="Naomi Bridgman, 30, accidentally fell into sober dating during the pandemic, and has decided she will continue to be alcohol-free on dates (Credit: Kim Croxall)" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/720x900/p0bn2r1s.jpg" alt="Naomi Bridgman, 30, accidentally fell into sober dating during the pandemic, and has decided she will continue to be alcohol-free on dates (Credit: Kim Croxall)" id=""/></picture><div class="inline-image__description b-reith-sans-font inline-image__description--desktop"><div class="text-summary"><p class="text-summary__text text-summary__text--grey text-summary__text--left">Naomi Bridgman, 30, accidentally fell into sober dating during the pandemic, and has decided she will continue to be alcohol-free on dates (Credit: Kim Croxall)</p></div></div></div></div></div><div><div class="body-text-card b-reith-sans-font"><div class="body-text-card__text body-text-card__text--worklife body-text-card__text--flush-text"><div><p>She credits this in part to campaigns like Dry January, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.today.com/health/dry-january-what-it-what-are-benefits-women-t146331">started in 2012</a> by the charity Alcohol Change UK, and the influence of Ruby Warrington’s 2018 book, Sober Curious, in which the author questions her relationship with alcohol, even though she doesn’t identify as an alcoholic. Rather, Warrington wanted to experience her life sober to discover the possible benefits. She found herself feeling less anxious, more present and better able to connect with others.</p> <p>These perks have been increasingly appealing to people who may have found themselves drinking too much during the pandemic, or otherwise reevaluating their priorities while in lockdown. “I’ve absolutely noticed that these past two plus years … have drastically changed the playing field for dating, for socialising, for spending time with oneself,” says Silverman, 38. “People who would drink a bottle of wine on their own before, maybe now they’re having… a CBD beverage.” </p> <p>Alongside this new interest in sober socialisation, Silverman says the non-alcoholic beverage industry has boomed during the past two years. Along with tens of new brands emerging across the globe as well as new alcohol-free products launching from existing manufacturers, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.businessinsider.com/beverage-analysts-predict-non-alcoholic-spirits-to-grow-in-2022-2021-11">non-alcoholic beverage sales increased 33% to $331 million</a> in the US, between November 2020 and November 2021. Some forecasters expect the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/non-alcoholic-beverages-market-by-type-rtd-coffee-419449.html">global non-alcoholic beverage market to reach into the billions</a> in coming years. Additionally, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20190510-can-you-have-any-fun-at-a-bar-with-no-booze">non-alcoholic bars</a> are also growing, such as <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://denverite.com/2021/12/23/awake-the-first-sober-bar-in-denver-is-all-about-partying-without-drinking/">Denver, Colorado’s Awake bar,</a> which launched in 2021, despite Covid-19 generally putting a dent in brick-and-mortar businesses.</p> <p>Overall, the pandemic has played a part in moving many people away from thinking of alcohol as the default ‘anchor’ of a first date activity, says Ross. “Due to the lockdown restrictions, all singles could really do was go on walks. So, the traditional thinking of meeting for a first date shifted from dinner and drinks to bushwalks, trails walks, dog walks and any other socially distanced outdoor activity.”</p></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body__pull-quote"><blockquote class="inline-quote b-font-family-serif b-font-weight-300" style="border-left:3px solid #f9429e"><h2 class="simple-header b-reith-sans-font b-font-family-serif b-font-weight-300 simple-header--serif-light-italic simple-p-tag--medium simple-p-tag--quote">We think we need liquid courage to have fun sex or be adventurous in bed, but it's really hindering our ability to feel our feelings and… physical touch – Tawny Lara</h2></blockquote></div><div><div class="body-text-card b-reith-sans-font"><div class="body-text-card__text body-text-card__text--worklife body-text-card__text--flush-text"><div><p>The movement away from alcohol-centric dating has spurred “the start of very creative first dates”, he adds. “One woman in our market told us that she had organised an afternoon online cook-off with her potential date. They agreed on a dish, cooked it together over Zoom and then had lunch together while they chatted and got to know each other.” He also saw people co-watch movies (remotely) and take online painting classes together.</p> <p>These types of dates, says Ross, also tend to make more sense as daytime activities, “which almost removed the expectation of alcohol and drinks”.</p> <p><strong>Getting past the anxieties</strong> </p> <p>For many sober daters, however, transitioning from dates with social lubrication to those without any ‘Dutch courage’ hasn’t necessarily been easy. Removing alcohol from romantic situations can raise anxiety levels for some people, and even open them up to judgement from those who do drink.</p> <p>Once they bypassed the initial awkwardness, though, sober daters who spoke with BBC Worklife expressed significant improvements in their dating life. Several mentioned being “more conscious” during dates, and being able to more efficiently evaluate whether the person was right for them, instead of moving through an otherwise unfit relationship with the assistance of rosy ‘beer goggles’. </p> <p>“People think that drinking makes them more confident,” says London-based Caggie Dunlop, 32. But after sober dating a few times, she became “far more confident” because she wasn’t relying on any substance to try and present “the best version” of herself. “You are who you are and that’s it,” she says.</p> <p>When Tawny Lara, 36, a writer and podcaster based in New York City, stopped drinking about six years ago, “even just mingling without alcohol scared the hell out of me, let alone having sex”, she says. She found herself anxious, worried potential partners would judge her for not drinking.</p> <p>Today, however, Lara is a happily sober dater and sexual partner. “We think we need liquid courage to have fun sex or be adventurous in bed,” she says, “but it's really hindering our ability to feel our feelings and… physical touch.” Now, she’s known as the “sober sexpert” (a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.sobrieteaparty.com/about/">nickname she got from Warrington</a>) for the advice she doles out on sober dating and sexual encounters. Plenty of people are feeling similarly, she says – messages seeking her advice have increased big-time since the pandemic, and she’s recently brought on an assistant to help manage the new volume of communication.</p></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body__image-text article-body__image-text--square"><div id="worklife/article/20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex-p0bn2r5g"><div><picture><source media="(min-width:624px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/1024x1024/p0bn2r5g.webp" type="image/webp"/><source media="(min-width:624px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/1024x1024/p0bn2r5g.jpg" type="image/jpeg"/><source media="(min-width:576px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/976x976/p0bn2r5g.webp" type="image/webp"/><source media="(min-width:576px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/976x976/p0bn2r5g.jpg" type="image/jpeg"/><source media="(min-width:224px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/624x624/p0bn2r5g.webp" type="image/webp"/><source media="(min-width:224px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/624x624/p0bn2r5g.jpg" type="image/jpeg"/><img draggable="false" title=""Sober sexpert" Tawny Lara has seen inquiries about sober dating increase since the start of the pandemic (Credit: Robert Riese Photography)" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/624x624/p0bn2r5g.jpg" alt=""Sober sexpert" Tawny Lara has seen inquiries about sober dating increase since the start of the pandemic (Credit: Robert Riese Photography)" id=""/></picture><div class="inline-image__description b-reith-sans-font inline-image__description--desktop"><div class="text-summary"><p class="text-summary__text text-summary__text--grey text-summary__text--left">"Sober sexpert" Tawny Lara has seen inquiries about sober dating increase since the start of the pandemic (Credit: Robert Riese Photography)</p></div></div></div></div></div><div><div class="body-text-card b-reith-sans-font"><div class="body-text-card__text body-text-card__text--worklife body-text-card__text--flush-text"><div><p>Since sober dating has become more common since the pandemic – and with the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://morningconsult.com/2022/01/10/dry-january-movement-grows-in-2022/">wide embrace of sobriety-focused campaigns like Dry January</a> – “a lot more people are open to [dry dates],” Bridgman has discovered. And finding them is easier; multiple dating apps let users specify their drinking habits upfront, like Bumble, which <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bustle.com/wellness/bumble-sober-badge-drinking-options">has a badge</a> users can put on their profiles to signify they’re not drinking.</p> <p>“In terms of navigating my options going forward, that's a really useful tool,” says Bridgman. For her, if someone isn’t up for a dry date, “that answers my question on whether I think there'll be a connection there or not”.</p> <p><strong>The changing shape of dating?</strong></p> <p>As life in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic edges closer to some semblance of “normal”, it’s likely that many who’d been forced to consider sober dates during lockdowns will return to the bars for first meetings. But others may have had their perspectives on dating change more permanently.</p> <p>“If anything, I think this unexpected change to alcohol-free dating has shifted our outlook from a culture of disposable dates and regrettably drunk ‘hook ups’ to one of potential connection,” says Ross. Singles reported to The Social Collective that dry dating resulted in less pressure to get physical during dates, better conversations, greater trust and an increased likelihood in second and third dates.</p> <p>The youngest generation of daters may already be primed to embrace the clarity and focus on meaningful connections that come with sober dating. A 2018 report from Berenberg Research found that <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-gen-z-drag-down-beer-sales-2018-2">Gen Z was drinking alcohol 20% less per capita than millennials</a> at their age.</p> <p>Anecdotally, Lara has noticed younger people drinking less, too. “It’s honestly so inspiring,” she says. Even before the pandemic, many people who messaged her for advice on being sober while starting relationships were in their early 20s. She chalks this up to Gen Z being both more focused on interacting online as opposed to physical watering holes and the “globalisation of mindfulness”, wherein Eastern practices like meditation and yoga have migrated West.</p> <p>More mindful dating has been a big improvement for Bridgman, who’s realised that she doesn’t “need the kind of encouragement” alcohol provides to put her best self forward on dates. She also could do without the next day fog, which clouds her perception of how well the date the night before actually went. </p> <p>“I think I take dating a little bit more seriously now,” she says. “Going into it on a drunken first date isn't the right method for me.” </p></div></div></div></div><div class="article__end"><div class="article-end article-end--desktop"><div class="article-end__line--long"><div class="styled-line styled-line--medium" style="background-color:#f9429e"></div></div><div class="article-end__share-tools"><div class="article-share-tools article-share-tools--popout article-share-tools--dark"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/mailto:/?subject=Shared from BBC:Dry%20dating:%20The%20rise%20of%20sober%20love%20and%20sex&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fworklife%2Farticle%2F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex%3Focid%3Dww.social.link.email" class="email-icon gelicon--mail" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" id=""><span class="screen-reader-only">Share using Email</span><div id="EmailIcon"></div></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Dry%20dating:%20The%20rise%20of%20sober%20love%20and%20sex&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fworklife%2Farticle%2F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex%3Focid%3Dww.social.link.twitter&via=BBC_Worklife" class="twitter-icon gelicon--twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" id=""><div id="TwitterIcon"></div><span class="screen-reader-only">Share on Twitter</span></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fworklife%2Farticle%2F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex%3Focid%3Dww.social.link.facebook&t=Dry%20dating:%20The%20rise%20of%20sober%20love%20and%20sex" class="facebook-icon gelicon--facebook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" id=""><div id="FacebookIcon"></div><span class="screen-reader-only">Share on Facebook</span></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fworklife%2Farticle%2F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex%3Focid%3Dww.social.link.linkedin&title=Dry%20dating:%20The%20rise%20of%20sober%20love%20and%20sex" class="linkedin-icon gelicon--linkedin" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" id=""><span class="screen-reader-only">Share on Linkedin</span><div id="LinkedInIcon"></div></a></div><div class="redesign-article-end__share"><div class="share-button-with-popout"><button class="share-button b-reith-sans-font"><span class="gelicon--share"></span>Share</button></div></div></div></div></div></div></article><aside class="article__similar-articles"><div class="b-reith-sans-font related-articles"><h3 class="related-articles__header related-articles__header--bright">Recommended Articles</h3><ul class="related-articles__list square-images"><li><div data-bbc-container="similar-articles" data-bbc-title="Are Gen Z the most pragmatic about sex?" data-bbc-metadata="{"APP":"similar-articles","CHD":"card::1"}" data-bbc-result="https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex" data-bbc-client-routed="true" class="related-article"><div class="related-article__text"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/lovelife" class="related-article__collection" target="" rel="" id="">Lovelife<span>: </span></a><a class="related-article__title" target="" rel="" id="" href="/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex">Are Gen Z the most pragmatic about sex?</a></div><a class="related-article__image" target="" rel="" id="" href="/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/180x180/p0bf98k1.jpg" alt="Are Gen Z the most pragmatic about sex? thumbnail"/></a></div></li><li><div data-bbc-container="similar-articles" data-bbc-title="Why women are more sexually fluid" data-bbc-metadata="{"APP":"similar-articles","CHD":"card::2"}" data-bbc-result="https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210610-why-more-women-identify-as-sexually-fluid-than-men" data-bbc-client-routed="true" class="related-article"><div class="related-article__text"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/lovelife" class="related-article__collection" target="" rel="" id="">Lovelife<span>: </span></a><a class="related-article__title" target="" rel="" id="" href="/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210610-why-more-women-identify-as-sexually-fluid-than-men">Why women are more sexually fluid</a></div><a class="related-article__image" target="" rel="" id="" href="/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210610-why-more-women-identify-as-sexually-fluid-than-men"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/180x180/p09l3q9z.jpg" alt="Why women are more sexually fluid thumbnail"/></a></div></li><li><div data-bbc-container="similar-articles" data-bbc-title="Why people settle for romantic partners" data-bbc-metadata="{"APP":"similar-articles","CHD":"card::3"}" data-bbc-result="https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220124-why-people-arent-as-picky-in-love-as-they-think" data-bbc-client-routed="true" class="related-article"><div class="related-article__text"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/lovelife" class="related-article__collection" target="" rel="" id="">Lovelife<span>: </span></a><a class="related-article__title" target="" rel="" id="" href="/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220124-why-people-arent-as-picky-in-love-as-they-think">Why people settle for romantic partners</a></div><a class="related-article__image" target="" rel="" id="" href="/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220124-why-people-arent-as-picky-in-love-as-they-think"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/180x180/p0bk1hpl.jpg" alt="Why people settle for romantic partners thumbnail"/></a></div></li></ul></div></aside></div></div></div></section></div></div></main></div></div> <script>window.__PWA_PRELOADED_STATE__ = {"router":{"location":{"pathname":"\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex","search":"","hash":"","state":undefined,"key":"7eaalt"},"action":"POP"},"config":{"version":"2.2.7","adsEnabled":false,"domain":"www.bbc.com","env":"live","clientApiUrl":"\u002Fdata","faqsUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Ffaqs","mapboxAccessToken":"pk.eyJ1IjoiYmJjd29ybGR3aWRlIiwiYSI6ImNpemp2dWZ0OTAwNGkyd3I0bHV6ems3eDMifQ.Vxn6FQ8xNwEltlVVvwpCjw","imageRecipe":{"recipePrefix":"live\u002F"},"analytics":{"ati":{"destination":"FEATURE_SITES_GNL","producer":"GNL_HOMEPAGE"},"chartbeat":{"uid":50924,"domain":"bbc.co.uk"}},"entityRouterProtocol":"https","swimlanes":true,"future":{"relatedArticles":{"numberOfArticlesToDisplay":4},"social":{"profiles":{"twitter":{"username":"@BBC_Future","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Ftwitter.com\u002FBBC_FUTURE"},"facebook":{"username":"BBCFuture","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002FBBCFuture"},"instagram":{"username":"bbcfuture_official","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002Fbbcfuture_official"}},"facebookPageIds":"279678448760878"},"newsletter":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttp:\u002F\u002Fpages.emails.bbc.com\u002Fsubscribe\u002F"},"images":{"default":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F960x540\u002Fp077yzlp.jpg","title":"BBC Future Default Placeholder"},"author":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F960x540\u002Fp077yzlp.jpg","title":"author"},"aroundTheBBC":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F976x549\u002Fp08gp0tv.jpg"},"future-planet":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F976x549\u002Fp0836dcl.jpg","collection":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F960x540\u002Fp09rtqy6.jpg","title":"Collection background image"},"tag":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F960x540\u002Fp09sbm5d.jpg","title":"Tag background image"}},"advertising":{"topLevelZone":"bbccom.live.site.future","defaultZoneId":"homepage","prefix":"future"},"metaData":{"description":"You’ll find stories on BBC Future on almost every topic that matters: psychology, food, climate change, health, social trends, technology and more.","titleDefault":"BBC Future","titleErrorPage404":"Page Not Found","titleErrorPageOther":"Page Unavailable","titleOffline":"Offline Articles"},"analytics":{"ati":{"producer":"GNL_FUTURE"}}},"worklife":{"relatedArticles":{"numberOfArticlesToDisplay":4},"social":{"profiles":{"twitter":{"username":"@BBC_Worklife","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.twitter.com\u002FBBC_Worklife"},"facebook":{"username":"BBCWorklife","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002FBBCWorklife"},"instagram":{"username":"BBC_Worklife","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002FBBC_Worklife"}},"facebookPageIds":"133536249999517"},"newsletter":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttp:\u002F\u002Fpages.emails.bbc.com\u002Fsubscribe\u002F"},"images":{"default":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F960x540\u002Fp07fsc3b.jpg","title":"image"},"author":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F960x540\u002Fp07fsc3b.jpg","title":"author"},"aroundTheBBC":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F976x549\u002Fp06dkks1.jpg"},"collection":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F960x540\u002Fp09rtqvk.jpg","title":"Collection background image"},"tag":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F960x540\u002Fp09rtqvk.jpg","title":"Tag background image"}},"advertising":{"topLevelZone":"bbccom.live.site.worklife","defaultZoneId":"homepage","prefix":"worklife"},"metaData":{"description":"The latest insight and advice from BBC Worklife: careers, milestones, leadership, personal finance, economy, future of work, wellness, professional life abroad - everything you need to upgrade yourself.","titleDefault":"BBC Worklife","titleErrorPage404":"Page Not Found","titleErrorPageOther":"Page Unavailable","titleOffline":"Offline Articles"},"analytics":{"ati":{"producer":"GNL_CAPITAL"}},"swimlanes":[{"id":"office-space","title":"Office Space","backgroundImg":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F976x549\u002Fp00sm03v.jpg"},{"id":"work-ethic","title":"Work Ethic","backgroundImg":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F976x549\u002Fp06yflr4.jpg"}]},"culture":{"relatedArticles":{"numberOfArticlesToDisplay":4},"social":{"profiles":{"twitter":{"username":"@BBC_Culture","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Ftwitter.com\u002FBBC_CULTURE"},"facebook":{"username":"BBCCulture","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002FBBCCulture"},"instagram":{"username":"bbc_culture","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002Fbbc_culture"}},"facebookPageIds":"237388053065908"},"newsletter":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttp:\u002F\u002Fpages.emails.bbc.com\u002Fsubscribe\u002F"},"images":{"default":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F960x540\u002Fp082b33v.png","title":"BBC Culture Default Placeholder"},"author":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F960x540\u002Fp082b33v.png","title":"author"},"aroundTheBBC":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F960x540\u002Fp08bmlwb.jpg","title":"Around the BBC background image"},"collection":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F960x540\u002Fp09rtrht.jpg","title":"Collection background image"},"tag":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F960x540\u002Fp09rtrht.jpg","title":"Tag background image"}},"advertising":{"topLevelZone":"bbccom.live.site.culture","defaultZoneId":"homepage","prefix":"culture"},"metaData":{"description":"Covering the latest in global arts and culture in all its forms, BBC Culture gives an international view of film and TV, books, art, music and style.","titleDefault":"BBC Culture","titleErrorPage404":"Page Not Found","titleErrorPageOther":"Page Unavailable","titleOffline":"Offline Articles"},"analytics":{"ati":{"producer":"GNL_CULTURE"}}},"travel":{"relatedArticles":{"numberOfArticlesToDisplay":4},"social":{"profiles":{"twitter":{"username":"@bbc_travel","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Ftwitter.com\u002FBBC_TRAVEL"},"facebook":{"username":"BBCTravel","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002FBBCTravel"},"instagram":{"username":"bbc_travel","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002Fbbc_travel"}},"facebookPageIds":"147105585468223"},"newsletter":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttp:\u002F\u002Fpages.emails.bbc.com\u002Fsubscribe\u002F"},"images":{"default":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F960x540\u002Fp0984kwj.png","title":"BBC Travel Default Placeholder"},"author":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F960x540\u002Fp0984kwj.png","title":"author"},"aroundTheBBC":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F960x540\u002Fp099tg7y.jpg","title":"Around the BBC background image"},"destination":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F960x540\u002Fp09f5vpy.jpg","title":"Destination background image"},"collection":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F960x540\u002Fp09gq1x8.jpg","title":"Collection background image"},"tag":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F960x540\u002Fp09gq221.jpg","title":"Tag background image"},"destinationImageCard":{"url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F2000x540\u002Fp09f5vpy.jpg","title":"Destination Image Card Background"}},"advertising":{"topLevelZone":"bbccom.live.site.travel","defaultZoneId":"homepage","prefix":"travel"},"metaData":{"description":"The latest stories from BBC Travel on travel topics from all over the globe: culture, identity, food, history, heritage, archaeology, nature, sustainability, adventure, experiences, destinations and other themes that celebrate the people and places that make the world diverse and amazing.","titleDefault":"BBC Travel","titleErrorPage404":"Page Not Found","titleErrorPageOther":"Page Unavailable","titleOffline":"Offline Articles"},"analytics":{"ati":{"producer":"GNL_TRAVEL"}}},"moduleId":"worklife","isUk":false,"ua":{"ua":"Amazon CloudFront","browser":{"name":undefined,"version":undefined,"major":undefined},"engine":{"name":undefined,"version":undefined},"os":{"name":undefined,"version":undefined},"device":{"vendor":undefined,"model":undefined,"type":undefined},"cpu":{"architecture":undefined}},"cacheExpiryMs":600000},"entities":{"authors":{"worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fjessica-klein":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:author:worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fjessica-klein","_id":"62b4208c1f4b7b64d71e72c5","assetImage":null,"description":"","email":"","links":[{"Label":"","Url":""}],"name":"Jessica Klein","primaryVertical":"worklife","twitter":"","creationDateTime":"2019-07-19T02:52:32.549383Z","entity":"author","guid":"962d5540-1b6f-4b3f-85ec-6e680e8d732b","id":"worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fjessica-klein","modifiedDateTime":"2022-02-27T17:20:54.646319Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fjessica-klein","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100261},"worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fbryan-lufkin":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:author:worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fbryan-lufkin","_id":"62b420861f4b7b603b6131f1","assetImage":[],"description":"","email":"","links":[{"Label":"","Url":""}],"name":"Bryan Lufkin","primaryVertical":"worklife","twitter":"@bryan_lufkin","creationDateTime":"2019-07-18T12:18:51.815983Z","entity":"author","guid":"dd191c86-15a6-4d6b-9803-4a7abf5e6f01","id":"worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fbryan-lufkin","modifiedDateTime":"2022-02-25T10:52:22.210682Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fbryan-lufkin","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100265},"worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fkatie-bishop":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:author:worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fkatie-bishop","_id":"62b420781f4b7b57540fb6ec","assetImage":null,"description":"","email":"","links":[{"Label":"","Url":""}],"name":"Katie Bishop","primaryVertical":"worklife","twitter":"","creationDateTime":"2020-03-18T20:17:54.580447Z","entity":"author","guid":"9c00340e-b4cd-4a0f-9c77-810ca3ed4383","id":"worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fkatie-bishop","modifiedDateTime":"2022-02-27T17:24:09.562499Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fkatie-bishop","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100263},"worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fmeredith-turits":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:author:worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fmeredith-turits","_id":"62b4208a1f4b7b603c08920b","assetImage":null,"description":"","email":"","links":[{"Label":"","Url":""}],"name":"Meredith Turits","primaryVertical":"worklife","twitter":"@meredithturits","creationDateTime":"2019-07-18T12:31:05.731405Z","entity":"author","guid":"930cfcd8-9482-420b-ac84-f7b6ec2634cc","id":"worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fmeredith-turits","modifiedDateTime":"2022-02-27T17:30:03.840305Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fmeredith-turits","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100260},"worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fdavid-robson":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:author:worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fdavid-robson","_id":"62b420861f4b7b571d01b6bc","assetImage":null,"description":"","email":"","links":[{"Label":"","Url":""}],"name":"David Robson","primaryVertical":"worklife","twitter":"@d_a_robson","creationDateTime":"2019-07-18T12:22:01.764942Z","entity":"author","guid":"e82e5eb5-496e-4489-86d3-f4a87d7f156b","id":"worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fdavid-robson","modifiedDateTime":"2022-02-25T10:58:16.683362Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fdavid-robson","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100264}},"collections":{"worklife\u002Fpremium-collection\u002Flovelife":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:collection:worklife\u002Fpremium-collection\u002Flovelife","_id":"62b4207d1f4b7b5bef31cd46","brandingLogo":"","campaign":null,"collectionType":"premium-collection","description":"Lovelife looks at how the way we date, choose partners, fall in love and even have sex is constantly evolving – especially as Gen Z and millennials are re-examining their present and future relationships.","imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"","isPremiumCollection":true,"moreArticles":null,"name":"Lovelife","partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","theme":"#f9429e","title":"Lovelife","creationDateTime":"2022-02-02T13:10:01.293261Z","entity":"collection","guid":"2ebf9d54-0558-4a3d-8ee7-2ba8c32050f1","id":"worklife\u002Fpremium-collection\u002Flovelife","modifiedDateTime":"2022-06-27T20:08:15.072911Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Fpremium-collection\u002Flovelife","image":[],"cacheLastUpdated":1657756100265}},"images":{"p0bn2r1s":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bn2r1s","_id":"62b41edf1f4b7b55d210a009","copyright":"Kim Croxall","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1280,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbn\u002F2r\u002Fp0bn2r1s.jpg","sourceWidth":1023,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"Naomi Bridgman, 30, accidentally fell into sober dating during the pandemic, and has decided she will continue to be alcohol-free on dates (Credit: Kim Croxall)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Kim Croxall)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bn2r1s.jpg","title":"resized_Naomi-Bridgman-2---credit-Kim-Croxall.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bn2r1s","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bn2r1s.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100220},"p0bn2r5g":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bn2r5g","_id":"62b41edf1f4b7b7e1073b158","copyright":"Robert Riese Photography","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":960,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbn\u002F2r\u002Fp0bn2r5g.jpg","sourceWidth":960,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"\"Sober sexpert\" Tawny Lara has seen inquiries about sober dating increase since the start of the pandemic (Credit: Robert Riese Photography)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Robert Riese Photography)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bn2r5g.jpg","title":"resized_Tawny-Lara----credit-Robert-Riese-Photography.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bn2r5g","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bn2r5g.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100221},"p0bn2qzq":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bn2qzq","_id":"62b41edf1f4b7b1cdd2e342f","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbn\u002F2q\u002Fp0bn2qzq.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bn2qzq.jpg","title":"dating-with-smoothies.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bn2qzq","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bn2qzq.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100221},"p0bmx13m":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bmx13m","_id":"62b41edf1f4b7b2e1220e29f","copyright":"","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1113,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbm\u002Fx1\u002Fp0bmx13m.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"","synopsisShort":"(Illustration: U2314\u002FDoriane Mella)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bmx13m.jpg","title":"BBC Worklife Lovelife","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bmx13m","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bmx13m.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100221},"p0bf98n2":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bf98n2","_id":"62b41ed71f4b7b037f50300c","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbf\u002F98\u002Fp0bf98n2.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"Among Gen Z, there’s been a marked decrease in adhering to a gender binary, and an increase in “people willing to explore their sexuality\" (Credit: Getty Images)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bf98n2.jpg","title":"person-with-makeup-gen-z.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bf98n2","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bf98n2.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100221},"p0bf98qz":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bf98qz","_id":"62b41ed81f4b7b2dfc214281","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbf\u002F98\u002Fp0bf98qz.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"Members of Gen Z report being more career focused to find financial stability before entering relationships (Credit: Getty Images)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bf98qz.jpg","title":"woman-with-plants-gen-z-.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bf98qz","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bf98qz.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100221},"p0bf98k1":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bf98k1","_id":"62b41ed71f4b7b037f50300a","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbf\u002F98\u002Fp0bf98k1.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bf98k1.jpg","title":"gen-z-embrace.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bf98k1","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bf98k1.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100221},"p09l3qf5":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p09l3qf5","_id":"62b41e971f4b7b2de46d7c52","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002F9l\u002F3q\u002Fp09l3qf5.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"Over time, language has evolved to recognise women as sexually non-binary (Credit: Getty Images)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp09l3qf5.jpg","title":"women-with-pride-on-hand.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p09l3qf5","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp09l3qf5.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100222},"p09l3q7r":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p09l3q7r","_id":"62b41eac1f4b7b7e014c34a6","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002F9l\u002F3q\u002Fp09l3q7r.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"In one study over several years, fewer women reported being attracted to only men than they had in the past (Credit: Getty Images)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp09l3q7r.jpg","title":"couple-face-to-face.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p09l3q7r","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp09l3q7r.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100222},"p09l3q9z":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p09l3q9z","_id":"62b41e971f4b7b2dee12db46","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002F9l\u002F3q\u002Fp09l3q9z.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp09l3q9z.jpg","title":"women-couple-on-pink.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p09l3q9z","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp09l3q9z.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100222},"p0bk1j5t":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bk1j5t","_id":"62b41edb1f4b7b2851469e91","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbk\u002F1j\u002Fp0bk1j5t.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"It's ingrained in us to be open to many people when picking a partner, and then commit to the relationship once we're in it, researchers say (Credit: Getty Images)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bk1j5t.jpg","title":"picky partners women on a date.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bk1j5t","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bk1j5t.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100227},"p0bk1jnb":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bk1jnb","_id":"62b41edb1f4b7b5fd97dceed","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbk\u002F1j\u002Fp0bk1jnb.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"Both evolution and societal pressures wire us to pursue partnerhood at all costs, even if we know deep down the potential mate isn't a great fit (Credit: Getty Images)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bk1jnb.jpg","title":"picky partners woman talking to man.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bk1jnb","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bk1jnb.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100227},"p0bk1hpl":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bk1hpl","_id":"62b41edb1f4b7b1ce1198d3d","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbk\u002F1h\u002Fp0bk1hpl.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bk1hpl.jpg","title":"picky partners skeptical woman on date HERO.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bk1hpl","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bk1hpl.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100227},"p0cgys3w":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0cgys3w","_id":"62b5bbae1f4b7b60702918ff","copyright":"Elliot Boschwitz","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":800,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fcg\u002Fys\u002Fp0cgys3w.jpg","sourceWidth":640,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"Andy Hong says the apps keep sending him similar matches - but he's not feeling a connection (Credit: Elliot Boschwitz)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Elliot Boschwitz)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0cgys3w.jpg","title":"Andy Hong photo credit Elliot Boschwitz cropped","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0cgys3w","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0cgys3w.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100251},"p0cgyv0z":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0cgyv0z","_id":"62b5bbad1f4b7b60702918fd","copyright":"Rosemary Guiser","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":800,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fcg\u002Fyv\u002Fp0cgyv0z.jpg","sourceWidth":640,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"Rosemary Guiser says the process of online dating - scrolling, messaging, meeting - can take up a lot of time (Credit: Rosemary Guiser)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Rosemary Guiser)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0cgyv0z.jpg","title":"Guiser Credit Rosemary Guiser cropped","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0cgyv0z","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0cgyv0z.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100251},"p0cgyq2b":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0cgyq2b","_id":"62b5bbae1f4b7b60702918fe","copyright":"Getty","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fcg\u002Fyq\u002Fp0cgyq2b.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"(Credit: Getty)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0cgyq2b.jpg","title":"Woman Getty","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0cgyq2b","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0cgyq2b.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100251},"p0cb8k8v":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0cb8k8v","_id":"62b41f001f4b7b2e113e0746","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fcb\u002F8k\u002Fp0cb8k8v.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"Identifying as non-binary means not defining one’s gender within the male versus female binary (Credit: Getty Images)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0cb8k8v.jpg","title":"nonbinary-flag.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0cb8k8v","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0cb8k8v.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100253},"p0cb8kfc":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0cb8kfc","_id":"62b41f001f4b7b2e133db266","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fcb\u002F8k\u002Fp0cb8kfc.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"Since there is a certain level of safety for non-binary people in LGBTQ+ and non-heteronormative communities, many prefer to date within those communities (Credit: Getty Images)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0cb8kfc.jpg","title":"two-daters.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0cb8kfc","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0cb8kfc.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100253},"p0cb8jm2":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0cb8jm2","_id":"62b41f011f4b7b2dfa3a6fe5","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fcb\u002F8j\u002Fp0cb8jm2.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0cb8jm2.jpg","title":"hero.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0cb8jm2","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0cb8jm2.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100253},"p0c8j2zc":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0c8j2zc","_id":"62b41efc1f4b7b2e133db25a","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fc8\u002Fj2\u002Fp0c8j2zc.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"Some couples decide to take gap years to pursue passions they might not have been able to otherwise (Credit: Getty Images)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0c8j2zc.jpg","title":"shark.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0c8j2zc","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0c8j2zc.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100255},"p0c8j250":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0c8j250","_id":"62b41efd1f4b7b2e1220e2d8","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fc8\u002Fj2\u002Fp0c8j250.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0c8j250.jpg","title":"beach.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0c8j250","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0c8j250.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100255},"p0c2jvkd":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0c2jvkd","_id":"62b41ef31f4b7b284376913b","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fc2\u002Fjv\u002Fp0c2jvkd.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"Virtual meet-ups are becoming more common, even as pandemic restrictions ease, so daters can pre-screen partners before getting together (Credit: Getty Images)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0c2jvkd.jpg","title":"phone-date.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0c2jvkd","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0c2jvkd.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100256},"p0c2jvkx":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0c2jvkx","_id":"62b41ef31f4b7b527738f53f","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fc2\u002Fjv\u002Fp0c2jvkx.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"In many cases, dinner or drinks for a first date is a thing of the past (Credit: Getty Images)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0c2jvkx.jpg","title":"walk-date.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0c2jvkx","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0c2jvkx.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100256},"p0c2jvlf":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0c2jvlf","_id":"62b41ef31f4b7b2dec2ff6c4","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fc2\u002Fjv\u002Fp0c2jvlf.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0c2jvlf.jpg","title":"zoom-date.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0c2jvlf","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0c2jvlf.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100256},"p0c25dqz":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0c25dqz","_id":"62b41ef31f4b7b2e133db248","copyright":"Netflix","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fc2\u002F5d\u002Fp0c25dqz.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"Intimacy among older adults is getting more time in the spotlight, with shows like Grace and Frankie (Credit: Netflix)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Netflix)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0c25dqz.jpg","title":"grace-and-frankie.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0c25dqz","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0c25dqz.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100259},"p0c259nm":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0c259nm","_id":"62b41f061f4b7b03623b455e","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fc2\u002F59\u002Fp0c259nm.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"“Typically, the peak sexual experiences began in midlife and beyond\" – Dr Peggy Kleinplatz (Credit: Getty Images)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0c259nm.jpg","title":"bed-cuddle-boommers.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0c259nm","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0c259nm.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100259},"p0c2598k":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0c2598k","_id":"62b41ef31f4b7b062b0c0466","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fc2\u002F59\u002Fp0c2598k.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0c2598k.jpg","title":"boomer-pool.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0c2598k","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0c2598k.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100259},"p0bzxrs9":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bzxrs9","_id":"62b41ef11f4b7b393c0e70bb","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbz\u002Fxr\u002Fp0bzxrs9.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"Unlike in past generations, the younger groups surveyed split with their first co-habiting partner in much higher numbers (Credit: Getty Images)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bzxrs9.jpg","title":"move-out.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bzxrs9","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bzxrs9.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100260},"p0bzxrnf":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bzxrnf","_id":"62b41ef11f4b7b1a3f0084db","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbz\u002Fxr\u002Fp0bzxrnf.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bzxrnf.jpg","title":"move-in-hero.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bzxrnf","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bzxrnf.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100260},"p0bzj7cj":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bzj7cj","_id":"62b41ef21f4b7b393c0e70c0","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbz\u002Fj7\u002Fp0bzj7cj.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"In the film Bridget Jones's Diary, the titular character judges herself for her single status, despite her success (Credit: Getty Images)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bzj7cj.jpg","title":"bridge-jones.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bzj7cj","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bzj7cj.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100261},"p0bzj709":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bzj709","_id":"62b41ef01f4b7b1cdd2e3451","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbz\u002Fj7\u002Fp0bzj709.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"Plenty of singletons report being content with their status – yet still report experiencing single shaming (Credit: Getty Images)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bzj709.jpg","title":"man-at-home.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bzj709","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bzj709.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100261},"p0bzhp2x":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bzhp2x","_id":"62b41ef01f4b7b112172c1c4","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbz\u002Fhp\u002Fp0bzhp2x.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bzhp2x.jpg","title":"pink-hair.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bzhp2x","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bzhp2x.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100262},"p0bw0ztd":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bw0ztd","_id":"62b41eeb1f4b7b06274b0890","copyright":"Alamy","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbw\u002F0z\u002Fp0bw0ztd.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"The relationship between Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron, married since 2007, has been scrutinised in the media (Credit: Alamy)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Alamy)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bw0ztd.jpg","title":"Alamy macron","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bw0ztd","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bw0ztd.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100263},"p0bw0xlw":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bw0xlw","_id":"62b41eea1f4b7b2851469e9a","copyright":"Getty","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbw\u002F0x\u002Fp0bw0xlw.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"(Credit: Getty)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bw0xlw.jpg","title":"Man woman getty","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bw0xlw","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bw0xlw.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100263},"p0bw043s":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bw043s","_id":"62b41eeb1f4b7b1ce36d1072","copyright":"Getty","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbw\u002F04\u002Fp0bw043s.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"A 'destiny' mindset means you're more likely to see conflict as a sign that the relationship is not meant to be (Credit: Getty)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bw043s.jpg","title":"Arguing Getty","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bw043s","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bw043s.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100264},"p0bw04zw":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bw04zw","_id":"62b41eea1f4b7b1ce253bf41","copyright":"Getty","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbw\u002F04\u002Fp0bw04zw.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"A 'growth' mindset in the bedroom predicts greater sexual satisfaction (Credit: Getty)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bw04zw.jpg","title":"Couple Getty","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bw04zw","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bw04zw.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100264},"p0bw00yd":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bw00yd","_id":"62b41eeb1f4b7b112172c1b7","copyright":"Getty","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbw\u002F00\u002Fp0bw00yd.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"(Credit: Getty)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bw00yd.jpg","title":"Hero Getty","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bw00yd","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bw00yd.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100264},"p0bvbrms":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bvbrms","_id":"62b41eea1f4b7b11001f2865","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbv\u002Fbr\u002Fp0bvbrms.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"Boxes from online shopping piling up could be a sign of your spouse making purchases behind your back, a sign of financial infidelity (Credit: Getty Images)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bvbrms.jpg","title":"financial infidelity boxes piling up.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bvbrms","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bvbrms.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100265},"p0bvbrz7":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bvbrz7","_id":"62b41ee91f4b7b711a22c2fa","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbv\u002Fbr\u002Fp0bvbrz7.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"Experts urge couples have regular, open conversations about money in a non-judgmental setting to avoid one partner making unpleasant financial discoveries (Credit: Getty Images)","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bvbrz7.jpg","title":"financial infidelity woman checking account.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bvbrz7","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bvbrz7.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100265},"p0bvbr3s":{"urn":"urn:external:nitro:image:p0bvbr3s","_id":"62b41ee91f4b7b26585ce367","copyright":"Getty Images","fileSizeBytes":0,"mimeType":"image\u002Fjpeg","sourceHeight":1080,"sourceUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flive-galileo-interface-mt-resources-imagebucket-1a92e5tj3b5d6\u002Fp0\u002Fbv\u002Fbr\u002Fp0bvbr3s.jpg","sourceWidth":1920,"synopsisLong":"","synopsisMedium":"","synopsisShort":"(Credit: Getty Images)","templateUrl":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bvbr3s.jpg","title":"financial infidelity couple fighting.jpg","creationDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","entity":"image","guid":"","id":"p0bvbr3s","modifiedDateTime":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","project":"","slug":"","url":"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20220713234819\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fychef.files.bbci.co.uk\u002F$recipe\u002Fp0bvbr3s.jpg","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100265}},"articles":{"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211101-why-demisexuality-is-as-real-as-any-sexual-orientation":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211101-why-demisexuality-is-as-real-as-any-sexual-orientation","_id":"62b420731f4b7b4cae1d92ab","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":[],"bodyIntro":"Some people need to feel an emotional bond before developing attraction. Many people don't accept this as a sexual orientation — but demisexuals say that’s misguided.","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EEarlier this year, when then-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s daughter, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.insider.com\u002Fandrew-cuomo-daughter-says-she-is-demisexual-what-that-means-2021-7\"\u003EMichaela Kennedy-Cuomo, came out as ‘demisexual’\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, she was met with public condescension. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftwitter.com\u002Fnypost\u002Fstatus\u002F1411333472598298624?lang=en\"\u003EMany mocked her demisexuality\u003C\u002Fa\u003E – a lack of sexual attraction to others without a strong emotional connection. Few acknowledged demisexuality as ‘real’.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut although demisexuality isn’t widely known, it’s a sexual orientation like any other, that applies to people across the world.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDemisexuality, which falls on the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210507-asexuality-the-ascent-of-the-invisible-sexual-orientation\"\u003Easexuality spectrum\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, differs from simply \u003Cem\u003Ewanting\u003C\u002Fem\u003E to wait for a deep bond to form before having sex with someone; rather, it’s more akin to the experience of being asexual \u003Cem\u003Euntil\u003C\u002Fem\u003E that type of connection forms, at which point the sexual attraction extends only to that person. For allosexuals, on the other hand (people who aren’t on the asexual spectrum), waiting to have sex until forming a deep connection is more of a preference, and less of \u003Cem\u003Enecessity\u003C\u002Fem\u003E to developing sexual desire.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EKennedy-Cuomo’s announcement did have positive effects, says Kayla Kaszyca, a demisexual co-creator of the podcast Sounds Fake But Okay, in which she and her asexual, aromantic co-host Sarah Costello discuss love, relationships and sexuality on the asexual spectrum. In some cases, Kaszyca says Kennedy-Cuomo’s statement raised the profile of demisexuality, stoking “\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cosmopolitan.com\u002Fsex-love\u002Fnews\u002Fa36736\u002Fwhat-does-it-mean-to-be-a-demisexual\u002F\"\u003Emore discourse about it\u003C\u002Fa\u003E”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211101-why-demisexuality-is-as-real-as-any-sexual-orientation-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"portrait","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211101-why-demisexuality-is-as-real-as-any-sexual-orientation-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EOn the other hand, the broadened discussion also brought detractors and spread misinformation. “I think the word [demisexuality] is definitely more out there and known, but the proper definition might still be unclear to a lot of people,” says 24-year-old Kaszyca.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor instance, many still dismiss demisexuality, insisting it’s ‘normal’ not to be sexually attracted to someone until you form a deeper, emotional connection with them. “Someone might tell you, ‘Isn’t everyone like that?’” \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESo, says Kaszyca, “you have to start myth-busting”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EPeople who identify as demisexual, like Kaszyca and others who share content related to their orientation, are actively working to clarify that definition. It’s an especially tricky task when discussing an orientation that hasn’t even had a name for all that long, and whose definition often confuses people.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut their work is making a difference, and during the past several years, discussion about demisexuality has proliferated on Facebook groups, Instagram posts, Discord servers and among organisations dedicated to the asexual spectrum across the globe.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211101-why-demisexuality-is-as-real-as-any-sexual-orientation-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"Someone might tell you, ‘Isn’t everyone like that? You have to start myth-busting – Kayla Kaszyca","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211101-why-demisexuality-is-as-real-as-any-sexual-orientation-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E‘I still didn’t come to terms with it for a really long time’\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EPeople often \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wired.com\u002F2015\u002F02\u002Fdemisexuality\u002F\"\u003Etrace the origin of the term demisexual\u003C\u002Fa\u003E to a 2006 Asexual Visibility & Education Network (Aven) forum post. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“I think it is a word that emerged primarily out of the Aven site and asexual advocates, not necessarily out of academics,” says Anthony Bogaert, a human-sexuality researcher and professor at Brock University in Ontario, Canada, who’s written multiple papers about asexuality. At that time, people on the Aven site were figuring out just how diverse the asexual spectrum could be – new terms began emerging as people who’d previously identified as asexual noted unique circumstances in which they \u003Cem\u003Ecould\u003C\u002Fem\u003E experience sexual attraction.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“There is a tradition of allowing people with different kinds of identifications and lots of variability to come to the Aven site,” says Bogaert. These people helped move forward the discussion about asexuality by identifying various aspects of the asexual spectrum. In doing so, they offered information that wasn’t available elsewhere on the internet.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHowever, asexuality was – and still is – more widely discussed than demisexuality. This is in part because the former is easier for people who aren’t asexual to conceptualise. Someone who’s asexual “experiences little to no sexual attraction”, says Kaszyca. “It’s a pretty easy tagline to use.” But adding on top of that “except when they develop a deep emotional connection”, can sometimes leave allosexuals scratching their heads.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EElle Rose, a 28-year-old based in Indiana, US, began identifying as demisexual after describing their sexuality to a friend a few years ago. “She looked at me and was like, ‘Elle, you’re describing demisexuality’,” says Rose. “I still didn't come to terms with it for a really long time.” Fearing the complications to their dating life if they were openly demisexual, Rose often described themselves as ‘\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.glaad.org\u002Fblog\u002Fwhat-pansexuality-4-pan-celebs-explain-their-own-words\"\u003Epansexual\u003C\u002Fa\u003E’, leaving out the demisexual identity.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211101-why-demisexuality-is-as-real-as-any-sexual-orientation-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"portrait","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211101-why-demisexuality-is-as-real-as-any-sexual-orientation-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E‘People can see themselves represented, finally’\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERose partly attributes dismissive attitudes towards demisexuality in the US to “purity culture”, in which women are at once highly sexualised in the media, but also expected to save themselves for the right person (or marriage, particularly in religious settings). Conceptually, this neatly aligns with abstaining from sex until forming a deep bond with a partner. But this is still ultimately a preference, with which demisexuals don’t identify.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis lack of understanding often breeds loneliness. Cairo Kennedy, a 33-year-old in Saskatchewan, Canada, grew up “not experiencing sexual attraction the same way as my peers, and you kind of feel broken”, she says. “It became this big secret and source of shame.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen she discovered there was a name for her sexual orientation just a few years ago, she felt “kind of good, but then there was no information”, she says – at least none talking about demisexuality from the perspective of someone with lived experience. There were enough Aven posts for her to read and think, “‘Oh, this is me’, but not so much, ‘Oh, there’s a whole bunch of us’.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211101-why-demisexuality-is-as-real-as-any-sexual-orientation-6"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"[My friend] looked at me and was like, ‘Elle, you’re describing demisexuality’. I still didn't come to terms with it for a really long time – Elle Rose","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211101-why-demisexuality-is-as-real-as-any-sexual-orientation-7"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EKennedy decided to fill this gap, starting a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fthedemisexual.com\u002F\"\u003E“demisexual lifestyle” blog\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Through it, many other demisexuals have contacted her – people ranging from teenagers to those in their 50s, who live mostly in the US and Europe. “I was really surprised by how many people seem to relate,” she says. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“I think the term is more popular because of social media,” says Hawaii-based therapist specialising in human sexuality Janet Brito. She only first heard the term demisexuality during her post-doctoral studies at the University of Minnesota, US, in 2014, “even though it’s describing [a sexual orientation] that’s been around for so long”. Though Brito acknowledges demisexuality spans all age groups, her openly demisexual clients tend to be in their earlier twenties. “They have more exposure to social media,” she says, “[where] it’s more acceptable to talk about this spectrum.” \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThat exposure breeds validation. “Social media opens up the door to many other voices that we would have not been exposed to in the past,” she adds. “[People] can see themselves represented, finally.” \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EKlaus Roberts, 30, who lives just outside Helsinki, credits the internet for helping him put a name to his orientation about five years ago. “Finland’s a little bit behind in a lot of these things, because we’re a relatively small country,” he says. He’d been identifying as asexual, but meeting people in multi-national LGBTQ+ communities online helped him realise that demisexual described him better. “People who know anything about these terms, it’s easier for them to understand me when I use that.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211101-why-demisexuality-is-as-real-as-any-sexual-orientation-8"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"portrait","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211101-why-demisexuality-is-as-real-as-any-sexual-orientation-9"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E‘Understand the nature of sexuality better’\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen mainstream establishments fail to provide information about a variety of sexual orientations, these online voices become crucial for education.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EKaszyca and co-host Sarah Costello started their podcast while they were undergraduates at the University of Michigan, US, where only their friends listened to support them. Today, their reach has expanded to other English-speaking countries and Europe. Kaszyca estimates Sounds Fake But Okay now gets around 7,000 listeners per week. She adds it’s not only those on the asexual spectrum who tune in – their parents, partners and friends do, too, so they can learn.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Our episode with the most listens is our ‘Asexuality 101’ episode,” says Kaszyca. “People have said they've sent that to their friends or family after coming out, to help educate them and… ease the education process.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis education also helps demisexuals navigate other parts of society, like dating. For example, Kaszyca says apps have made dating while demisexual easier, because you can include your orientation in your dating profile. This avoids an otherwise heavy first date conversation. “A first date is supposed to be casual,” she says, “then you’re like, ‘hey, let’s have an in-depth conversation about my identity, and I’m probably going to have to teach you what it is because demisexuality is so unknown’.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOverall, talking and learning about the “the variability that exists in the broader asexual community”, says researcher Bogaert, is crucial to avoiding the alienation of sexual minorities. But it’s also crucial because “it allows us to understand the nature of sexuality better” as a whole.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211101-why-demisexuality-is-as-real-as-any-sexual-orientation-10"}],"collection":[],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2021-11-05T14:08:39Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"Why demisexuality is as real as any sexual orientation","headlineShort":"Why it's wrong to dismiss demisexuality","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":[],"relatedStories":[],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"Some people need to feel an emotional bond before developing attraction. Many people don't accept this as a sexual orientation — but demisexuals say that’s misguided.","summaryShort":"No attraction without connection? Understanding this sexual orientation","tag":[],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2021-11-04T19:54:35.883895Z","entity":"article","guid":"1e30ed03-592c-4125-9473-dc76f8766d46","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211101-why-demisexuality-is-as-real-as-any-sexual-orientation","modifiedDateTime":"2022-02-25T07:17:13.322153Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211101-why-demisexuality-is-as-real-as-any-sexual-orientation","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100254},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210326-ethical-non-monogamy-the-rise-of-multi-partner-relationships":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210326-ethical-non-monogamy-the-rise-of-multi-partner-relationships","_id":"62b420711f4b7b549342c1e9","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":[],"bodyIntro":"Multi-partner relationships are on the rise, and finding their way into the mainstream. Could this new exposure change the way we look at sex and families?","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EIan Jenkins, 45, faced death threats after coming out as gay while at university in Virginia. At that time, he could hardly foresee a day when he could live as an openly gay man with one partner, let alone two. But today, he shares a home in San Diego with his two partners, Alan, 43, and Jeremy, 37, (who are using their first names only for privacy), and their two children, ages three and one. All three men are the children’s legal fathers, their names on both birth certificates.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EJenkins and his first partner, Alan, both doctors, had discussed the possibility of a more open relationship for years, before meeting Jeremy in 2012. Though Jeremy, a zookeeper who works to save endangered species, wasn’t initially interested in polyamory, he got to know the couple as friends and “everyone sort of became comfortable with the idea – there was just good chemistry”, says Jenkins.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThey became a family, but when they made the decision to have children, obstacles arose. Besides the fact that each man had to have his own attorney involved in both the surrogacy and egg donor contracts with their first child (separate women served as surrogate and donor), they then had to convince a judge that all three should be legally defined as the child’s parents.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EJenkins says the judge who heard their case “was understanding of the situation and wanted to help us”, but as a lower court judge “she wasn't allowed to set precedent”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENo men in three-way relationships had ever been granted joint parenting rights to a child before in California, or possibly anywhere in the US. But the men made their case, each explaining “why it was so important and necessary for us to have [our names on] the birth certificate”, says Jenkins. The judge ended up granting all three parenting rights to their first child, born in 2017, and Jenkins ended up writing a book about their journey, Three Dads and a Baby: Adventures in Modern Parenting, which was published on 9 March in the US.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210326-ethical-non-monogamy-the-rise-of-multi-partner-relationships-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"ian jenkins with partners","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210326-ethical-non-monogamy-the-rise-of-multi-partner-relationships-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EThough it’s still rare for people in polyamorous relationships to share legal parentage of their children, various forms of ‘ethical non-monogamy’ – relationships involving more than two adults who consent to the arrangement – have becoming increasingly widespread over the past decade. Multiple factors contribute to this, from the rise of multi-partner dating apps and mainstream media representation to social media and more easily accessible networks for those interested in the lifestyle. “I think a huge factor is just people's willingness to be open,” says Jenkins. “There has to be visibility.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThese cultural shifts, however, date back to free love proponents in the 1960s, who worked hard to expand our sexual boundaries from groups working all across the globe. And changes continue to happen because of people like Jenkins and his partners, whose stories help shed long-held taboos about having multiple partners.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E‘This is not a new thing’: the history of non-monogamy\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn 2016, a survey of nearly 9,000 single US adults showed that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lehmiller.com\u002Fblog\u002F2016\u002F5\u002F30\u002Fhow-many-people-have-ever-had-a-consensually-non-monogamous-relationship\"\u003Eone in five had previously been in a consensually non-monogamous relationship\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. A Canadian survey came up with \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lehmiller.com\u002Fblog\u002F2019\u002F4\u002F17\u002Fone-in-five-people-report-having-been-in-a-sexually-open-relationship\"\u003Eroughly the same numbers\u003C\u002Fa\u003E a year later.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Something else we've seen in the last decade is that Google searches for the terms ‘polyamory’ and ‘open relationships’ have increased, which demonstrates that there's more interest in this topic,” says Justin Lehmiller, social psychologist and research fellow at The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction in Bloomington, Indiana. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut people have been engaging in these types of relationships “for a really long time”, adds Lehmiller. “This is not a new thing.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210326-ethical-non-monogamy-the-rise-of-multi-partner-relationships-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"Everyone sort of became comfortable with the idea: there was just good chemistry – Ian Jenkins","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210326-ethical-non-monogamy-the-rise-of-multi-partner-relationships-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EIt was new in 1969, however, when Dossie Easton, co-author with Janet Hardy of the 1997 book The Ethical Slut, made the then “quite unusual” decision that she would “never be monogamous again” after having left a bad relationship. In 1973, she joined a group called San Francisco Sex Information (which still exists) and found herself in a community of people exploring open sexual lifestyles. “I got to be part of advancing that world,” she says.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEaston, now 77, had been talking about ethical non-monogamy for years when she and Hardy taught a BDSM workshop at a Mensa conference in 1994 in Big Sur, outside San Francisco. While the audience wasn’t scandalised by the BDSM, they were shocked that Easton and Hardy, who were lovers at the time, did the workshop right in front of Easton’s male partner. That prompted the pair to write the book, which covers how to carry on healthy non-monogamous relationships.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt’s still somewhat required reading for people interested in the lifestyle. “Every year it sells more,” says Easton.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOver the past several decades, Easton has travelled to “poly meet-ups” in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Australia. In Berlin, she met Claudia Zinser, 57, who started to “live openly polyamorous about 25 years ago”, says Zinser. She’s been counselling people in polyamorous relationships for about a decade, and has seen openness toward the lifestyle increase, particularly among urban young people. “The media, including social media, hyped the topic… so it’s not unknown or taboo anymore,” she says. “It’s maybe even hip.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe app push\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEthically non-monogamous relationships haven’t had a purely upward trajectory.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ELehmiller says the HIV epidemic of the 1980s and 90s caused research on consensual non-monogamy to slow down, as having sex with multiple partners had become viewed as less safe. “The rebirth of research in this area started around 2010 or so,” says Lehmiller. “In the last decade, we've really seen an explosion.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210326-ethical-non-monogamy-the-rise-of-multi-partner-relationships-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"portrait","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210326-ethical-non-monogamy-the-rise-of-multi-partner-relationships-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EThe current near-mainstreaming of ethical non-monogamy, he says, has happened because of both academic research that’s filtered into the public, through media and education centres, and more diverse depictions of these relationships on TV. These newer depictions go beyond HBO’s Big Love or TLC’s Sister Wives, which both follow Mormon families featuring one husband and multiple wives, to show a variety of poly relationships. Both Lucy Gillespie’s Unicornland, in which a newly single woman goes on dates with several different couples; and You Me Her, where both members of a couple fall for another woman together, are strong examples.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“The internet and more inclusive dating apps have also played a role in changing these attitudes,” says Lehmiller. Multiple non-monogamy-geared dating apps make it easy to find others looking for multiple partner relationships or sexual experiences. On Feeld, a poly and kink dating app, 60% of couples are looking for a third, says a company spokesperson. It’s not just sex that people are seeking. A survey spanning 640 users of the three-way app 3Fun from the US and UK showed that about 43% of those looking for three-way sex were also looking for three-way relationships.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWith these apps, “there are more options for meeting and connecting,” says Lehmiller, “so it's not as much of an underground scene as it was in the past”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFeeld is how Janie Frank, 25, met her two partners, Maggie Odell, 27, and Cody Coppola, 31, in 2016. She’d first started using the app earlier that year because, though she’d previously only dated men, she realised she liked women, as well. “I was really nervous about dating a woman for the first time,” says Frank. “I decided the way I was going to get around this was to date couples instead to ease myself into it, so I would be dating a man and woman at the same time.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210326-ethical-non-monogamy-the-rise-of-multi-partner-relationships-6"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"A from three-way app 3Fun from the US and UK showed that about 43% of those looking for three-way sex were also looking for three-way relationships","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210326-ethical-non-monogamy-the-rise-of-multi-partner-relationships-7"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003ELooking back, Frank finds this logic “strange and funny”, but it ultimately led to her dating several couples before meeting Odell and Coppola. It also introduced her to “this whole lifestyle that I didn’t know existed”, she says. “Talking to people on the app… I began to realise there is a whole community for people who are ethically non-monogamous.” \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EToday, Frank and Odell both have TikTok accounts, between which they have a few hundred-thousand followers. “We've been using them to try to talk about polyamory and bring awareness to it, and just normalise it and educate people on… what it can look like,” says Frank.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESome ethically non-monogamous people reach out to thank them for the representation. Others less familiar with the lifestyle comment to say they’re glad they learned about polyamory from Frank and Odell’s videos. “I had never heard about this before,” some say.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIs the law catching up?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe rise in ethically non-monogamous relationships is leading to legal recognition beyond Jenkins and his partners gaining parental rights to their children. In July 2020, the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.usatoday.com\u002Fstory\u002Fnews\u002Fnation\u002F2020\u002F07\u002F02\u002Fpolyamory-massachusetts-city-somerville-relationships-us\u002F5370718002\u002F\"\u003ESomerville, Massachusetts city council voted unanimously\u003C\u002Fa\u003E to recognise polyamorous domestic partnerships. The city of Cambridge, which borders Somerville, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnewbostonpost.com\u002F2021\u002F03\u002F10\u002Fcambridge-officially-recognizes-polyamory\u002F\"\u003Erecently followed suit\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210326-ethical-non-monogamy-the-rise-of-multi-partner-relationships-8"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"square","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210326-ethical-non-monogamy-the-rise-of-multi-partner-relationships-9"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EThis isn’t just happening in the US. In 2018, two men and a woman in a polyamorous relationship were \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cbc.ca\u002Fnews\u002Fcanada\u002Fnewfoundland-labrador\u002Fpolyamourous-relationship-three-parents-1.4706560\"\u003Eall recognised as the legal parents\u003C\u002Fa\u003E of their child in Newfoundland, Canada. The year prior, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.advocate.com\u002Fworld\u002F2017\u002F6\u002F15\u002Fthree-gay-men-make-history-marrying-colombia\"\u003Ethree men in a relationship in Medellin, Colombia\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, were legally married.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThese geographically disparate moves towards normalising ethical non-monogamy may help spark a more global movement. Zinser, in Berlin, believes the push to online meetings and communities, spurred by Covid-19, will enhance “global networks” for those who practice ethical non-monogamy. The spread of information about non-monogamy, meanwhile, “is going to give people more options for designing the type of relationship that’s right for them”, says Lehmiller. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn spite of these changes, people in non-monogamous and queer relationships still contend with stigma. Frank says she and her partners at one time received anonymous hate mail (it’s since stopped). And, as of a year ago, Jenkins says students at the college he attended still belted out a homophobic chant at football games.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn San Diego, however, Jenkins says he and his partners don’t face discrimination – it’s mainly why he and Alan chose to move there in the first place. After Jenkins’s book came out, his colleagues at the hospital where he works, including all the senior administrators, wrote to congratulate him. “They even suggested we could do a book signing in the future,” says Jenkins. “We’re really lucky to be in that environment.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210326-ethical-non-monogamy-the-rise-of-multi-partner-relationships-10"}],"collection":[],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2021-03-25T20:42:33.69Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"Ethical non-monogamy: the rise of multi-partner relationships","headlineShort":"Why ethical non-monogamy is on the rise","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":[],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"Multi-partner relationships are on the rise, and finding their way into the mainstream. Could this new exposure change the way we look at sex and families?","summaryShort":"Multi-partner relationships are increasing – and could be going mainstream","tag":[],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2021-03-25T20:43:56.102513Z","entity":"article","guid":"39272912-a87b-4186-996b-0fbd5e804f9d","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210326-ethical-non-monogamy-the-rise-of-multi-partner-relationships","modifiedDateTime":"2022-02-25T07:05:49.632936Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210326-ethical-non-monogamy-the-rise-of-multi-partner-relationships","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100222},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210507-asexuality-the-ascent-of-the-invisible-sexual-orientation":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210507-asexuality-the-ascent-of-the-invisible-sexual-orientation","_id":"62b420591f4b7b2e6f25708e","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":[],"bodyIntro":"Long in the shadows, asexuality is finally becoming increasingly visible. It could help young people find themselves and their identities, and change the way we think about sexuality.","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAs we head into 2022, Worklife is running our best, most insightful and most essential stories from 2021. When you’re done with this article, check out our \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Fcolumns\u002Fbest-of-worklife-2021\u002F\"\u003Efull list of the year’s top stories\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn a live video stream on 6 April, UK-based model and asexual activist Yasmin Benoit \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=ED5MBGRCOek\"\u003Emoderated a panel\u003C\u002Fa\u003E featuring participants from Belgium, Brazil, Vietnam, Pakistan, Nepal and Nigeria. All of them identify as somewhere on the asexual (“ace”) and\u002For aromantic (“aro”) spectrum. The panellists discussed their involvement in their respective countries’ asexuality community, as part of an event honouring the first ever International Asexuality Day.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETheir experiences vary, from well supported to outright dangerous. In Belgium, Martine said she’s found support and inclusivity from her government and the country’s wider LGBTQ+ organisation; on the other end, Jan in Nigeria noted that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Fav\u002Fworld-africa-50907297\"\u003Elaws “criminalise queer gatherings\u003C\u002Fa\u003E”. But, regardless of global location, the issue of visibility was at the core of nearly all their responses.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIndeed, asexuality – defined generally as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.asexuality.org\u002F?q=general.html\"\u003Enot experiencing sexual attraction\u003C\u002Fa\u003E – has been \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftime.com\u002F2889469\u002Fasexual-orientation\u002F\"\u003Ecalled “the invisible orientation”\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt tends to be misunderstood and under-discussed; people may not believe someone can really be asexual, or they dismiss asexuality entirely. Common misconceptions about asexuality include that asexuality equates to celibacy (it doesn’t), or that it’s a choice (it’s an orientation), says Michael Doré, a member of the global Asexual Visibility and Education Network’s (AVEN) project team. Some also incorrectly believe that someone is only asexual if they \u003Cem\u003Enever\u003C\u002Fem\u003E experience sexual attraction or have sex. But asexuality is a spectrum, where some may identify as demisexual, for example, meaning they don’t experience sexual attraction until forming an emotional bond with someone. It’s also not synonymous with aromanticism, which applies to those who don’t experience romantic attraction.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDespite confusion and dismissal, asexual voices have been getting louder and demanding recognition over the past decade. Individuals, activists and groups have begun telling their stories to larger audiences, and marching in Pride parades worldwide. Now, asexual activists’ efforts lie in keeping up this work, and amplifying asexual voices outside Western, English-speaking countries, where the majority of asexual activism and stories have come from.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs a result, along with the new international holiday, initiatives are popping up to take asexuality out of the shadows – making it easier for people to come out as asexual all over the world.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210507-asexuality-the-ascent-of-the-invisible-sexual-orientation-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"anahi charles","imageOrientation":"portrait","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210507-asexuality-the-ascent-of-the-invisible-sexual-orientation-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E‘It’s not such a big deal as before’\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EA limited awareness of asexuality has made it harder for past generations of young people around the world to realise their identities – even as recently as millennials.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAnahí Charles, 34, who lives in Mexico, first began to learn she was different from her peers in middle school. While they all fawned over members of the US boy-band Backstreet Boys, Charles couldn’t quite see the appeal. They looked “aesthetically nice”, she says, but she couldn’t grasp what it was that made her friends so crazy about them.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt took Charles several years – well after this incident in her youth – to learn about the orienntation and find her place on the ace\u002Faro spectrum. Without resources about asexuality, Charles says she was “in denial” about not experiencing sexual attraction to anyone. Even after she first learned about asexuality through a post on the Facebook page Have a Gay Day, in 2013, she still questioned whether something was “wrong” with her. Charles got medical examinations and hormone checks to try and figure it out. She was completely healthy.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHer clean bill of health served as a catalyst for self-acceptance. She found more information about asexuality on Facebook, and realised just how much she related to it. A year later, she became the admin of an asexual Facebook group in Mexico. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESimilarly, in the US, Marisa Manuel, 28, struggled to name her orientation. She first heard the term “asexual” when she was in high school, but says she was “misinformed” about its meaning. “Someone told me it meant people who wanted to be alone,” she recalls. “I like being around people.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn college, she met someone who identified as ace, which prompted her to learn more about what it really meant. She realised how much she related to what she found, and has since embraced her identity wholly – she’s gone on to write articles about identifying as ace as well as review books by ace authors.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210507-asexuality-the-ascent-of-the-invisible-sexual-orientation-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210507-asexuality-the-ascent-of-the-invisible-sexual-orientation-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EFortunately, younger generations may now be set up to find out about asexuality sooner – and may also be more empowered to vocalise their identities. The number of resources and amount of representation has grown significantly since Charles and Manuel were growing up. Along with increasing information available writ large, people also readily identify as ace on social media platforms, and are keen to share details about their experiences with other users.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E‘Representation is a resource’\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIncreased representation is key for enabling people to recognise and understand asexuality as well as normalise the orientation. “Representation \u003Cem\u003Eis\u003C\u002Fem\u003E a resource,” says Manuel. And although some resources have increased, representation – especially in mainstream media – isn’t where it needs to be, she adds.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHowever, there are other places visibility is increasing. People with bigger platforms, such as UK model Benoit, drag queen Venus Envy and Twitch streamer 5up, all talk openly about identifying as ace to their large fan bases on various social media channels. There’s increased representation in literature, too; authors on the ace spectrum include Darcie Little Badger, Akemi Dawn Bowman and Maia Kobabe. Fictional characters also help, like Todd Chavez of Bojack Horseman, of whom Manuel has a plastic figurine.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EManuel is trying to add to this growing pool of representation. Leading up to International Asexuality Day, she created AceChat, an Instagram account where she regularly shares stories by different people who identify as ace. It’s garnered positive reception, and she keeps hearing from people who want to tell their stories. There are now about 100 people involved.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EManuel says the next step is to expand AceChat’s reach. People from France, Russia, Vietnam, the UK and Canada have already begun to reach out, and translators have also joined the effort. And translation can be critical, because some locations have smaller ace communities than others, meaning they often have fewer resources and less information available for people seeking to learn about asexuality in their language.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210507-asexuality-the-ascent-of-the-invisible-sexual-orientation-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"Daniel Nesmelov","imageOrientation":"portrait","pullQuote":"We had even people from the LGBT community pitying us, saying, ‘it sucks to be you’. But we didn’t give up – Anahí Charles","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210507-asexuality-the-ascent-of-the-invisible-sexual-orientation-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EIn Moscow, Daniel, 20, who is withholding his surname for saftey concerns, says the ace\u002Faro community he’s a part of only has about 50 members. “Not so many people know about terms like ‘asexual’,” he says, perhaps in part because of the country’s \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftime.com\u002F5915828\u002Frussia-lgbtq-victory\u002F\"\u003Eintolerance of LGBTQ+ communities\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Since so many ace stories and materials are in English, Daniel has been working to translate them into Russian. He’s optimistic that asexuality will get more recognition in the coming years, even in his home country.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E‘We didn’t give up’\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAlong with ace communities’ historical struggles to gain wider visibility, they’ve also had to work to be seen within LGBTQ groups. This may be surprising, since the asexuality identity is also often included when referencing queer communities (for instance, in the inclusion acronym ‘LGBTQIA’, in which ‘A’ stands for ‘asexual’.)\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ECharles, who’s hosted asexual gatherings in Mexico City, experienced this first hand. She says her group first marched as a collective in Pride in 2015, but the larger LGBTQ community there hadn’t quite accepted people identifying as ace with open arms. “We had even people from the LGBT community pitying us, saying, ‘it sucks to be you’,” she says. “But we didn’t give up.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGroups like Charles’s and their subsequent educational initiatives have indeed helped move the needle. Charles says that when she returned to Pride with a larger group the next year, “we were better welcome because there was more information”. “It wasn’t like, look at the weirdos, they’re marching again,” she says. “It was like, look at the asexuals, they’re marching again.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn this push for acceptance, asexuality groups have been growing and thriving. One of the most prominent international asexuality groups is AVEN, founded in 2001 by US-based asexual activist David Jay. Michael Doré, who joined the organisation in 2009 in the UK, says AVEN came into existence with two main objectives: “building community and… legitimising asexuality as a sexual orientation”. Its growing membership currently numbers 135,539, according to Doré.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210507-asexuality-the-ascent-of-the-invisible-sexual-orientation-6"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"marisa manuel","imageOrientation":"portrait","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210507-asexuality-the-ascent-of-the-invisible-sexual-orientation-7"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003ENow, opportunities to educate and raise visibility have stretched even further. AVEN, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, seized on the increase in virtual communications during the pandemic to strengthen its global connections. These international, virtual chats eventually turned to establishing a single day dedicated to celebrating asexuality all over the globe: International Asexuality Day (IAD).\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“We felt this day was needed,” says Doré, who makes it clear that IAD is not owned by AVEN or any single organisation. “It’s a genuinely international thing.” The creation of the holiday not only establishes a yearly day of visibility, but also marks the flourishing of an intensive international effort to bring together an under-recognised community. It helps asexual individuals and groups in countries where information and representation is lacking gain access to resources.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThese days, says Doré, there’s growing awareness of asexuality in countries across Asia – particularly India, he notes, where the Facebook group Indian Aces is thriving. New groups dedicated to asexuality have been popping up across Africa over the last few years as well, he adds.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhile this is a good sign for progress, people continue to misunderstand asexuality. Manuel says she wrote an article about asexual dating for the Huffington Post two years ago, and it was well received. However, when the article was recently re-shared, “there were so many more negative reactions”, she says, in the piece’s comments section. People called her confused, insisting that she was really looking for friends, not dates.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“That made me realise that as far as we’ve come with representation and visibility, we’re not there yet,” she says.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210507-asexuality-the-ascent-of-the-invisible-sexual-orientation-8"}],"collection":[],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2021-05-11T15:17:30Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"Asexuality: The ascent of the 'invisible' sexual orientation","headlineShort":"The 'invisible' sexual orientation","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"marisa manuel","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":[],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"Long in the shadows, asexuality is finally becoming increasingly visible. It could help young people find themselves and their identities, and change the way we think about sexuality.","summaryShort":"Long unrecognised, asexuality may finally be finding its way out of the shadows","tag":[],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2021-05-10T21:11:03.190973Z","entity":"article","guid":"a7095608-a13d-488a-b6e2-3d90de106897","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210507-asexuality-the-ascent-of-the-invisible-sexual-orientation","modifiedDateTime":"2022-02-25T07:08:01.608513Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210507-asexuality-the-ascent-of-the-invisible-sexual-orientation","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100266},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex","_id":"62b4206e1f4b7b524c2b3dd5","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":["worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fjessica-klein"],"bodyIntro":"Young people aren’t dating and having sex the same way past generations have. Is their approach to relationships more pragmatic?","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E“Are you ready to settle down?”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis is the question Yale College student Kyung Mi Lee posed in a February 2020 piece, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fyaledailynews.com\u002Fblog\u002F2020\u002F02\u002F14\u002Fsettling-down-romance-in-the-era-of-gen-z\u002F\"\u003ESettling Down: Romance in the Era of Gen Z\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, for the university’s Yale Daily News. Would she and her peers follow the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pewresearch.org\u002Fsocial-trends\u002F2020\u002F05\u002F27\u002Fas-millennials-near-40-theyre-approaching-family-life-differently-than-previous-generations\u002F\"\u003Emillennial trend of delaying marriage\u003C\u002Fa\u003E?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E Nearly two years after she wrote the article, Lee feels the answer is yes – but for a potentially different reason than her millennial counterparts. “In my cultural imagination, [for millennials] being averse to long-term relationships [means] people are hooking up a lot,” Lee, 23, says. In other words, it seemed to her that millennials waited to settle down because they were busy taking advantage of the single life. For Gen Z, she figures, “people are averse [to long-term relationships] because they’re more… introspective about the kinds of relationships they want to be in”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAn increasing body of research validates this opinion: members of Gen Z seem to take an especially pragmatic approach to relationships compared to prior generations, and they’re \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Flifeandstyle\u002F2020\u002Ffeb\u002F03\u002Fquality-over-quantity-gen-zs-sex-recession-looks-more-like-an-upturn\"\u003Enot having as much sex\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“They realise that they might have different partners at different times in their lives [who] may fulfil different needs,” says Julie Arbit, Global SVP of Insights at Vice Media Group. In her research, which looked at 500 respondents from the UK and US (of mostly Gen Z and millennials, with some Gen X included “for comparison”), she’s found \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.vicemediagroup.com\u002Fis-gen-z-just-not-that-into-you\u002F\"\u003Ejust one in 10 members of Gen Z say they are “committed to being committed\u003C\u002Fa\u003E”.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOther researchers have arrived at similar conclusions. According to a study of Gen Z from India, for example, 66% of respondents accept that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.businessinsider.in\u002Fadvertising\u002Fad-agencies\u002Fnews\u002Findian-gen-z-spends-an-average-of-8-hours-per-day-online-isobar-ipsos-meetthez-survey\u002Farticleshow\u002F74833473.cms\"\u003E“not all relationships will be permanent\u003C\u002Fa\u003E”, with 70% rejecting a “limiting romantic relationship”. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBoth researchers and members of Gen Z attribute this to a few factors.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFirst, this generation is entering adulthood during a particularly tenuous time, marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fus-news\u002F2020\u002Fjul\u002F06\u002Fgen-z-covid-19-financial-crisis-lasting-scars\"\u003Eever-worsening climate change, and financial instability\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Many feel \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211215-is-parenting-scarier-than-ever\"\u003Ethey need to achieve stability for themselves before bringing another person into the picture\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. There’s also the increased access to relationship information online, empowering Gen Z with the language they \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211101-why-demisexuality-is-as-real-as-any-sexual-orientation\"\u003Eneed to articulate both who they are\u003C\u002Fa\u003E as well as what they want from a relationship that doesn’t compromise their identity and needs.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0bf98n2"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E“They’re hyper-focused on themselves,” says Arbit, “and it’s not because they’re being selfish. They know they’re responsible for their own success and happiness, and they know they need to be able to take care of themselves before they can take care of others.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESeeking stability\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Back in the 1960s and 70s, your average 25-year-old man could support a family with his income and not expect his wife to work,” says Stephanie Coontz, the director of research and public education for the US-based Council on Contemporary Families. For many Gen Zers, both the idea that a 25-year-old could support an entire family, and that a man would expect a stay-at-home wife, no longer fits contemporary circumstances – and, for some, even seems laughable.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EInstead, Gen Z is prioritising a solid financial foundation as individuals, which is lengthening the path toward marriage, says Arielle Kuperberg, an associate professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, US. “People are taking longer and longer to settle down because they’re taking longer and longer to reach financial stability.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ELee and her friends agree. She says being in what she feels is “the most unsafe, financially unstable generation in history” contributes to their desire to gain “financial independence” before they settle down with a long-term partner.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs a senior at university, Lee says she and her friends are much more likely to prioritise their careers over relationships, in order to reach a more financially stable place. “It’s rare that I have a friend who is like, ‘I’m going to move to this place so that I can be with my partner’,” she says. Rather, they’re focusing on what’s best for their careers, and how they can make relationships fit into that.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"They know they need to be able to take care of themselves before they can take care of others – Julie Arbit","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EKuperberg’s research on Gen Z chimes with this; she has found younger people in the throes of establishing their careers are less likely to go on formal dates compared to millennials.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“I don't think it’s [that] they don't want to have long-term relationships. I think it's that they’re putting them off,” she says.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAdditionally, Kuperberg has found current instability in young adulthood has led more young people to move back home with their parents because they can’t afford to live on their own in their 20s. “The rise in more casual relationships and decline in more serious relationships… is because it’s just harder to form [the latter].”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERecently, this is in no small part because of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated the trend of young adults being unable to live independently. Kuperberg interviewed a Gen Z man in spring 2020 who moved from Washington, DC to North Carolina with his parents shortly after the pandemic hit the country. He told researchers he wasn’t going to date again until he moved back to DC.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESoul searching\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EA global Vice Media Group study from September 2020, Love After Lockdown, made up of 45% Gen Z respondents, showed 75% were currently single and not dating during the pandemic. Many reported this was in part because they wanted to take the solitary time to get to know themselves better before pursuing a partnership.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“I started thinking about myself, what I want to do and what I don't want to do… and it taught me a lot,” said an anonymous Gen Z man from Italy, quoted in the survey. A Gen Z woman based in the US echoed the sentiment: “I'm physically distant from everyone and I can take a step back and say, ‘Who am I?’”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOf course, this attitude may have developed from a lack of choice during lockdowns, rather than a Gen-Z proclivity for introspection. However, members of Gen Z from all over the world do have many more resources to figure out who they are, including social media apps like TikTok, where therapists discussing attachment styles and healthy relationship tips have become commonplace.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0bf98qz"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003ELee, for example, notes her younger sisters (in their first and second years of college, respectively) have developed in-depth language to talk about relationships through TikTok.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Teenagers are going around talking about their attachment styles to their romantic and sexual partners, using language like, ‘I’m an anxious attachment style,’” she says. This marks a very self-aware approach to dating that prioritises finding someone who makes sense for \u003Cem\u003Eyou\u003C\u002Fem\u003E, versus just someone you find attractive or interesting. While these priorities certainly aren’t unique to Gen Z, this generation have an easily accessible array of resources to more knowledgeably find a partner who fits them well, in ways that older generations might not have known to think about.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEvolving attitudes towards sexuality and gender roles are also a factor. Among Gen Z, there’s been a marked \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpsmag.com\u002Fideas\u002Fgen-z-the-future-is-non-binary\"\u003Edecrease in adhering to a gender binary\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and an increase in “people willing to explore their sexuality”, says Kuperberg. In her research, seen by BBC Worklife, she’s noted a statistic showing roughly 50% of Gen Z identify as heterosexual, and “\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210610-why-more-women-identify-as-sexually-fluid-than-men\"\u003Emany say they’re heteroflexible\u003C\u002Fa\u003E”. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis openness to different types of sexual partners and relationships recalls Arbit’s observations about Gen Z not necessarily looking for their “one and only”, but rather various people to fulfill different needs, whether these needs be romantic, sexual or something else entirely.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Our parents might have looked for someone of the same religion or the same political views,” says Arbit. “This generation is looking for honesty and passion and someone who makes them excited to get out of bed in the morning… compared to older generations, they’re open to dating different types of people and giving people a chance.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA mark of change\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis holistic approach to relationships differs dramatically from those embraced by much older generations.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ECoontz, of the Council on Contemporary Families, says when she was interviewing people for her book on women and families in the 1960s and asked women why they decided to get married, “they would look startled… and say, ‘It was just time’”, she recalls. “There was this sense back [then] that marriage was something you did to enter adult life… Now it’s the opposite.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex-6"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"While marriage used to be a passage into adulthood, today, it’s a mark you’ve already achieved it","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex-7"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EThis is a mark of change for Gen Z; while marriage used to be a passage into adulthood, today, it’s a mark you’ve already achieved it. Society’s been moving in this direction for some time, with each generation becoming more flexible with its ideas about a traditional family and its importance in their lives. Whether Gen Z are shaping society with these attitudes, or whether society is shaping Gen Z, is difficult to parse.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOf course, these patterns aren’t true across the board. Among college students, Kuperberg has found that a Gen Z person’s race, class, gender and religion can play a role in how they date and seek out relationships.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“White people are more likely to hook up. People of colour are more likely to form relationships or have more formal dates,” she says, adding that those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds are both more likely than other demographics to engage in casual sexual encounters and form long-term relationships – the latter likely because they “have more resources” to grant them stability.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhile many signs point to Gen Z delaying marriage or permanent partnerships like millennials before them, their reasons for this seem to come increasingly from a place of pragmatism. Sure, millennials have delayed marriage for practical reasons like fearing divorce (\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.businessinsider.com\u002Fhow-millennials-are-changing-marriage-divorce-weddings-prenups-2019-5#millennials-are-cohabitating-and-even-buying-homes-together-before-marriage-3\"\u003Emany grew up as children of divorce\u003C\u002Fa\u003E) and because \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nawrb.com\u002Fmillennials-are-delaying-marriage-because-they-cant-afford-it\u002F\"\u003Ethey can’t afford it\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. But Gen Z is inheriting an arguably even more uncertain world as the problems that plagued millennials (like climate change) become more acute and new ones (like the pandemic) arise. This might necessitate fostering individual stability as a number one priority for Gen Z even more so than their slightly older counterparts.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“We joke about who's going to get married first [in] our friend group,” says Lee, “like it's a funny thing that somebody would be engaged in their twenties.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex-8"}],"collection":["worklife\u002Fpremium-collection\u002Flovelife"],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2022-01-07T16:18:10Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"Are Gen Z more pragmatic about love and sex?","headlineShort":"Are Gen Z the most pragmatic about sex?","image":["p0bf98k1"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[{"Content":{"Description":"Apple News Publish: Select to publish, remove to unpublish. (Do not just delete or unpublish the story)","Name":"publish-applenews-system-1"},"Metadata":{"CreationDateTime":"2016-02-05T14:32:31.186819Z","Entity":"option","Guid":"13f4bc85-ae27-4a34-9397-0e6ad3619619","Id":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","ModifiedDateTime":"2022-02-27T22:52:24.455144Z","Project":"wwverticals","Slug":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1"},"Urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:option:option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","_id":"62b420921f4b7b5d34253c8b"}],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":["worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211101-why-demisexuality-is-as-real-as-any-sexual-orientation","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210326-ethical-non-monogamy-the-rise-of-multi-partner-relationships","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210507-asexuality-the-ascent-of-the-invisible-sexual-orientation"],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"Young people aren’t dating and having sex the same way past generations have. Is their approach to relationships more pragmatic?","summaryShort":"Why younger people aren't \"committed to being committed\"","tag":["tag\u002Fhow-we-live"],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2022-01-06T21:05:28.737331Z","entity":"article","guid":"807ad1c9-8a5f-4e52-b7aa-553fb338df5c","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex","modifiedDateTime":"2022-02-25T07:20:27.929972Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100262},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210525-are-we-heading-towards-a-summer-of-sex":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210525-are-we-heading-towards-a-summer-of-sex","_id":"62b420591f4b7b431505d80f","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":[],"bodyIntro":"Now that vaccines are rolling out, some are trumpeting plans to make up for a year of isolation. So, is a hedonistic summer in the offing? Not so fast, say experts.","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EOn a flight in April, one Twitter user \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.reddit.com\u002Fr\u002FBrandNewSentence\u002Fcomments\u002Fmlgz45\u002Fvaxxed_and_waxed_baby\u002F\"\u003Eoverheard a fellow flyer\u003C\u002Fa\u003E utter a sentence he’s likely never heard before: “Vaxxed and waxed, baby, I'm ready for some action on this trip.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAfter more than a year of social isolation during the pandemic, the sentiment may perfectly encapsulate the purported vibe of the coming months – a period in which people are swapping masks for a different kind of protection. Welcome to summer 2021: the summer of sex.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAlong with news headlines trumpeting a so-called '\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cnbc.com\u002F2021\u002F05\u002F22\u002Fyes-its-going-to-be-a-hot-vax-summer.html\"\u003Ehot vax summer’\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, some dating-app users have also adopted a not-so-subtle note in their bios that they're “vaXXXed”. This racy prediction for the summer is so widely held that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.buzzfeednews.com\u002Farticle\u002Fjuliareinstein\u002Fcovid-sex-summer-sti-std\"\u003Esome experts are even worried in a possible STI spike\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut, amid all of this hype, is a summer of sex actually going to happen? After all, in much of the world, Covid-19 is still running rampant, and during the pandemic, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20201203-why-the-pandemic-is-causing-spikes-in-break-ups-and-divorces\"\u003Esexual desire dropped in both singles and couples\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. The answer may not be a question of people exclusively running towards sexual fulfilment; rather, sex experts say that as more people get vaccinated and lockdowns lift, it's more likely people will re-enter society and seek \u003Cem\u003Eany\u003C\u002Fem\u003E kind of deep bond – not just sexual ones.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe sexy-summer narrative\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMany are touting the coming months as a kind of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wired.com\u002Fstory\u002Fthe-spit-swapping-roaring-20s-post-pandemic-summer-terrifies-me\u002F\"\u003Esecond incarnation of the 'Roaring Twenties'\u003C\u002Fa\u003E: a reference to the hedonistic period of party-filled excess that followed the last global pandemic, the 1918 Spanish flu. And indeed, signs are pointing toward a summer of passion.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor instance, a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.businessinsider.com\u002Famerica-is-getting-horny-and-brands-want-to-cash-in-2021-3\"\u003E\"deluge of horny adverts\"\u003C\u002Fa\u003E has begun to crop up, in which companies are using images of unbridled lust to pitch products, and frame the coming months as a season of sex. Dutch fashion brand Suitsupply promised “the new normal is coming”, with pictures of shimmering nude bodies tangled up with each other; similarly, Italy's Diesel ran a campaign of couples kissing passionately.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut adverts aren’t the only indication: consumer behaviour is signalling a Roaring Twenties-esque summer, too. In the US, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cnn.com\u002F2021\u002F04\u002F30\u002Fbusiness\u002Fcondoms-durex-trojan-sex\u002Findex.html\"\u003Econdom sales surged 23%\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in April, compared to the same period in 2020. Condom maker Durex \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fbusiness-56914003\"\u003Esays it saw double-digit boosts\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in sales in April, too, and attributes the spikes to restrictions lifting (the company says the same happened last summer when there was a period of eased social distancing).\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESome sex psychologists do say that it is indeed possible that rates of sex – especially casual sex – might go up this summer. One of the main reasons may be surprising: our collective trauma.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“When we're faced with our own mortality, we have a tendency to be riskier… we want to make the most of our lives,\" says Ashley Thompson, associate professor of psychology at the University of Minnesota, US, who specialises in human sexuality and behaviour. This is part of a concept she’s researched called “terror management theory”, which holds that death anxiety controls human behaviour. “That may lead to more casual sexual behaviour, to sort of combat those negative feelings of one’s own mortality.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAn unlikely scenario?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EStill, Thompson and other experts who study sex think that, despite some signals, the prediction of a large-scale, free-wheeling summer might be overblown.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“There is no doubt that there are people who are probably hesitant to jump back into bed,” she says. Even where sex isn't concerned, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fadaa.org\u002Fwebinar\u002Fconsumer\u002Fhow-overcome-covid-re-entry-anxiety\"\u003ECovid-19 “re-entry anxiety”\u003C\u002Fa\u003E has people fearful about what is and isn't totally safe, and stressed about \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fnewsbeat-56323453\"\u003Ebeing thrust back into social situations\u003C\u002Fa\u003E after we've been isolated for so long. A survey from the American Psychological Association from March showed that half of all Americans \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apa.org\u002Fnews\u002Fpress\u002Freleases\u002Fstress\u002F2021\u002Fone-year-pandemic-stress-conclusion\"\u003Efelt anxious about engaging\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in \u003Cem\u003Eany\u003C\u002Fem\u003E kind of in-person interaction.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EJustin Garcia, executive director of Indiana University's Kinsey Institute, the world's largest sex-research organisation, is also sceptical. Instead, he believes the most likely outcome is that \"we’re going to see a return to baseline of pre-pandemic life, and it’s not going to be this summer of debauchery”. In April, a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogs.iu.edu\u002Fkinseyinstitute\u002F2021\u002F04\u002F21\u002Fnew-study-on-post-pandemic-sex\u002F\"\u003Enew Kinsey survey showed\u003C\u002Fa\u003E that of 2,000 Americans, more than half said they were uninterested in one-night stands, and 64% were less interested in having more than one sex partner at a time, compared to before the pandemic.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESo, despite the prevailing narrative of hedonism, Garcia thinks it’s unlikely that people will rush headfirst back into partying. “There is a lot of grief and a lot of trauma,” he says. “There is still a lot of collective stress and anxiety to sort out in our social lives.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210525-are-we-heading-towards-a-summer-of-sex-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuote":"There is a lot of grief and a lot of trauma. There is still a lot of collective stress and anxiety to sort out in our social lives – Justin Garcia","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210525-are-we-heading-towards-a-summer-of-sex-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EAcademics also agree that pandemic-induced social anxiety could be a factor. Viren Swami, a professor of social psychology at Anglia Ruskin University, UK, who studies sexuality, recently wrote about how a “summer of love” \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftheconversation.com\u002Fdating-after-lockdown-why-you-shouldnt-expect-a-summer-of-love-160953\"\u003Eis unlikely\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, not least because many of us will \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210218-why-we-may-have-to-re-learn-to-socialise\"\u003Estill feel anxious about even being around other people in the same room\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, let alone the same bed. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHe says that although this summer might involve a lot of people seeking out safe sexual connections – like “putting up this syringe [emoji] on your Tinder profile” to show you've been vaccinated – it might be a summer more about people \"re-evaluating how and why we form relationships with other people”. That’s because after a year of hardship and mental-health strain, we’ll crave emotional connections with others, whether it's platonic or romantic – “almost like a ‘just in case’ – in case we have to go through this again”, he says.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAnd, anyway, the comparisons between summer 2021 and the Roaring Twenties may be off altogether. Popular wisdom is that in the aftermath of the similar emotional stresses people experienced during the 1918 Spanish flu, people flung themselves into work, spending – and each other. But there's no data to back up the idea that sexual activity spiked after the health crisis, so there’s no reason to think it would be the case this time.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“We weren't studying sex until the mid-1900s,” and even then, it was still a taboo topic to be researching, says Thompson. “When you think of these momentous events that could have impacted our sexual behaviour, we just didn't have the funding, the tools or the resources to be studying it at the time.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EPlus, a century ago, most people were not living a Great Gatsby-style life of decadent debauchery. They had other things on their minds than partying. “For the majority of the population, it was a time of poverty, it was a time of hardship,” says Swami. “It was a time of post-war building. It wasn't just people having fun and drinking and having sex.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe real takeaway\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs countries with highly vaccinated populations start to re-enter something looking like pre-pandemic life and intimacy, the experts say that we shouldn’t be focusing on a sex-soaked summer that may not even happen. Instead of talking about sexual activity in the short term, we should be talking more about how the pandemic has affected how we build relationships in the long term.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“I think people are going to invest more into people,” says Garcia. He thinks summer 2021 shouldn’t be thought of as the summer of sex, but as the “summer of sociality” – humans’ needs to be social and bond with one another.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210525-are-we-heading-towards-a-summer-of-sex-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210525-are-we-heading-towards-a-summer-of-sex-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EThere are already indicators that a shift toward sociality may be the case – even in unlikely places. For instance, traditionally sex-forward dating apps, such as Tinder and Hinge, added video-dating during the pandemic. While the addition was part of a survival strategy to keep people on the apps amid social distancing, video dating ended up becoming a medium to “get to know someone more before getting together”, says Thompson. “I don't think that's going to go away.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESo, instead of jumping to gratify sexual frustration, experts say this desire to connect before meeting up and possibly having a sexual encounter is an indicator that this summer will instead be marked by a reaction to prolonged loneliness. And addressing that loneliness by building meaningful relationships will be key to helping ourselves nurture our mental health, which took a massive hit during the pandemic.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt’s impossible to know what people will do individually. Some actually \u003Cem\u003Emay\u003C\u002Fem\u003E find themselves in their own summer of sex. But for most vaccinated individuals, it’s more likely they’ll simply come out of more than a year of restrictions with a new-found appreciation for deep, meaningful relationships. Ultimately, the coming months will likely mark a period of connection more than anything.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“I think people are looking for someone to hang out with on a porch for a few hours,” says Garcia. “The human animal is craving human emotional connection. And I think that doesn't necessarily mean just sex.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210525-are-we-heading-towards-a-summer-of-sex-4"}],"collection":[],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2021-05-27T00:00:00Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"Are we heading towards a summer of sex?","headlineShort":"Will this be the summer of sex?","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":[],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"Now that vaccines are rolling out, some are trumpeting plans to make up for a year of isolation. So, is a hedonistic summer in the offing? Not so fast, say experts.","summaryShort":"People are buzzing about a summer of casual encounters – so will it happen?","tag":[],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2021-05-26T19:54:15.509617Z","entity":"article","guid":"701f6fb5-1386-426c-81b2-28d340a7d57c","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210525-are-we-heading-towards-a-summer-of-sex","modifiedDateTime":"2022-02-25T07:08:49.160254Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210525-are-we-heading-towards-a-summer-of-sex","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100225},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210419-how-the-pandemic-has-changed-our-sex-lives":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210419-how-the-pandemic-has-changed-our-sex-lives","_id":"62b4206e1f4b7b525c5b5945","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":[],"bodyIntro":"The pandemic has taken a major toll on our sex lives. Why are our intimate relationships flagging – and could the damage be long lasting?","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EBefore the pandemic, many couples lived like “two ships passing in the night”, says Houston, Texas-based sex therapist Emily Jamea. Previously overscheduled with out-of-home commitments, some partners found that pandemic-related lockdowns offered a much-needed respite. Being stuck at home let them slow down and take more time for intimate moments together – at first.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Initially, the pandemic gave people the opportunity to… reconnect in a way that maybe previously they were only able to do on vacation,” says Jamea. As the pandemic wore on, however, it began to “take its toll” on intimate relationships, she says. “For the majority of couples, sexual desire kind of took a nosedive.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EStudies from around the world tell a similar story. Research conducted in \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nature.com\u002Farticles\u002Fs41443-020-00378-4\"\u003ETurkey\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.frontiersin.org\u002Farticles\u002F10.3389\u002Ffpsyg.2020.565823\u002Ffull\"\u003EItaly\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjournals.sagepub.com\u002Fdoi\u002Fpdf\u002F10.1177\u002F2631831820971900\"\u003EIndia\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.tandfonline.com\u002Fdoi\u002Ffull\u002F10.1080\u002F01490400.2020.1774016\"\u003Ethe US\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in 2020 all points to the decline in sex with partners as well as solo acts, directly attributed to lockdown. “I think a big part of the reason for that is because so many people were just too stressed out,” says Justin Lehmiller, social psychologist and research fellow at The Kinsey Institute, which conducted the US-based study.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor most, pandemic-induced lockdowns created an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear. Many experienced unprecedented health-related anxiety, financial insecurity and other significant life changes. Stress caused by these factors – not to mention the problems that arise from spending too much time with another person in a cramped, indoor space – contributed to the notable decline in partnered people’s sex lives.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn ways, the Covid-19 world has proven toxic for sexuality – so will we be able to snap back into our sexual selves after pandemic stress dissipates, or have our relationships suffered long-lasting damage?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA decline in desire\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs Jamea observed, many couples did enjoy a short boost in their sex lives at the beginning of lockdowns. Rhonda Balzarini, a social psychologist and assistant professor at Texas State University, US, describes this initial spike in sexual desire as a “honeymoon” phase, when people react more constructively to stress.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“During this phase, people tend to work together. It might be when you're going to your neighbour’s house and giving them toilet paper on the doorstep when they need it,” says Balzarini. “But then over time, as resources become more scarce, people become more stressed and the energy wears off, disillusionment and depression tend to set in. When that starts to happen is when we might be starting to see couples get in trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210419-how-the-pandemic-has-changed-our-sex-lives-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"As people reported increased pandemic-related stressors, they also reported decreased sexual desire for their partners","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210419-how-the-pandemic-has-changed-our-sex-lives-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EBalzarini \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpsyarxiv.com\u002Fnxkgp\u002F\"\u003Eobserved this pattern across participants, aged 18 and older,\u003C\u002Fa\u003E from 57 countries in a study she and colleagues conducted during the pandemic. At the pandemic’s onset, Balzarini and colleagues saw factors such as financial concern associated with higher sexual desire between partners. However, over time, as people reported increased pandemic-related stressors, including loneliness, general stress and Covid-19-specific worries, they also reported decreased sexual desire for their partners.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe big takeaway in this study, according to Balzarini, is the link among stress, depression and sexual desire. At the start of the pandemic, stressors might not have been “triggering depression” yet, she explains. But when those stressors became prolonged, people grew exhausted. Stress correlated with depression, and “depression negatively affects sexual desire”, she says.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to the everyday stressors brought on by the pandemic, the larger threat of the virus loomed, as death and hospitalisation rates increased across the globe. This ever-present danger certainly helped kill the mood for couples.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“You'll hear sex therapists say something along the lines of, ‘Two zebras won't mate in front of a lion’,” says Jamea. “If there's a massive threat right there, that sends a signal to our bodies that now's probably not a good time to have sex.” For that reason, “heightened stress leads to low desire or difficulty with arousal”, she says.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210419-how-the-pandemic-has-changed-our-sex-lives-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210419-how-the-pandemic-has-changed-our-sex-lives-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EToo much togetherness\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhile Balzarini heard about couples taking daytime showers or mid-afternoon swims together at the start of the pandemic, those sexier-than-normal experiences eventually “lost their allure”, she says. They gave way to mounting daily demands, like messier homes, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20201203-why-the-pandemic-is-causing-spikes-in-break-ups-and-divorces\"\u003Ecouples started to nit-pick each other\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ELehmiller describes this as the “overexposure effect”,which provides opportunities for “little habits your partner has to start to get on your nerves”. (Balzarini recalls someone telling her they never realised how loudly their partner chewed until they started eating every single meal together during lockdown.)\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis increased time together can also seriously dampen sexual excitement. “One of the keys to maintaining desire in a long-term relationship is having some sense of mystery about your partner and some distance,” says Lehmiller. “When you see each other all the time… the sense of mystery goes away.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESeparated from their pre-pandemic social and professional lives, people can also begin to lose their sense of self, which can affect sexual confidence and performance. Women especially have had to push careers to the side during the pandemic, as household chores, childcare and home-schooling demands have \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fworld-55016842\"\u003Edisproportionately fallen on them\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210419-how-the-pandemic-has-changed-our-sex-lives-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"When you see each other all the time… the sense of mystery goes away – Justin Lehmiller","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210419-how-the-pandemic-has-changed-our-sex-lives-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E“That was really, really hard for a lot of women,” says Jamea. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.co.uk\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210409-why-we-define-ourselves-by-our-jobs\"\u003E“[Careers] are such a big part of identity\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and we bring everything that we are into the bedroom. If we don't know who we are, all of a sudden, it can feel like there's nothing to bring.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECan we bounce back?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESex isn’t necessarily doomed, however. Researchers at the Kinsey Institute suggested one specific behaviour to improve couples’ sex lives: shaking things up. One in five study participants tried something new in bed, and it helped revive desire and intimacy.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“People who tried new things were much more likely to report improvements,” says Lehmiller. New activities that helped improve partners’ sex lives included “trying new positions, acting on fantasies, engaging in BDSM and giving massages”, per the study.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut for those in relationships where sexual activity dwindled over the past year and has not picked back up, will there be lasting damage? It depends, say experts.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESome may not recover “because they had such a prolonged… lack of connection”, says Lehmiller. His research also showed that some people cheated on their partners for the first time ever during the pandemic – an indiscretion that can be hard for partners to recover from. Others will continue to suffer from pandemic-related job losses as well as financial stressors that loom over relationships and can cause friction.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut, for many, there’s hope. With more people getting vaccinated, businesses are reopening, and some workers are returning to the office. “People are starting to fall back into their old routine,” says Jamea. She’s seeing the positive effects of this on couples in her practice.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAny sort of return to “normalcy” is a good indicator for partners whose struggles began during the pandemic. “It’s possible that some of these couples, once the pandemic is under control… will go back to the way that things were before,” says Lehmiller. “That stressor is now removed, and their sex lives will improve.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210419-how-the-pandemic-has-changed-our-sex-lives-6"}],"collection":[],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2021-04-23T16:28:31Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"How the pandemic has changed our sex lives","headlineShort":"How Covid-19 has changed sex","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":[],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"The pandemic has taken a major toll on our sex lives. Why are our intimate relationships flagging – and could the damage be long lasting?","summaryShort":"Lately, we’re having less sex – and the pandemic has a lot to do with it","tag":[],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2021-04-22T20:16:05.466914Z","entity":"article","guid":"e02748d6-fe11-4f2b-8537-4da901c509fa","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210419-how-the-pandemic-has-changed-our-sex-lives","modifiedDateTime":"2022-02-25T07:07:04.533797Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210419-how-the-pandemic-has-changed-our-sex-lives","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100225},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210610-why-more-women-identify-as-sexually-fluid-than-men":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210610-why-more-women-identify-as-sexually-fluid-than-men","_id":"62b420591f4b7b2942657447","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":["worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fjessica-klein"],"bodyIntro":"As definitions of sexuality change and expand, women’s orientations are becoming less rigid than men's. Why?","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAs we head into 2022, Worklife is running our best, most insightful and most essential stories from 2021. When you’re done with this article, check out our \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Fcolumns\u002Fbest-of-worklife-2021\u002F\"\u003Efull list of the year’s top stories\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe way we think about sexuality is changing. Where there was once a single, well-known rainbow pride flag, today, a wide array of colourful flags fly to showcase the diversity of orientations. People seem increasingly open to discussing their sexuality, and more unconventional, even \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210507-asexuality-the-ascent-of-the-invisible-sexual-orientation\"\u003Eformerly “invisible”\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, identities have become part of an increasingly mainstream discourse. With the open dialogue, sexual identities are becoming less rigid and more fluid.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut new data show that this shift is more prevalent in one group: in many countries, women are embracing sexual fluidity now at much higher rates than they have in the past, and more significantly than men are overall.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESo, what accounts for this discrepancy? Experts believe there are many factors that feed into this progression, especially changes in social climate that have let women break out of conventional gender roles and identities. With these new insights, however, the question remains: what does this mean for sexual fluidity in the future for all genders?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA notable shift\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESean Massey and his colleagues at the Binghamton Human Sexualities Research Lab in New York have been studying sexual behaviours for about a decade. In each of their studies, they asked participants to report their sexual orientation and gender. They’d never before looked at how that data changed over time – until Massey and colleagues recently realised they were sitting on a treasure trove of information about sexual attraction.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“We thought, gosh, we've collected this data for 10 years,” says Massey, an ssociate professor of women’s, gender and sexuality studies at Binghamton University. “Why don't we go back and look and see if there's been any trends?”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThey found that between 2011 and 2019, college-age women had \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftheconversation.com\u002Ffeminisms-legacy-sees-college-women-embracing-more-diverse-sexuality-159023\"\u003Eincreasingly moved away from exclusive heterosexuality\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. In 2019, 65% of women reported only being attracted to men, a notable decrease from 77% in 2011. The number of women exclusively having sex with men also dropped between those years. Meanwhile, men’s attraction and sexual behaviour stayed mostly static in the same time frame: about 85% reported sexual attraction to women only, and close to 90% reported engaging in sex exclusively with women.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210610-why-more-women-identify-as-sexually-fluid-than-men-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p09l3qf5"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"couple embracing with pride flag on hand","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210610-why-more-women-identify-as-sexually-fluid-than-men-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EOther surveys from around the world, including in \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002F29293516\u002F\"\u003Ethe UK\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002F19882423\u002F\"\u003Ethe Netherlands\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, present similar findings. Across the board, more women have been reporting more same-sex attraction, year-over-year, than their male counterparts.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPower and freedom\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“All of this is too complicated to pin on one thing,” says Elizabeth Morgan, associate professor of psychology at Springfield College in Massachusetts, US. But gender roles – and how they both have and have not changed – may be a significant factor.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMassey and his colleagues largely chalk up the notable change to cultural shifts, like the progress of feminism and the women’s movement, which both changed the socio-political landscape significantly over the past several decades. However, these changes affected men and women differently.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Progress has really been made around the female gender role and less around the male gender role,” says Massey. Though he doesn’t discount \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnews.gallup.com\u002Fpoll\u002F329708\u002Flgbt-identification-rises-latest-estimate.aspx\"\u003Ethe LGBTQ+ movement’s effect on people identifying as sexually fluid today\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, Massy believes feminism and the women’s movement play a role in why more women identify this way than men – especially as no equivalent men’s movement has enabled men to break out of historical, gender-based restrictions in the same way.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210610-why-more-women-identify-as-sexually-fluid-than-men-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"In 2019, 65% of women reported only being attracted to men, a notable decrease from 77% in 2011","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210610-why-more-women-identify-as-sexually-fluid-than-men-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E“Fifty years ago, you couldn’t have a life if you didn’t marry a man and settle down because he needed to provide for you,” adds Morgan. In that sense, eschewing exclusive heterosexuality could be seen as part of women breaking out of traditional gender roles. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMeanwhile, as women have been able to find more freedom, men’s gender roles have stayed relatively static as they continue to hold power in society. “[Men] need to uphold a very masculine gender role to maintain that power, and part of masculinity is heterosexuality,” says Morgan. Expressing same-sex interest could reduce that power. As Massey puts it, masculinity is a “fragile concept”. It can be “violated” by same-sex attraction.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESex coach and educator Violet Turning, 24, also points out the “fetishisation” of two women having sex or making out, specifically under the male gaze. It’s made same-sexual attraction between women more socially acceptable, albeit for the wrong reasons. Meanwhile, people seem to find notions of two men having sex far less palatable. A \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjournals.sagepub.com\u002Fdoi\u002F10.1177\u002F1948550619887785\"\u003E2019 study\u003C\u002Fa\u003E that looked at attitudes toward gay men and women in 23 countries found, across the board, that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjournals.sagepub.com\u002Fdoi\u002F10.1177\u002F1948550619887785\"\u003E“gay men are disliked more than lesbian women\u003C\u002Fa\u003E”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAn open dialogue\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EVenues for women to talk about their sexuality openly have also increased over time.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen Lisa Diamond, a psychology and gender studies professor at The University of Utah, US, began studying sexual fluidity in the early 1990s, her research focused on men. Many study participants, she says, came from gay support groups, with mostly male members, so men were “easier for researchers to find”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210610-why-more-women-identify-as-sexually-fluid-than-men-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p09l3q7r"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210610-why-more-women-identify-as-sexually-fluid-than-men-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EBut Diamond wanted to look at women’s sexuality. She began a study in which she checked in with 100 women about their sexual orientations and behaviours every two years over a decade. Her book, Sexual Fluidity: Understanding Women’s Love and Desire, was published in 2008. It discusses how for some women, love and attraction are fluid and can change over time. This was at odds with the previous line of thought that depicted sexual orientation as rigid – a view those studies Diamond had found looking at men only espoused.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAround the time her book was published, US celebrities who’d previously dated men, like Cynthia Nixon and Maria Bello, went public about experiencing same-sex attraction. Oprah Winfrey then asked Diamond to come on her show to talk about female sexual fluidity. The concept and practice had officially entered the mainstream dialogue.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAdditionally, Turning notes that language has evolved to recognise women as sexually non-binary. For example, Turning says her lesbian partner had a “Gay Straight Alliance” at her high school, around 2007. That phrasing encouraged a binary – members were either gay or straight, with no real options for those who might have identified somewhere in between – and no word that specifically embodied female sexuality, the ‘L’ left conspicuously out of the GSA acronym.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210610-why-more-women-identify-as-sexually-fluid-than-men-6"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"[Men] need to uphold a very masculine gender role to maintain that power, and part of masculinity is heterosexuality – Elizabeth Morgan","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210610-why-more-women-identify-as-sexually-fluid-than-men-7"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E“Now, it's like everybody has the option to identify as queer, because it’s so acceptable,” says Turning, who says that speech and terminology have evolved to include people of all genders – women included.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat’s the future of sexual fluidity?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESexual fluidity may be on its way to entering more masculine spaces. On TikTok, it’s become popular for young, straight men to play as gay in their videos. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F24\u002Fstyle\u002Ftiktok-gay-homiesexuals.html\"\u003ETheir mostly female followers enjoy it\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, according to a New York Times article about the trend. Regardless of whether or not these creators are truly comfortable playing as queer or doing it for clicks, this trend still suggests shifting attitudes toward masculinity, which may pave the way for more men to embrace sexual fluidity in the future.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESexually fluid women may also help pave the way. More women openly discussing their fluid orientations means more people discussing alternatives to rigid sexuality in general.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Our culture puts a lot of shame around sexuality,” says Diamond. “Anything that makes it easier, and more socially acceptable for people to reflect on their desires in a non-judgmental, non-shaming way,” she adds, has the potential to open up their sexual possibilities – or at least let them consider the idea of doing so.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“We need to start liberating men from compulsory heterosexuality [and] traditional masculinity,” adds Massey.  “And that may have a different result, or maybe have a similar result [to women] in terms of allowing more diversity in sexuality.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210610-why-more-women-identify-as-sexually-fluid-than-men-8"}],"collection":["worklife\u002Fpremium-collection\u002Flovelife"],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2021-06-15T14:57:04Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"Why more women identify as sexually fluid than men","headlineShort":"Why women are more sexually fluid","image":["p09l3q9z"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[{"Content":{"Description":"Apple News Publish: Select to publish, remove to unpublish. (Do not just delete or unpublish the story)","Name":"publish-applenews-system-1"},"Metadata":{"CreationDateTime":"2016-02-05T14:32:31.186819Z","Entity":"option","Guid":"13f4bc85-ae27-4a34-9397-0e6ad3619619","Id":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","ModifiedDateTime":"2022-02-27T22:52:24.455144Z","Project":"wwverticals","Slug":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1"},"Urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:option:option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","_id":"62b420921f4b7b5d34253c8b"}],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":["worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210525-are-we-heading-towards-a-summer-of-sex","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210507-asexuality-the-ascent-of-the-invisible-sexual-orientation","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210419-how-the-pandemic-has-changed-our-sex-lives"],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"As definitions of sexuality change and expand, women’s orientations are becoming less rigid than men's. Why?","summaryShort":"Why more women are embracing less rigid sexual identities – and men aren't","tag":["tag\u002Fhow-we-live"],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2021-06-14T20:00:05.248181Z","entity":"article","guid":"18a59e2e-9310-4c62-9fdd-82ddcf4c300d","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210610-why-more-women-identify-as-sexually-fluid-than-men","modifiedDateTime":"2022-02-25T07:09:40.075409Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210610-why-more-women-identify-as-sexually-fluid-than-men","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100222},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210623-the-darkest-side-of-online-dating":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210623-the-darkest-side-of-online-dating","_id":"62b420591f4b7b32e639999b","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":null,"bodyIntro":"There are lots of perks to online dating – but it has a worrying dark side that can leave some shaken.","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis piece is a text reversion of \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.co.uk\u002Fsounds\u002Fplay\u002Fw3ct1jfs\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003Ea Business Daily piece\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003Cem\u003E from BBC World Service, presented by Tamasin Ford and produced by Szu Ping Chan and Nisha Patel. Adapted by Meredith Turits.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDating apps were popular before the pandemic, but forced isolation caused them to boom.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETinder, the most downloaded dating app in the world, hit three billion swipes in a single day during March 2020 – and it's broken that record more than 100 times since then. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAlthough these apps have helped many people connect with other singles for years, some daters have raised alarm bells about the environment they breed. This is especially the case for women, who experience a disproportionate amount of harassment and abuse on the platforms, most often from straight men.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“The toughest elements for me involved being treated much like I was being used for free sex work,” says Shani Silver. “It doesn't feel good. It hurts.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESilver, a New York City-based writer and host of dating podcast A Single Serving, used dating apps for a decade. “I was often asked for a sexual favour before someone said hello, before someone told me their actual name. Most of what was happening in that world for me was dismissal – a lot of dismissal, a lot of being made to feel like I was of lesser value.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThese messages proliferate across platforms, and do affect both men and women. But women appear to be disproportionally affected. Data from a 2020 Pew Research Center study confirms that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pewresearch.org\u002Ffact-tank\u002F2020\u002F03\u002F06\u002Fyoung-women-often-face-sexual-harassment-online-including-on-dating-sites-and-apps\u002F\"\u003Emany women are experiencing some form of harassment on dating sites and apps\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Of woman online daters aged 18 to 34, 57% said they’d received sexually explicit messages or images they hadn’t asked for. This is even the case for \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pewresearch.org\u002Finternet\u002F2018\u002F09\u002F27\u002Fa-majority-of-teens-have-experienced-some-form-of-cyberbullying\u002F\"\u003Eteen girls aged 15 to 17, who report receiving these messages as well\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. A 2018 Australian study of dating-platform messages revealed that the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjournals.sagepub.com\u002Fdoi\u002Fabs\u002F10.1177\u002F0959353517720226\"\u003Esexist abuse and harassment does disproportionately affect women\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, targeted by straight men.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210623-the-darkest-side-of-online-dating-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"I was often asked for a sexual favour before someone said hello, before someone told me their actual name – Shani Silver","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210623-the-darkest-side-of-online-dating-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003ESome users also report psychological stress – and even more extreme experiences. A 2017 study from the Pew Research Center indicated \u003Ca href=\"C:\\Users\\philippafogarty\\Downloads\\2017%20Center%20survey\"\u003E36% of online daters found their interactions “either extremely or very upsetting”.\u003C\u002Fa\u003E Woman daters 18 to 35 in the 2020 Pew study also reported high occurrences of threats of physical harm – 19% (as compared to 9% of men). And, generally, one study showed cisgender heterosexual and bisexual \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffirstmonday.org\u002Fojs\u002Findex.php\u002Ffm\u002Farticle\u002Fview\u002F11637\u002F10101\"\u003Emen seldom expressed concerns about their personal safety\u003C\u002Fa\u003E while using dating apps, while women had far higher concern.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYouth-culture writer Nancy Jo Sales was so rocked by her experience on these platforms that she wrote a memoir about it: Nothing Personal: My Secret Life in the Dating App Inferno.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“These things have become normalised so quickly – things that are not normal, and should never be normal, like the amount of abuse that happens, and the risk and the danger of it, not only physical but emotional,” she says, citing her experiences. She cautions that not everyone on dating apps is having negative experiences, but there are enough who are that “we need to talk about the harm coming to people”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs this unnerving behaviour taints women’s experience on dating apps, why are interactions like these allowed to perpetuate? Part of the answer lies in the way these platforms are policed, both by the companies who make them as well as larger governmental structures. This means detrimental effects for their targeted users – and changing the situation may be an uphill battle. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAccountability?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere are some mechanisms in place to cut down on these problems.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETinder, for instance, has introduced machine learning to detect abusive messages and language, and then ask the writer to reconsider the message before sending it. In 2020, Bumble introduced AI to blur specific images and require user consent to view them. Some platforms have also introduced user verification, in which the platform matches the photos uploaded to a profile with a user-provided selfie (wherein the user is photographed doing a highly specific action, so the platform can verify the authenticity of the image). The measure is meant to help prevent \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20201125-te-romance-scammers-exploiting-lockdown-loneliness\"\u003Ecatfishing\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and abuse, since users can’t hide behind fake identities. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe effort is nice, and it’s “better than nothing – but I think we have a long way to go”, says Silver. Many \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.news.com.au\u002Ftechnology\u002Fonline\u002Finternet\u002Ffour-corners-tinder-ignored-reports-of-rape-as-offenders-exploit-dating-app\u002Fnews-story\u002F67421b447114a804d6f07c91140f5b17\"\u003Eusers agree\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. “The only thing that we have at our disposal is a block button. And while it’s there and you can block people, what we don't take into account is that in order to block someone, you have to experience the negativity of that action before you can block them,” she says.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210623-the-darkest-side-of-online-dating-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210623-the-darkest-side-of-online-dating-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EOne of the biggest user concerns is sexual violence that can occur when users meet up in person. Even though there is \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.researchgate.net\u002Fprofile\u002FAshley-Fansher-2\u002Fpublication\u002F334375787_Risky_Online_Dating_Behaviors_and_their_Potential_for_Victimization\u002Flinks\u002F5d261c98299bf1547caaab36\u002FRisky-Online-Dating-Behaviors-and-their-Potential-for-Victimization.pdf\"\u003Ean uptick of female dating-app users taking precautions\u003C\u002Fa\u003E such as charging their phones, or informing family and friends of their plans, daters remain vulnerable to sexual violence.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn 2019, the Columbia School of Journalism in New York City and news site ProPublica found that the Match Group, which owns around 45 dating apps, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.propublica.org\u002Farticle\u002Ftinder-lets-known-sex-offenders-use-the-app-its-not-the-only-one\"\u003Eonly screens for sex offenders on its paid-for apps\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, not free platforms like Tinder, OKCupid and Hinge. Those findings prompted US lawmakers to investigate in May 2021, after which they introduced a bill that would require dating platforms to enforce their rules designed to prevent fraud and abuse.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut there's a loophole in American internet law, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which dictates sites can't be held accountable for harm that comes to third parties through their platforms. That means that this multi-billion-dollar industry mostly isn’t held to task for abusive interactions, and it’s incumbent on the platforms to introduce measures such as the ones Tinder and Bumble have implemented. (BBC contacted six different online dating apps, but all declined to be interviewed for the piece.) \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESection 230 is controversial – and there are \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2021\u002F03\u002F25\u002Ftechnology\u002Fsection-230-explainer.html\"\u003Emany current calls to update or get rid of it altogether\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Many argue the rule, which originated in the 1990s, is outdated as platforms and how people use them have substantially evolved.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor now, says Sales, “it’s like the Wild West”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECan things get better?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ECurrently, users mostly aren’t protected beyond the screening measures each platform chooses to implement. Many, of course, are finding positive connections – and even lasting relationships. But, overall, daters are still using the platforms at their own risk, especially in countries without explicit protections.\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210623-the-darkest-side-of-online-dating-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"It’s like the Wild West – Nancy Jo Sales","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210623-the-darkest-side-of-online-dating-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EBeyond legal progress and corporate moves toward safety, there are also cultural changes that can make a difference, and help protect women and other daters on these platforms, both on and offline. Men have to be informed about how their actions are affecting the users with whom they communicate: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.tandfonline.com\u002Fdoi\u002Fabs\u002F10.1080\u002F13676261.2020.1858041\"\u003Emen dramatically underestimate the impact of their abuse\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Ingrained notions about gender roles and an often misogynistic social attitude must be dissolved for larger progress to take place – which also means women need to stop \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftheconversation.com\u002Ftinder-fails-to-protect-women-from-abuse-but-when-we-brush-off-dick-pics-as-a-laugh-so-do-we-147909\"\u003Eaccepting these kinds of interactions as the price of doing business\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, so to speak.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs for Silver, the abuse was enough. She quit the platforms, cold turkey, about two years ago. She hasn’t looked back. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“They had never given me anything good. So, why was I continuing to give them access to me, my life, my time, my money?” she says. “And when I asked myself that question, it really put things in perspective for me. That was the very first time that I had been able to delete them, and never even feel a small amount of desire to re-download.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“It sounds dramatic,” she adds, “but it's like I gained my life back.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210623-the-darkest-side-of-online-dating-6"}],"collection":[],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2021-07-01T14:04:35Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"The darkest side of online dating","headlineShort":"The darkest side of online dating","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":[],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"There are lots of perks to online dating – but it has a worrying dark side that can leave some shaken.","summaryShort":"There are lots of perks to online dating – but it has a worrying dark side","tag":[],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2021-07-01T22:52:57.93756Z","entity":"article","guid":"d15a83c5-7e4b-44ce-962d-617816af897b","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210623-the-darkest-side-of-online-dating","modifiedDateTime":"2022-02-25T07:10:28.494894Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210623-the-darkest-side-of-online-dating","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100227},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210830-why-getting-back-with-an-ex-is-so-compelling":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210830-why-getting-back-with-an-ex-is-so-compelling","_id":"62b4206c1f4b7b5281518f03","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":[],"bodyIntro":"You broke up, for good reasons. So why do so many former couples reunite further down the line?","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EEarlier this summer, 17 years after they split, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fentertainment-arts-58030649\"\u003EJennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck got back together\u003C\u002Fa\u003E – and triggered an internet avalanche of early 2000s nostalgia, glamorous celebrity intrigue and cultural analyses. They’re a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fculture\u002Farticle\u002F20210621-what-makes-the-ultimate-hollywood-power-couple\"\u003Epower couple\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and tabloids and Twitter users alike can’t look away.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut perhaps the most relatable reason regular people are so fascinated by what’s otherwise a celebrity-gossip story is that exes found love again.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor many, navigating ex-partners is a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.psychologytoday.com\u002Fus\u002Fblog\u002Fthe-psychology-relationships\u002F202012\u002Fwho-is-most-eager-get-back-together-ex\"\u003Ereality of romance\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. That reality can be negative – one filled with \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedium.com\u002Fhello-love\u002F5-reasons-why-getting-back-with-your-ex-is-a-terrible-idea-a063d42eeb95\"\u003Ecautionary tales\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bustle.com\u002Fp\u002Fwhat-to-do-when-your-ex-wont-leave-you-alone-post-breakup-according-to-experts-18780011\"\u003Eformer partners who can’t take a hint\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. But rebuilding a relationship can also be a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cosmopolitan.com\u002Fuk\u002Flove-sex\u002Frelationships\u002Fa12473891\u002Fgetting-back-with-an-ex\u002F\"\u003Etempting venture\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and even a goal for some people, especially when the success stories sound like something out of a fairy tale. Plus, research suggests the amount of couples who break up and get back together \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.sciencedaily.com\u002Freleases\u002F2013\u002F01\u002F130122122440.htm\"\u003Eis as high as 50%.\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe pandemic has even accelerated this process for some: amid a global health crisis and lonely, sexless lockdowns, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theatlantic.com\u002Ffamily\u002Farchive\u002F2020\u002F04\u002Fwhy-exes-are-reconnecting-coronavirus-quarantine\u002F610081\u002F\"\u003Emany people found themselves reaching out to an ex, hoping to find that old spark.\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EExperts say that, if both former partners are interested, pulling a ‘Bennifer’ of your own can yield positive benefits – if you’re willing to put in a lot of work, and have an open mind.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat draws people to exes\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOne of the biggest upsides of re-entering a former relationship is that you mostly know what you’re getting into. “There can be some real advantages to really knowing a partner well before giving a long-term relationship a try again,” says Michael McNulty, a couples therapist in Chicago and trainer at the Gottman Institute, an organisation that studies relationships and offers counseling.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMcNulty says every romantic relationship has “perpetual differences”. These are points of possible conflict, like navigating a shared living space, money, sex, kids, friends, family and more. Even happy couples have them, since a relationship is always fundamentally two different people with different personalities and worldviews.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210830-why-getting-back-with-an-ex-is-so-compelling-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210830-why-getting-back-with-an-ex-is-so-compelling-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EMcNulty says, according to Gottman Institute research, these perpetual differences make up \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gottman.com\u002Fblog\u002Fmanaging-vs-resolving-conflict-relationships-blueprints-success\u002F\"\u003E69% of the problems most couples face in a relationship\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Long-lasting, slow-burning issues are the real relationship poison – not big, explosive, single events or confrontations. “Most marriages or relationships end by ice instead of fire,” says McNulty. Some couples “find it too hard to talk about or work on differences around key problems. They often grow more distant, and [become] more like roommates than they are spouses or lovers.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThat’s why some people may want to get back together with an old partner, or to try and stick it out with their current one. Because while we often go into a new relationship expecting it’ll be better than the last, McNulty urges some caution: “If you’re in a relationship and you’re thinking about leaving, be careful, because you’re basically trading 69% of perpetual differences with one partner with 69% of perpetual differences for another.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESo if you get back with an ex, you at least already know what those perpetual differences are going to be. Getting into the groove of the relationship could feel like less hassle than meeting someone new and starting from scratch.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210830-why-getting-back-with-an-ex-is-so-compelling-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"People need to know what their irreconcilable issues were before, and really take an honest look at whether or not everything’s different now – Michael McNulty","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210830-why-getting-back-with-an-ex-is-so-compelling-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E“You’re picking up where you left off,” says Judith Kuriansky, relationship and sex therapist, and adjunct professor of psychology and education at Teachers College, Columbia University, in New York City. For some people, it feels “better to go back to someone that you kind of know something about, than someone you don’t know anything about”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECelebrating what’s changed\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAnother benefit to getting back with an ex is awareness of what’s changed in the time you’ve spent apart. You may be disadvantaged when dating someone brand new, because you’re not aware of how they might have grown and changed in a positive way over time. With an ex, you get more of a before-and-after snapshot. Kuriansky says one of the most common reasons for exes rebooting their romance is “feeling like they’ve grown and matured”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EViolette de Ayala is the Miami-based CEO of a women’s networking organisation called FemCity, who’s spoken publicly about how she remarried her ex-husband of 20 years in 2019. “When we started to date again, it was nice because we knew each other, but certain elements of us had changed,” she says. “We both worked on areas we needed to work on while apart, and we were in many ways ‘new’ to one another.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“The elements of ourselves that evolved made reconnecting a beautiful process while working through some of the pain from the break-up,” adds de Ayala. “He no longer took our relationship for granted. He started to get me thoughtful gifts, and will now stop randomly and share his love for me and appreciation. That didn’t exist the first time around.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EConversely, if you’ve spent a long time away from someone, get back together and find that you fall into the same toxic patterns as before with that person, that knowledge can be advantageous, too. Sensing that you’re going to run into the same headaches all over again could give you the foresight to avoid the same disaster twice.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Sometimes, with the wisdom of years and experiences in other relationships, people feel like, ‘oh gosh, maybe I can work through that gridlock issue we had’,” says McNulty. But he stresses the key is “people need to know what their irreconcilable issues were before, and really take an honest look at whether or not everything’s different now”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210830-why-getting-back-with-an-ex-is-so-compelling-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210830-why-getting-back-with-an-ex-is-so-compelling-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E‘Apocalyptic love and sex’\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBefore you start sliding into your ex’s DMs, ask yourself why you’re doing it – because plenty can go wrong.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhile one of the joys of getting back with an ex is the comfort or familiarity, Kuriansky says that longing for comfort can be misplaced, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.huffingtonpost.ca\u002Fentry\u002Freconnecting-exes-pandemic_ca_5e987ae8c5b6a92100e3c30d\"\u003Eespecially lately\u003C\u002Fa\u003E as we seem to live amid constant chaos. Last May, when lockdowns were rolling out, research from Indiana University’s Kinsey Institute, which studies sex and relationships, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lehmiller.com\u002Fblog\u002F2020\u002F5\u002F6\u002Fhave-you-reached-out-to-or-heard-from-an-ex-during-the-pandemic-youre-not-alone\"\u003Esuggested that as many as one in five people were texting their exes while in isolation\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210830-why-getting-back-with-an-ex-is-so-compelling-6"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"You’re picking up where you left off – Judith Kuriansky","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210830-why-getting-back-with-an-ex-is-so-compelling-7"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E“I call it ‘apocalyptic love and sex’,” she says. “Which is, ‘there ain’t no tomorrow, so I better settle’.” Kuriansky has studied romance during periods of disaster and terrorism, and says it’s common for people to reconnect with past lovers due to “the sense there could not be a tomorrow – now with Afghanistan, natural disasters everywhere, [people feel like] they’re living in a state of Armageddon”, so they want to go back to a person who at one time provided love and security.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETake a hard look at why you’re reaching out to an old flame. Is it because you’re trying to quiet anxiety from scary news headlines by seeking comfort from an old flame, and not because you actually miss the relationship and are willing to go through the very real effort of making it work? If it’s the latter, take that as a red flag.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EKuriansky also advises soliciting the feedback of friends and family before pursuing an ex. Many may react negatively, especially if the relationship ended badly. But the purpose of this exercise isn’t to invite judgment from loved ones; rather, they can bring you back down to Earth and remind you why the relationship was problematic.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Be prepared for other people’s opinions. Most people will say, ‘What? You’re getting back together? Are you kidding? Why?’ They’re going to bring up all those memories, so how are you going to deal with that?” says Kuriansky.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBe ready to confront those memories – not just with yourself and with your loved ones, but with your ex themselves, which can be the hardest part. “That is one piece that was rather challenging and we had to work through. Leaving the past in the past,” says de Ayala. “There is so much history that can be dragged up, but there has to be a mutual agreement that from here forward, forgiveness, communication and the feeling of [starting] anew” is what will carry the relationship further into the future, she says.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMany of us may find ourselves longing for a lost love. If we go about it in a realistic, healthy way, it could, possibly, work out – if both people are on the same page.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210830-why-getting-back-with-an-ex-is-so-compelling-8"}],"collection":[],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2021-09-02T21:36:52Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"Why getting back with an ex is so compelling","headlineShort":"Should you get back with an ex?","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":[],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"You broke up, for good reasons. So why do so many former couples reunite further down the line?","summaryShort":"The complex reasons we’re drawn to former partners","tag":[],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2021-09-01T22:04:22.784354Z","entity":"article","guid":"d62b4f5d-951b-493c-a426-dcba05abfa70","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210830-why-getting-back-with-an-ex-is-so-compelling","modifiedDateTime":"2022-02-25T07:13:50.148925Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210830-why-getting-back-with-an-ex-is-so-compelling","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100227},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220124-why-people-arent-as-picky-in-love-as-they-think":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220124-why-people-arent-as-picky-in-love-as-they-think","_id":"62b4205b1f4b7b2e471666ac","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":["worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fbryan-lufkin"],"bodyIntro":"We assume we choose our life partners very carefully – but research shows we may be less selective in love than we think.","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EFinding a life partner is considered a major milestone – one that requires deliberation and careful assessment. We want someone whose long-term plans match our own: someone to whom we’re attracted, someone with whom we feel comfortable sharing our home, finances and, maybe, children. This person is our \u003Cem\u003Elife\u003C\u002Fem\u003E partner, after all – naturally, we assume we’ll take care with the decision.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut it turns out we may be less selective about whom we spend our lives with than we think. Research shows hidden biases mean we’ll give people a chance, even if they don’t quite meet our criteria.  And when we do pick a partner, we’re driven by a psychological tendency called “progression bias” to stay in the relationship, rather than end it.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn other words, we’re hard-wired to be in a romantic relationship, say psychologists, despite trends among young people to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2021\u002F10\u002F20\u002Fopinion\u002Fmarriage-decline-america.html\"\u003Eshun marriage\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in favour of a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex\"\u003Ecalculated approach to singlehood\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Yet, even as the combination of evolutionary instincts and societal pressures steer us towards the coupled life, being aware of our progression bias could help us understand why we pick the partners we do – and why we stay with them.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220124-why-people-arent-as-picky-in-love-as-they-think-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0bk1j5t"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220124-why-people-arent-as-picky-in-love-as-they-think-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHead over heels\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe’re conditioned to think of dating as a rigorous vetting process; a 2020 Pew Research Center study showed \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pewresearch.org\u002Fsocial-trends\u002F2020\u002F08\u002F20\u002Fnearly-half-of-u-s-adults-say-dating-has-gotten-harder-for-most-people-in-the-last-10-years\u002F\"\u003E75% of Americans\u003C\u002Fa\u003E describe finding people to date as ‘difficult’. Young people are also taking longer to settle down; as well as prioritising financial stability, they are \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2018\u002F05\u002F29\u002Fwell\u002Fmind\u002Fmillennials-love-marriage-sex-relationships-dating.html\"\u003Etaking more time to get to know each other\u003C\u002Fa\u003E before getting married than other age groups.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut Samantha Joel, assistant professor of psychology at Western University, Canada, and Geoff MacDonald, professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, argues people aren’t as choosy about their partners as they may think. In July 2020, they published their \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjournals.sagepub.com\u002Fdoi\u002Ffull\u002F10.1177\u002F10888683211025860\"\u003Etheoretical review paper\u003C\u002Fa\u003E summarising the ways progression bias pushes people to begin and maintain relationships with less discretion than they assume. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETheir findings were twofold: first, there is substantial evidence from multiple studies suggesting people are far less selective when picking people to date than they think. People are drawn to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpsycnet.apa.org\u002Frecord\u002F2007-18263-009\"\u003Ea much broader range\u003C\u002Fa\u003E of potential partners than they realise; they’re willing to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjournals.sagepub.com\u002Fdoi\u002Fabs\u002F10.1177\u002F0956797614552828\"\u003Eadjust their standards and overlook\u003C\u002Fa\u003E potential partners’ flaws; and they also end up \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpsycnet.apa.org\u002Frecord\u002F2012-33253-008\"\u003Egrowing quickly attached\u003C\u002Fa\u003E to these potential mates, even if they may not necessarily be their ideal partners.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor example, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjournals.sagepub.com\u002Fdoi\u002Fabs\u002F10.1177\u002F0956797614552828\"\u003Ein one experiment\u003C\u002Fa\u003E Joel and MacDonald conducted, they found that most university students reported that they’d reject potential matches who were either unattractive, or possessed a trait the respondents considered ‘a dealbreaker’, in a hypothetical match-making situation. But those figures plummeted when that match-making scenario was presented as being \u003Cem\u003Ereal\u003C\u002Fem\u003E and not hypothetical – suggesting that the students were far less romantically selective than they purported to be, and that they overestimated their willingness to reject others.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe second takeaway from Joel and MacDonald’s paper is that, as well as being less choosy about dating than people think, they’re inclined to remain in relationships and try to progress them, rather than end them. The academics point to studies showing that ending a relationship \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpsycnet.apa.org\u002Frecord\u002F2019-61845-004\"\u003Eis more painful\u003C\u002Fa\u003E the longer you’ve been emotionally attached; that separating is more off-putting \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpsycnet.apa.org\u002Frecord\u002F2010-18422-005\"\u003Ethe more logistically entwined you are\u003C\u002Fa\u003E with your partner through factors like marriage and finances; and that married couples receive more cultural benefits (such as finding it \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjournals.sagepub.com\u002Fdoi\u002Ffull\u002F10.1177\u002F10888683211025860\"\u003Eeasier to rent property\u003C\u002Fa\u003E) than other people.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220124-why-people-arent-as-picky-in-love-as-they-think-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"The dark side is that sometimes people stay in relationships where they should get out – Robert Levenson","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220124-why-people-arent-as-picky-in-love-as-they-think-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EProgression bias, explains Joel, is similar to psychological tendencies people show in other non-relationship spheres: the sunk-cost fallacy (not wanting to throw something away you’ve already invested heavily in); the status quo bias (opting to maintain the current state of affairs instead of disrupting it and causing discomfort); and satisficing instead of maximising (settling for “good enough” rather than holding out for the optimal ideal). And this bias towards picking a partner is likely fuelled by two factors: evolution and cultural norms.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMillions of years ago, being overly picky would have prevented our ancestors from finding mates. And staying with mates long-term was evolutionarily advantageous: it meant children would have two parents instead of one, increasing the chances of the offspring’s survival.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThese behaviours can still be found in us today, says Alec Beall, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of British Columbia, who studies evolution and the psychology of dating and attraction. “Even though some advantages of long-term romantic relationships are not as critical today as they were in our prehistoric past, these selection pressures still have a lasting effect on our modern behaviour,” says Beall.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere’s also the cultural aspect. “Western culture prizes marriage as being the most important kind of close relationship, with getting married being treated as a personal achievement or an indicator of maturity,” explains Joel. “There is social status that comes along with being married, and that may incentivise people to settle down regardless of who they are currently with, or what the quality of that relationship may be.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220124-why-people-arent-as-picky-in-love-as-they-think-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0bk1jnb"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220124-why-people-arent-as-picky-in-love-as-they-think-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EIdeals around romance may also play into our behaviours: a 2021 YouGov survey of 15,000 Americans found that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftoday.yougov.com\u002Ftopics\u002Frelationships\u002Farticles-reports\u002F2021\u002F02\u002F10\u002Fsoulmates-poll-survey-data\"\u003E60% of adults believe in soul mates.\u003C\u002Fa\u003E This fairy-tale mindset can be quite damaging; Joel says researchers call this line of thinking ‘destiny beliefs’, and it can be part of the reason many of us tend toward progression bias. “It’s often not too difficult to convince yourself that the person you’re currently dating is, in fact, your soul mate,” says Joel.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStriking a balance\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOur innate tendency to persist with relationships can potentially be beneficial, because it means committing to a partner to tackle any problems.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“As time passes, you start to develop that relationship history, that narrative about the things you’ve done together and, particularly, the things you’ve overcome,” says Robert Levenson, professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, who’s studied long-term relationships. That is “all positive, and keeps you in the relationship even when things get a little rocky”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EUnawareness of progression bias can also lead people down the wrong path, causing them to stay with someone who’s a bad match. “The dark side is that sometimes people stay in relationships where they should get out,” says Levenson.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe’re also living in a modern age with infinitely more choice. “Even though humans may have developed a progression bias to suppress choosiness during our evolutionary past, doesn’t mean it’s always the best idea to adhere to its whims in an era when most of us will encounter significantly more than 500 people in our entire lifetime,” says Beall. “It's important to find a balance. Don’t settle for just anyone, but also don’t spend your entire life waiting to find that perfect person who ticks all the boxes – evolutionarily, that person is unlikely to even exist,” he says.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn the end, though, how picky you are may not be as important as regularly taking stock of the relationship once you’re in it, suggest experts. If you’re unhappy but aren’t doing anything about it, recognise you may be falling victim to progression bias.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“We found that the best predictors of relationship quality, by far, were how people felt about various aspects of the relationship itself,” says Joel. It’s not about the partner you choose, but the partnership that you build. “Maybe it’s not that helpful to search and search for a partner who looks good on paper. But it \u003Cem\u003Eis \u003C\u002Fem\u003Ehelpful, once dating someone, to look for early signs that the relationship is turning out to be healthy and supportive.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220124-why-people-arent-as-picky-in-love-as-they-think-6"}],"collection":["worklife\u002Fpremium-collection\u002Flovelife"],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2022-01-28T00:00:00Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"Why people aren't as picky in love as they think","headlineShort":"Why people settle for romantic partners","image":["p0bk1hpl"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[{"Content":{"Description":"Apple News Publish: Select to publish, remove to unpublish. (Do not just delete or unpublish the story)","Name":"publish-applenews-system-1"},"Metadata":{"CreationDateTime":"2016-02-05T14:32:31.186819Z","Entity":"option","Guid":"13f4bc85-ae27-4a34-9397-0e6ad3619619","Id":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","ModifiedDateTime":"2022-02-27T22:52:24.455144Z","Project":"wwverticals","Slug":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1"},"Urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:option:option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","_id":"62b420921f4b7b5d34253c8b"}],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":["worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210623-the-darkest-side-of-online-dating","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210830-why-getting-back-with-an-ex-is-so-compelling"],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"We assume we choose our life partners very carefully – but research shows we may be less selective in love than we think.","summaryShort":"The surprising truth about how we pursue relationships","tag":["tag\u002Fhow-we-think"],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2022-01-28T01:35:49.92582Z","entity":"article","guid":"e64cebdd-88a9-44f8-acc3-3560c5891c57","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220124-why-people-arent-as-picky-in-love-as-they-think","modifiedDateTime":"2022-02-28T15:13:48.239617Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220124-why-people-arent-as-picky-in-love-as-they-think","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100261},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex","_id":"62b4205b1f4b7b45b109263a","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":["worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fjessica-klein"],"bodyIntro":"Alcohol has long been a player in getting people together, but an increasing number of daters are trying romance without ‘liquid courage’.","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003ENaomi Bridgman started ‘dry dating’ by accident. During UK lockdowns amid Covid-19, “the usual route of going to a pub… was no longer an option”, says the 30-year-old social-service worker, from Sheffield. She and many other singles had to get “inventive” with their dates, opting for sober activities, like walks in the park.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENow that many pubs have re-opened their doors, however, Bridgman still prefers to avoid them for first dates. She’s cut down her alcohol consumption in general since the beginning of the pandemic, and says she’s happier dating without drinking. “I found myself feeling like I had more meaningful connections with people when at least the first date was sober,” she says. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor some singles, dry dating has become increasingly appealing amid the pandemic. According to a 2022 trends survey by dating app Bumble, seen by BBC Worklife, 34% of UK users said they’re more likely to go on a sober date now than they were before the pandemic, with 62% saying they think they’d “form a more genuine connection” on an alcohol-free date, and 54% aiming for more “mindful and intentional” dating. In May 2020, Canadian dating service Plenty of Fish surveyed 2,000 single adults in the UK, and found that 83% said they’d be “open” to trying a “dry date”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere are several reasons alcohol-free romance is piquing interest in a new way. Many people re-evaluated their wellness habits during lockdown, lessening their drinking, or even taking it off the table entirely. As a new frontier of sober dating and sex emerges – taking the place of alcohol as the once ‘necessary’ component of getting to know someone – the way people form and maintain relationships may be changing along with it.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA rise in creative dating\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ELike Bridgman, many people stumbled into sober dating out of necessity, due to Covid-19 restrictions. “I don’t think sober dating started as an intention, but rather became a result of the current pandemic,” Russ Ross\u003Cstrong\u003E, \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003Ea dating coach at The Social Collective in Sydney, Australia, says of the sober daters he has encountered during the past two years. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut the trend towards “sober curiosity” has been increasing throughout the past several years, says Laura Silverman, who writes about the “booze-free lifestyle” with the blogs Booze Free in DC (based in Washington, DC, US) and Zero Proof Nation.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0bn2r1s"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"portrait","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EShe credits this in part to campaigns like Dry January, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.today.com\u002Fhealth\u002Fdry-january-what-it-what-are-benefits-women-t146331\"\u003Estarted in 2012\u003C\u002Fa\u003E by the charity Alcohol Change UK, and the influence of Ruby Warrington’s 2018 book, Sober Curious, in which the author questions her relationship with alcohol, even though she doesn’t identify as an alcoholic. Rather, Warrington wanted to experience her life sober to discover the possible benefits. She found herself feeling less anxious, more present and better able to connect with others.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThese perks have been increasingly appealing to people who may have found themselves drinking too much during the pandemic, or otherwise reevaluating their priorities while in lockdown. “I’ve absolutely noticed that these past two plus years … have drastically changed the playing field for dating, for socialising, for spending time with oneself,” says Silverman, 38. “People who would drink a bottle of wine on their own before, maybe now they’re having… a CBD beverage.” \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAlongside this new interest in sober socialisation, Silverman says the non-alcoholic beverage industry has boomed during the past two years. Along with tens of new brands emerging across the globe as well as new alcohol-free products launching from existing manufacturers, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.businessinsider.com\u002Fbeverage-analysts-predict-non-alcoholic-spirits-to-grow-in-2022-2021-11\"\u003Enon-alcoholic beverage sales increased 33% to $331 million\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in the US, between November 2020 and November 2021. Some forecasters expect the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fiormarkets.com\u002Freport\u002Fnon-alcoholic-beverages-market-by-type-rtd-coffee-419449.html\"\u003Eglobal non-alcoholic beverage market to reach into the billions\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in coming years. Additionally, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20190510-can-you-have-any-fun-at-a-bar-with-no-booze\"\u003Enon-alcoholic bars\u003C\u002Fa\u003E are also growing, such as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fdenverite.com\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F23\u002Fawake-the-first-sober-bar-in-denver-is-all-about-partying-without-drinking\u002F\"\u003EDenver, Colorado’s Awake bar,\u003C\u002Fa\u003E which launched in 2021, despite Covid-19 generally putting a dent in brick-and-mortar businesses.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOverall, the pandemic has played a part in moving many people away from thinking of alcohol as the default ‘anchor’ of a first date activity, says Ross. “Due to the lockdown restrictions, all singles could really do was go on walks. So, the traditional thinking of meeting for a first date shifted from dinner and drinks to bushwalks, trails walks, dog walks and any other socially distanced outdoor activity.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"We think we need liquid courage to have fun sex or be adventurous in bed, but it's really hindering our ability to feel our feelings and… physical touch – Tawny Lara","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EThe movement away from alcohol-centric dating has spurred “the start of very creative first dates”, he adds. “One woman in our market told us that she had organised an afternoon online cook-off with her potential date. They agreed on a dish, cooked it together over Zoom and then had lunch together while they chatted and got to know each other.” He also saw people co-watch movies (remotely) and take online painting classes together.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThese types of dates, says Ross, also tend to make more sense as daytime activities, “which almost removed the expectation of alcohol and drinks”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGetting past the anxieties\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor many sober daters, however, transitioning from dates with social lubrication to those without any ‘Dutch courage’ hasn’t necessarily been easy. Removing alcohol from romantic situations can raise anxiety levels for some people, and even open them up to judgement from those who do drink.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOnce they bypassed the initial awkwardness, though, sober daters who spoke with BBC Worklife expressed significant improvements in their dating life. Several mentioned being “more conscious” during dates, and being able to more efficiently evaluate whether the person was right for them, instead of moving through an otherwise unfit relationship with the assistance of rosy ‘beer goggles’. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“People think that drinking makes them more confident,” says London-based Caggie Dunlop, 32. But after sober dating a few times, she became “far more confident” because she wasn’t relying on any substance to try and present “the best version” of herself. “You are who you are and that’s it,” she says.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen Tawny Lara, 36, a writer and podcaster based in New York City, stopped drinking about six years ago, “even just mingling without alcohol scared the hell out of me, let alone having sex”, she says.  She found herself anxious, worried potential partners would judge her for not drinking.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EToday, however, Lara is a happily sober dater and sexual partner. “We think we need liquid courage to have fun sex or be adventurous in bed,” she says, “but it's really hindering our ability to feel our feelings and… physical touch.” Now, she’s known as the “sober sexpert” (a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.sobrieteaparty.com\u002Fabout\u002F\"\u003Enickname she got from Warrington\u003C\u002Fa\u003E) for the advice she doles out on sober dating and sexual encounters. Plenty of people are feeling similarly, she says – messages seeking her advice have increased big-time since the pandemic, and she’s recently brought on an assistant to help manage the new volume of communication.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0bn2r5g"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"square","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003ESince sober dating has become more common since the pandemic – and with the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmorningconsult.com\u002F2022\u002F01\u002F10\u002Fdry-january-movement-grows-in-2022\u002F\"\u003Ewide embrace of sobriety-focused campaigns like Dry January\u003C\u002Fa\u003E – “a lot more people are open to [dry dates],” Bridgman has discovered. And finding them is easier; multiple dating apps let users specify their drinking habits upfront, like Bumble, which \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bustle.com\u002Fwellness\u002Fbumble-sober-badge-drinking-options\"\u003Ehas a badge\u003C\u002Fa\u003E users can put on their profiles to signify they’re not drinking.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“In terms of navigating my options going forward, that's a really useful tool,” says Bridgman. For her, if someone isn’t up for a dry date, “that answers my question on whether I think there'll be a connection there or not”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe changing shape of dating?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs life in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic edges closer to some semblance of “normal”, it’s likely that many who’d been forced to consider sober dates during lockdowns will return to the bars for first meetings. But others may have had their perspectives on dating change more permanently.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“If anything, I think this unexpected change to alcohol-free dating has shifted our outlook from a culture of disposable dates and regrettably drunk ‘hook ups’ to one of potential connection,” says Ross. Singles reported to The Social Collective that dry dating resulted in less pressure to get physical during dates, better conversations, greater trust and an increased likelihood in second and third dates.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe youngest generation of daters may already be primed to embrace the clarity and focus on meaningful connections that come with sober dating. A 2018 report from Berenberg Research found that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.businessinsider.com\u002Fmillennials-gen-z-drag-down-beer-sales-2018-2\"\u003EGen Z was drinking alcohol 20% less per capita than millennials\u003C\u002Fa\u003E at their age.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAnecdotally, Lara has noticed younger people drinking less, too. “It’s honestly so inspiring,” she says. Even before the pandemic, many people who messaged her for advice on being sober while starting relationships were in their early 20s. She chalks this up to Gen Z being both more focused on interacting online as opposed to physical watering holes and the “globalisation of mindfulness”, wherein Eastern practices like meditation and yoga have migrated West.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMore mindful dating has been a big improvement for Bridgman, who’s realised that she doesn’t “need the kind of encouragement” alcohol provides to put her best self forward on dates. She also could do without the next day fog, which clouds her perception of how well the date the night before actually went. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“I think I take dating a little bit more seriously now,” she says. “Going into it on a drunken first date isn't the right method for me.”  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex-6"}],"collection":["worklife\u002Fpremium-collection\u002Flovelife"],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2022-02-11T12:33:09Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"Dry dating: The rise of sober love and sex","headlineShort":"The rise of sober dating and sex","image":["p0bn2qzq"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[{"Content":{"Description":"Apple News Publish: Select to publish, remove to unpublish. (Do not just delete or unpublish the story)","Name":"publish-applenews-system-1"},"Metadata":{"CreationDateTime":"2016-02-05T14:32:31.186819Z","Entity":"option","Guid":"13f4bc85-ae27-4a34-9397-0e6ad3619619","Id":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","ModifiedDateTime":"2022-02-27T22:52:24.455144Z","Project":"wwverticals","Slug":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1"},"Urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:option:option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","_id":"62b420921f4b7b5d34253c8b"}],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":["worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210610-why-more-women-identify-as-sexually-fluid-than-men","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220124-why-people-arent-as-picky-in-love-as-they-think"],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"Alcohol has long been a player in getting people together, but an increasing number of daters are trying romance without ‘liquid courage’.","summaryShort":"Why so many people are choosing to go alcohol-free on dates","tag":["tag\u002Fhow-we-live"],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2022-02-10T20:56:25.749448Z","entity":"article","guid":"302b50e7-13c2-46e1-b934-9f9645062d5b","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex","modifiedDateTime":"2022-02-25T07:22:23.560674Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100265},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220523-the-couples-taking-relationship-gap-years":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220523-the-couples-taking-relationship-gap-years","_id":"62b4205c1f4b7b2942657455","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":["worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fkatie-bishop"],"bodyIntro":"An increasing number of married couples are spending planned time apart. Does absence make the heart grow fonder?","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003ELike many couples, Viva and her husband John had spent more than enough time with each other during the pandemic. Viva, who is 40 and originally from the Philippines, but lives in the UK, longed to spend time with her family when restrictions lifted, while John had work commitments at home.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut John had a suggestion.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERather than either of them compromising on how they wanted to spend their time post-lockdowns, why not spend it apart? The couple were also healing from miscarriage, and they thought a breather could be good for them.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAt first, Viva was unsure. She hadn’t been away from John for a prolonged period since they were married seven years earlier. But she was eventually convinced – and she hasn’t looked back. The couple are now three months into a planned separation, which Viva has spent in Manila with family. John has been able to visit his own family in Ireland, take work trips and is planning a vacation in Denmark.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESome people might think choosing to spend so much time apart would be the death knell of a relationship, but Viva and John have found that it has reinvigorated their marriage. “We keep in touch every day, through WhatsApp, Facebook and email,” says Viva. “It’s like going back to how it was at the start of our relationship.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EViva isn’t the only one looking for a way out of her marriage, at least temporarily. Some counsellors and relationship therapists report \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Flifeandstyle\u002F2022\u002Fapr\u002F23\u002Fnifty-ways-to-leave-a-lover-temporarily-how-a-gap-year-could-save-your-marriage\"\u003Ecoming across couples\u003C\u002Fa\u003E that don’t see a desire to sample a new life without their partner as a sign that a relationship is over. Instead, some are choosing to take a so-called relationship ‘gap-year’, to give them the space to explore different interests, travel experiences and – in some cases – sexual partners.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut can a gap-year really strengthen a relationship, or is it a sign that couples are on course for a split?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPutting yourself first\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ELong-term relationships inevitably come with a certain amount of restriction. They might mean committing to staying in a certain city, compromising on some of your wants and ambitions and remaining sexually monogamous.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYet this doesn’t have to be the case. In a world where relationships are becoming \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220301-does-solo-polyamory-mean-having-it-all\"\u003Eincreasingly varied\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, some are deciding to write their own rules.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220523-the-couples-taking-relationship-gap-years-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"We figured it would probably be the last chance for us to do that sort of thing alone, and both were dreams that we didn’t want to let go of – Marc","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220523-the-couples-taking-relationship-gap-years-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E“Couples might choose to take a relationship gap-year because of job opportunities, a desire to live in a location that they have always dreamed of that is away from the home, or pursuit of personal interests,” says Marisa T Cohen, a relationship scientist and psychology professor who works as a researcher at dating app Hily. “People are most likely to take a pause in a relationship when going through a transition, such as changing jobs or becoming empty nesters.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe idea of taking time apart during a period of transition certainly resonates with Marc and his wife Sam, who took a relationship gap when they were 31 and 32, respectively. While, for most couples, getting married means starting a great adventure together, Marc and Sam, who are both based in London, decided that they wanted to begin their honeymoon apart. Marc wanted to pursue his passion for marine biology, while Sam wanted to train as a yoga instructor. The newlyweds decided to take several months away from their relationship: Sam at an ashram in India, and Marc at a shark-research station in the Bahamas.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“We figured it would probably be the last chance for us to do that sort of thing alone, and both were dreams that we didn’t want to let go of,” says Marc. “It gave us the time to really think about each other, and reflect on what marriage meant to us.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe couple are now back together and remain happily married, and Marc argues his time away from Sam strengthened their relationship. Sam was able to jumpstart a career integrating clinical psychology and yoga therapy, and he was able to fulfil his dream of working with sharks, while also putting to bed his fantasy of switching fields full-time.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt meant neither of them had any lingering sense of ‘what-if’ in their fledgling marriage, and that they were confident they could survive periods apart. “Marriage isn’t about letting go of the things that you feel passionate about, but about finding someone you can support – and be supported by – to pursue those passions,” says Marc.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220523-the-couples-taking-relationship-gap-years-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0c8j2zc"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220523-the-couples-taking-relationship-gap-years-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy relationship gap-years might be on the rise\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMarc is not alone in seeing marriage as a place where individual passions and interests can still thrive. This outlook may play an important role in why relationship gap-years could be becoming more common.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EResearch shows individualism – defined as seeing independence and uniqueness as important traits – has been \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjournals.sagepub.com\u002Fdoi\u002Ffull\u002F10.1177\u002F0956797617700622\"\u003Eglobally on the rise\u003C\u002Fa\u003E since at least the 1960s. People who are individualistic tend to place greater importance on friendships compared to family, and think it is important to prioritise self-expression. These traits might make the idea of taking a break from a relationship to focus on personal goals, ambitions or interests more appealing. It means traditional constructions of long-term relationships or marriages as places of compromise and self-sacrifice might be becoming less appealing to some people.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere’s also the fact that many people are increasingly approaching relationships with greater flexibility as well as a much broader definition of what a successful marriage or partnership looks like.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EA rising number of people are now engaging in unconventional relationship structures, with arrangements such as consensual \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fifstudies.org\u002Fblog\u002Fnational-survey-reveals-generational-differences-in-consensual-nonmonogamy-\"\u003Enon-monogamy\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220401-plps-platonic-life-partnerships\"\u003Eplatonic life partners\u003C\u002Fa\u003E becoming more commonplace. With data showing millennials are driving a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fifstudies.org\u002Fblog\u002Fthe-us-divorce-rate-has-hit-a-50-year-low#:~:text=Divorce%20in%20America%20has%20been,have%20seen%20in%2050%20years.\"\u003Edeclining divorce rate\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in the US, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Ffuture\u002Farticle\u002F20160623-polyamorous-relationships-may-be-the-future-of-love\"\u003Esome experts\u003C\u002Fa\u003E speculate that tolerance for a broader spectrum of relationships – including ones where couples take time apart from each other – could actually be keeping couples together.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERather than leaving a relationship where people feel unhappy or unfulfilled, they can instead adapt it to suit the needs of both partners. “If both partners are on the same page, then taking a gap can lead to relationship growth,” says Cohen. “It can allow both members of the couple to further grow as individuals, which leads to personal development and fulfilment that feeds back into the relationship.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA ‘graceful exit’ or a fresh outlook?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EViva and Marc might have found that a relationship gap was beneficial for their relationship, but this isn’t always the case. For some, a suggestion from their partner that they should spend time apart might seem like a warning sign.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220523-the-couples-taking-relationship-gap-years-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"If there are unspoken agendas, such as a desire to exit gracefully from the relationship, then things can dissolve very quickly – Tom Murray","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220523-the-couples-taking-relationship-gap-years-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003ETom Murray, a sex therapist and professor at Adler University, US, believes that for some couples, gap-years can signal deeper issues. He argues the most common reasons that couples choose to take a break are because of boredom, a desire for sexual exploration and a grass-is-always-greener belief that happiness can be found outside their current situation. If partners are not on the same page about their intentions for taking time apart, then a relationship can \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220511-why-women-file-for-divorce-more-than-men\"\u003Erapidly break down.\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“The primary downside is that human beings are very fickle,” he says. “Because we are social creatures, we yearn to belong and be in community with others, therefore if jealousy and insecurity are present, then I doubt that a relationship would survive [a gap year]. And if there are unspoken agendas, such as a desire to exit gracefully from the relationship, then things can dissolve very quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAlthough Murray is sceptical of relationship gap-years, he adds they can work – particularly when communication is prioritised by both partners.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHe says it is important to think about practical issues such as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20160401-tilll-deathor-financial-discordparts-you\"\u003Ejoint expenses\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, responsibilities and potential emergencies as well as the emotional complexities of spending time apart. He also suggests agreeing on a definitive end-date and on what is acceptable behaviour when apart.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“I would strongly encourage couples considering taking a relationship gap-year to consider their motivations,” he says. “What would have to happen for them to agree that the gap-year was a success? I would encourage them to come up with a vision for their relationship to ensure that their behaviours when apart are in service of the relationship that they want to sustain in future.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENurturing a relationship through a long period apart can be a challenge, but for many couples it can make a marriage stronger more easily than it can break one.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EReflecting on her time away from her husband and their upcoming reunion, Viva is positive about the experience. “Spending time apart has been good for our relationship,” she says. “In our case, absence does make the heart grow fonder. It’s freshened our relationship. We appreciate and love each other more.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220523-the-couples-taking-relationship-gap-years-6"}],"collection":["worklife\u002Fpremium-collection\u002Flovelife"],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2022-05-27T14:43:36Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"The couples taking relationship 'gap years'","headlineShort":"The couples taking 'gap years'","image":["p0c8j250"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[{"Content":{"Description":"Apple News Publish: Select to publish, remove to unpublish. (Do not just delete or unpublish the story)","Name":"publish-applenews-system-1"},"Metadata":{"CreationDateTime":"2016-02-05T14:32:31.186819Z","Entity":"option","Guid":"13f4bc85-ae27-4a34-9397-0e6ad3619619","Id":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","ModifiedDateTime":"2022-02-27T22:52:24.455144Z","Project":"wwverticals","Slug":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1"},"Urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:option:option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","_id":"62b420921f4b7b5d34253c8b"}],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":["worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220301-does-solo-polyamory-mean-having-it-all","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-age-gaps-the-relationship-taboo-that-wont-die","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220420-are-baby-boomers-having-the-best-time-in-bed"],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"An increasing number of married couples are spending planned time apart. Does absence make the heart grow fonder?","summaryShort":"\"In our case, absence does make the heart grow fonder\"","tag":["tag\u002Fhow-we-live"],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2022-05-26T21:46:34.045183Z","entity":"article","guid":"70aea59e-87ad-4fcc-92e7-238590269a0a","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220523-the-couples-taking-relationship-gap-years","modifiedDateTime":"2022-05-26T21:50:08.082422Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220523-the-couples-taking-relationship-gap-years","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100254},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220511-why-women-file-for-divorce-more-than-men":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220511-why-women-file-for-divorce-more-than-men","_id":"62b4205c1f4b7b0e09090b99","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":[],"bodyIntro":"Statistically, women call time on their marriages more than men. What’s with the big discrepancy – and will it stay this way?","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EThe decision to end a marriage is often difficult, and couples may spend months, or even years, soul-searching before \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20201203-why-the-pandemic-is-causing-spikes-in-break-ups-and-divorces\"\u003Ecalling it quits\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. But when it comes to initiating a split, there’s a clear pattern in who makes the final call. In Western heterosexual relationships, women catalyse an enormous proportion of divorces.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EIn the US specifically, where no-fault divorce is legal in all 50 sates, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.asanet.org\u002Fpress-center\u002Fpress-releases\u002Fwomen-more-likely-men-initiate-divorces-not-non-marital-breakups\"\u003Esome estimates put the figure at 70%\u003C\u002Fa\u003E; this rises to a staggering 90% when women are college educated. In the UK, ONS statistics showed \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.independent.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Fuk\u002Fhome-news\u002Fdivorce-inquiries-rise-pandemic-women-b1843359.html\"\u003Ewomen petitioned for 62% of divorces in England and Wales\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in 2019.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003ENow, in some Western countries, divorce is becoming easier; the UK, for instance, recently \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Fuk-61004089\"\u003Elegalised no-fault divorces\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, which means couples now have a quicker and more straightforward route to break up. This change in rules could open the door for even more women – who might have been hesitant before – to file for divorce.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EWhy, though, are women disproportionately choosing to divorce in the first place? For some, the answer lies in how partners do – or don’t – meet their \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210518-the-hidden-load-how-thinking-of-everything-holds-mums-back\"\u003Eemotional needs\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in marriage. Yet for others, things are more complicated – and there may be more nuance to these statistics than it seems.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe importance of independence\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EIn most societies, divorce has been a relatively recent phenomenon.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EIn the UK, divorce was extremely uncommon before 1914, with just \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.parliament.uk\u002Fbusiness\u002Fpublications\u002Fresearch\u002Folympic-britain\u002Fhousing-and-home-life\u002Fsplit-pairs\u002F\"\u003Eone divorce in every 450 marriages\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in the first decade of the 20th Century. Now, more than \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ons.gov.uk\u002Fpeoplepopulationandcommunity\u002Fbirthsdeathsandmarriages\u002Fdivorce\"\u003E100,000 couples in the UK\u003C\u002Fa\u003E get divorced every year, and in the US, around \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fworldpopulationreview.com\u002Fcountry-rankings\u002Fdivorce-rates-by-country\"\u003Ehalf of marriages\u003C\u002Fa\u003E end in divorce.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EAs Heidi Kar, a psychologist and expert on domestic violence at the US-based Education Development Center, explains, it’s no coincidence that the rise of divorce has coincided with women’s liberation.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003E“Because economic independence is an imperative before a woman can attempt to leave a marriage, either alone or with children to support, it’s extremely difficult for women to leave a marriage unless they have some way to make money on their own,” she says. “Also, because gender roles become more complicated as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220406-women-breadwinners-why-high-earners-compensate-at-home\"\u003Ewomen start to gain financial independence\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, more marital conflict naturally arises.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EIn other words, women’s entry into the workforce enabled them to leave unhappy marriages for the first time – they were no longer financially bound to remain in abusive partnerships or relationships where their needs were not being met, and women thus began to initiate divorces at greater scale.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220511-why-women-file-for-divorce-more-than-men-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"Across cultures and geographies, women who are economically able to take care of themselves… are more likely to initiate divorce – Heidi Kar","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220511-why-women-file-for-divorce-more-than-men-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EThis also helps explain why women with university-level education are \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20200121-why-promoted-women-are-more-likely-to-divorce\"\u003Eso much more likely\u003C\u002Fa\u003E to end a marriage. “Across cultures and geographies, women who are economically able to take care of themselves – which usually is tied to higher education levels – are more likely to initiate divorce than women who are unable to economically sustain themselves and their children,” adds Kar.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEmotional and social factors \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EStill, increased economic independence alone doesn’t explain why women have become so much more likely to initiate divorce than their husbands. Yet, the percentage of women initiating divorces has continued to rise – and the reasons are manifold.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EFor many women, the expectations they have when they enter marriage may fail to match up to reality. Experts say that they often have a higher expectation of how a partner will meet their emotional needs than men, which can lead to disappointment post-wedding.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EGilza Fort-Martinez, a Florida, US-based licensed couples’ therapist, who specialises in conflict resolution, says because men are usually socialised to have lower emotional intelligence than women, this can lead to female partners feeling unsupported and doing much of the emotional labour in the relationship.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EThis emotional intelligence also means women are more finely attuned to problems and relationship “red-flags”, and their tendency to be the primary communicators and empathisers means that they may also be the first to raise issues – perhaps ultimately resulting in separation or divorce.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EWomen also tend to gain fewer emotional benefits from marriage, which could make single life seem more appealing. While married men experience multiple perks – including \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Flifeandstyle\u002F2019\u002Fmay\u002F25\u002Fwomen-happier-without-children-or-a-spouse-happiness-expert\"\u003Eliving longer and earning more money\u003C\u002Fa\u003E – women don’t usually benefit from their relationships in the same way. Instead, they \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fyougov.co.uk\u002Ftopics\u002Flifestyle\u002Farticles-reports\u002F2021\u002F03\u002F30\u002Fwomen-are-still-much-more-likely-have-do-most-coup\"\u003Ebear the brunt of household and child-rearing labour\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, which can leave working women “overwhelmed and stressed”, says Fort-Martinez.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EWomen also tend to have \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.americansurveycenter.org\u002Fwhy-mens-social-circles-are-shrinking\u002F\"\u003Emore close friends\u003C\u002Fa\u003E than men (in fact, in the US, 15% of men say they have no close friendships at all), meaning they have a better support system both to discuss any marital issues as well as to ease the transition back into single life. It’s also possible these friendships make divorce seem like a more plausible option – research suggests that if a close friend gets divorced, people’s own \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Flifeandstyle\u002F2010\u002Fjul\u002F04\u002Fdivorce-friends-contagious-academic-study\"\u003Echances of divorcing rise by 75%\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EAdd this to the fact that women get primary custody of children in the vast majority of divorce cases, so women may feel they have less to lose when filing for divorce compared to men. And in some ways, they are right – evidence shows men’s wellbeing tends to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002Fpmc\u002Farticles\u002FPMC5992251\u002F\"\u003Edrop much more dramatically\u003C\u002Fa\u003E immediately following a divorce.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220511-why-women-file-for-divorce-more-than-men-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"Woman holding a child","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220511-why-women-file-for-divorce-more-than-men-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EBut in reality, this effect can be short-lived. “In the short-term after divorce, men’s overall wellbeing decreases more, and they report higher levels of loneliness,” says Kar. “But over time that evens out, and women continue to suffer from more chronic, long-term effects including the loss of home ownership, reduced financial means, and increased stress from life as a single parent.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EThis doesn’t mean that these women have more regrets, however. In spite of these downsides, only \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.telegraph.co.uk\u002Fwomen\u002Flife\u002Fdivorce-regret-real-does-getting-back-ex-ever-work\u002F\"\u003E27% of women\u003C\u002Fa\u003E say they regret getting a divorce, compared to 39% of men, showing that for most women divorce-related hardships are preferable to staying in an unhappy marriage.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESeeking resolution\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EOf course, filing for divorce isn't the same as ending a marriage. While research shows \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.stanford.edu\u002F~mrosenfe\u002FRosenfeld_gender_of_breakup.pdf\"\u003Ewomen in heterosexual marriages are more likely to initiate the break-up\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, there are also women who didn't choose to end their relationship, but want or need to formalise the split nonetheless.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003E“Women tend to be more motivated than men to resolve their marital status,” says Katie Spooner, partner and head of family law at Winckworth Sherwood, London. She says, based on her client record, most men are happy to remain separated, unless there is a new relationship or particular imperative to sort their finances.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EFor women, however, the need for a divorce can be much more pressing. “It remains a requirement for divorce to be filed in order to make a financial application,” says Spooner, referring to the legally-binding process of sorting finances out after a split. “Historically, women have had a greater need to do this due to their weaker financial position, or their role as primary caregiver.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EIn other words, married women tend to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Fworld-asia-india-58867004\"\u003Eearn much less\u003C\u002Fa\u003E than their husbands, and are significantly \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fifs.org.uk\u002Fpublications\u002F15359#:~:text=Mothers%20did%20more%20housework%20and,childcare%20than%20lower%2Dpaid%20fathers.\"\u003Emore likely\u003C\u002Fa\u003E to have given up work or reduced their hours to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20200630-how-covid-19-is-changing-womens-lives\"\u003Ecare for children\u003C\u002Fa\u003E – even if they were the higher earner to begin with.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220511-why-women-file-for-divorce-more-than-men-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"Women tend to be more motivated than men to resolve their marital status - Katie Spooner","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220511-why-women-file-for-divorce-more-than-men-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EThis means women who are separated from their husbands without a divorce agreement risk financial hardship, because they may not have a legal right to marital assets or financial support until a formal divorce agreement is in place. Filing for divorce might be their only choice to secure assets, even if they did not choose to end the relationship in the first place.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003ESpooner points out a big turning point for women initiating divorce in the UK was 1996, when being a “homemaker” was recognised as a contribution to the marriage, meaning women became entitled to a fairer share of assets. Before this, the less-wealthy spouse (usually the woman, especially if she’d given up her career) was only given financial support for basic needs, rather than how their domestic labour had contributed to the marriage. This arrangement is now common in many other countries, meaning fewer women risk poverty post-divorce, and are more motivated to push for a divorce over a separation to get their fair share of marital assets.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EAs for the new UK law, Spooner says there has been \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.independent.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Fuk\u002Fhome-news\u002Fno-dault-divorce-laws-increase-b2057360.html\"\u003Ean early rush\u003C\u002Fa\u003E to file no-fault divorces, suggesting many people had been waiting for the law to change. However, it’s too early to know exactly how patterns will shift until the law has been in place for a while; Spooner herself believes there could be a “slight drop” in female-driven divorces, since it’s the first time couples can issue joint applications.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"m5887748939440152381xmsonormal\"\u003EWhatever happens in the UK, ultimately, divorces – like marriages – tend to be complex and nuanced. In some cases, filing for divorce is an agonising decision based on years of unhappiness. For others, filing is more of a practical move, based on the need to reach a financial settlement. What’s clear, however, is that certain factors – women’s improved earning power, men and women’s mismatched emotional needs within marriage and ongoing inequalities in household labour – mean that divorce is likely to remain deeply gendered.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220511-why-women-file-for-divorce-more-than-men-6"}],"collection":[],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2022-05-13T00:00:00Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"Why women file for divorce more than men","headlineShort":"Why women file for divorce more","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"Woman removing a wedding ring","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":[],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"Statistically, women call time on their marriages more than men. What’s with the big discrepancy – and will it stay this way?","summaryShort":"Women may be more likely to call it quits than their male partners – why?","tag":[],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2022-05-12T21:32:11.6606Z","entity":"article","guid":"c6ab7a74-4883-4e24-aafa-23999b1e3606","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220511-why-women-file-for-divorce-more-than-men","modifiedDateTime":"2022-05-12T21:32:11.6606Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220511-why-women-file-for-divorce-more-than-men","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100251},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220301-does-solo-polyamory-mean-having-it-all":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220301-does-solo-polyamory-mean-having-it-all","_id":"62b4205b1f4b7b2e3a3f4664","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":[],"bodyIntro":"With no ‘primary partner’ and a potential for multiple meaningful relationships, solo polyamorists are hopping off the heteronormative “relationship escalator”.","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EAfter Chris, 35, came out as bisexual three years ago, he decided that he “didn’t necessarily want to live a heteronormative life”. “I wanted to be able to date men and women simultaneously for my whole life,” says Chris, who is withholding his surname for privacy. “I felt like monogamy would deny me something of myself.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDuring the pandemic, Chris moved into an intentional, sex-positive community in Brooklyn, New York – a “safe space” where he could further explore his relationship with sex and sexuality. Through that community, he discovered a course called Open Smarter, which guided students through navigating various types of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210326-ethical-non-monogamy-the-rise-of-multi-partner-relationships\"\u003Eethically non-monogamous relationships\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. That’s where he first heard the term ‘solo polyamory’. He quickly felt like it fit his dating style.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAt its core, solo polyamory refers to people who are open to dating or engaging in multiple meaningful relationships without having a ‘primary partner’: one person to whom they’re committed above all other partners. Instead, the solo polyamorist might see themselves as their own primary partner, eschewing typical relationship goals, like merging finances or homes with a partner, and getting married and having children. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESolo polyamorists represent a small portion of polyamorists in general, many of whom tend to have or aim to have a primary partner, says Philadelphia-based sex educator and therapist Liz Powell, 39, so it’s inherently difficult to figure out what percentage of the overall population is engaging in relationships this way. However, some studies show younger generations are more likely to have entered into some kind of non-monogamous relationship than older generations. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EPer a 2020 YouGov survey of 1,300 US adults, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftoday.yougov.com\u002Ftopics\u002Frelationships\u002Farticles-reports\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F31\u002Fmillennials-monogamy-poly-poll-survey-data\"\u003E43% of millennials said that their ideal relationship would be non-monogamous\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, while just 30% of Gen X said the same. Overall, research from 2016 synthesising two different US studies showed 20% of respondents \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.tandfonline.com\u002Fdoi\u002Fabs\u002F10.1080\u002F0092623X.2016.1178675\"\u003Eengaged in a consensually non-monogamous relationship\u003C\u002Fa\u003E at some point. But these studies don’t break down those numbers by specific types of non-monogamous relationships, so it’s impossible to say how many of those surveyed identify with solo polyamory.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESince solo polyamorists are a minority identity, misconceptions about their lifestyles abound. From people who equate solo polyamory to monogamists dating around until they find “the one”, to those who consider it a selfish or greedy move, like “having your cake and eating it, too”, there’s a tendency to overlook the term’s more nuanced definition. Ultimately, it boils down to stepping off what’s known as the heteronormative “relationship escalator”, and opting for an alternative way to engage in romantic and sexual partnerships.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220301-does-solo-polyamory-mean-having-it-all-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220301-does-solo-polyamory-mean-having-it-all-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe “relationship escalator”\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe term solo polyamory gained popularity with the blog Solopoly.net, written by journalist Amy Gahran, under the pen name Aggie Sez. Her first blog post, published in 2012, was titled, “\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsolopoly.net\u002F2012\u002F11\u002F29\u002Friding-the-relationship-escalator-or-not\u002F\"\u003ERiding the relationship escalator (or not)\u003C\u002Fa\u003E”. About five years later, she wrote a book on the subject, Stepping Off the Relationship Escalator: Uncommon Love and Life.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGahran defines this ‘escalator’ as “the default set of societal customs for the proper conduct of intimate relationships” – in other words, relationships that hit, or aim to hit, traditional life markers, like moving in with a partner, merging finances, getting engaged, getting married and having children.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“We have these normalised benchmarks or signs that a relationship is serious,” says California-based Rachel Krantz, 34, author of Open: An Uncensored Memoir of Love, Liberation, and Non-Monogamy – A Polyamory Memoir. “Solo polyamorous people tend to avoid intertwining their life in that way with someone else.” \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThough the definition may seem narrow, there are plenty of ways to be ‘solo poly’. Solo polyamorous folks tend to be allosexual, says Colorado-based Elisabeth Sheff, author of books including The Polyamorists Next Door, meaning they tend to experience sexual desire – but some are \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210507-asexuality-the-ascent-of-the-invisible-sexual-orientation\"\u003Easexual\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and maintain multiple, non-sexual relationships. They also tend to “value their independence”, adds Sheff, but some have very important, non-romantic relationships in their lives that they put first. “The single parent who prioritises their children over all other relationships could be solo poly,” says Sheff, as could someone who’s the caretaker of a person with a disability.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESolo polyamory also doesn’t have to be forever. One could identify as solo poly today, but still wind up entering a more traditional relationship with a shared home or finances in the future – it doesn’t have to be a fixed identity to be valid, says New York-based sex researcher and consultant Zhana Vrangalova.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EChris, in fact, expresses interest in one day finding a primary partner, but says in the meantime being solo poly “allows me to date, have experiences with people, get to know a lot of different people, and have some of my needs met”. It’s similar to when he was dating around monogamously, he adds, “except now I’ve put a label on it to communicate to people what my intentions are”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220301-does-solo-polyamory-mean-having-it-all-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"I don't like that heteronormative structure of marriage. I want to rebel against that – Chris","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220301-does-solo-polyamory-mean-having-it-all-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EVrangalova, who’s originally from Macedonia, teaches the Open Smarter course that Chris attended in New York. She estimates about two-thirds of her class are people in relationships, and slightly more than half of those are in monogamous relationships but “trying to figure out if some version of non-monogamy would be right for them”. The rest are either already exploring various forms of non-monogamy and seeking out more skills to help them better navigate those relationships, or they’re single and looking for relationships.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESolo polyamory is not right for everyone. Vrangalova has her students take personality quizzes to help them determine the relationship style(s) that might work best for them. These quizzes ask questions like “how much adventure and novelty” respondents need, or how much security they require in their relationships. Solo polyamorists, says Vrangalova, “usually don't need a lot of relational security”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHowever, just because someone who identifies as solo poly may not need the same level of security as someone in a long-term, monogamous partnership, this doesn’t mean they can’t or won’t form deep, lasting bonds with partners. To foster trusting relationships with her partners, sex-educator Powell, who identifies as solo poly, says they’re very upfront with potential partners about their wants and needs. “I'm not going to not ask for [what I want in a relationship] just because I’m worried that you're going to say no,” they say. “If people say no, they say no, and we figure out where to go from there.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe antidote to “couple privilege”?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EA lot of the stigmas surrounding solo polyamory come from a general lack of understanding of why someone might not want a so-called “serious”, traditional relationship. Stereotypes of solo poly people include them being “selfish, avoidant or [messed] up in various ways”, says Vrangalova. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFurthermore, solo polyamory is marked by its lack of adherence to relationship benchmarks like marriage and children – which also serve as benchmarks of adulthood. “The people we consider to be ‘adults’ are married with kids, sharing houses, sharing finances,” says Powell. “Whereas ‘wayward adults’, like myself, who live alone, unmarried, are examples of everything wrong with society.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOf course, adults can very successfully live on their own and be self-sufficient. For those who identify as solo poly, it also doesn’t mean they “don’t care about people”, says Sheff. “They just don't want to organise their life centrally around a romantic partner.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220301-does-solo-polyamory-mean-having-it-all-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220301-does-solo-polyamory-mean-having-it-all-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EThese prejudices exist alongside another societal force known as “\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.shape.com\u002Flifestyle\u002Fsex-and-love\u002Fcouple-privilege\"\u003Ecouple privilege\u003C\u002Fa\u003E”. This wide-reaching phrase refers both to the advantages couples have in society over singles (like the financial benefits of marriage and couplehood) and the attitude that, for instance, in a polyamorous relationship, the success of the primary couple must be prioritised. All other partners’ actions must be taken with preserving that primary relationship in mind.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThese stigmas and societal expectations can present roadblocks for people who identify as solo poly. When Powell was in a polyamorous relationship in Savannah, Georgia, US, around 2014, they tried to find a non-monogamy-affirming therapist, to no avail. That prompted them to fill the void, and Powell opened their own private practice targeting people who identified as non-monogamous, queer, kinky and\u002For trans.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEven in psychology circles, there remains a dearth of knowledge about polyamory, let alone solo polyamory. Sheff is part of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.apa.org\u002Fabout\u002Fdivision\u002Fdiv44\"\u003EDivision 44\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, a subgroup of the American Psychological Association working to develop educational materials about polyamory for counsellors and therapists.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMore than just dating around\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EUltimately, solo polyamory is much more than a way to date multiple partners while living alone. It’s a rejection of heteronormative relationship standards.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“For me, a lot of solo polyamory has been about finding ways that I centre my own autonomy, the autonomy of others and genuinely question which things I want in a relationship, rather than assuming that every relationship was going to follow the escalator,” says Powell.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EChris was similarly attracted to the solo poly label because it let him think about and approach relationships differently. He says the relationship pathways he grew up with didn’t make sense for him; before gay marriage was legalised in the US, he was having sexual relationships with people he knew he’d never be able to wed. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EToday, Chris says he wouldn’t 100% rule out the prospect of marriage, but he’s not exactly a fan of the institution. “As a queer, bisexual person, I don't like that heteronormative structure of marriage,” he says. “I want to rebel against that.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220301-does-solo-polyamory-mean-having-it-all-6"}],"collection":[],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2022-03-04T14:24:34Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"Does 'solo polyamory' mean having it all?","headlineShort":"The rise of 'solo polyamory'","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":[],"relatedStories":[],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"With no ‘primary partner’ and a potential for multiple meaningful relationships, solo polyamorists are hopping off the heteronormative “relationship escalator”.","summaryShort":"\"I felt like monogamy would deny me something of myself\"","tag":[],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2022-03-04T00:10:10.711226Z","entity":"article","guid":"0c079474-739f-4053-8486-6f73cec2fdcc","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220301-does-solo-polyamory-mean-having-it-all","modifiedDateTime":"2022-03-04T13:10:51.246094Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220301-does-solo-polyamory-mean-having-it-all","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100265},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220624-can-online-dating-burnout-be-stopped":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220624-can-online-dating-burnout-be-stopped","_id":"62ba0dd31f4b7b28757720cf","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":["worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fjessica-klein"],"bodyIntro":"Scrolling, chatting, meeting, ghosting: online dating can be a depressing grind that leaves many singles feeling burnt out.","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EAndy Hong feels like he keeps meeting the same woman online: a graduate from a small school in New England who likes to ski and play sports. The twenty-eight-year-old says he has nothing against this kind of woman, but he's not necessarily clicking with them, and knows there are all kinds of people out there with whom he could enjoy a romantic relationship. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe repetition is wearing on him, but still the dating app Hinge keeps recommending people from the same mould. “They cater to a type, and they will feed you a type,” Boston-based Hong says of Hinge. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe experience has left Hong with what he calls “decision fatigue” – something others refer to as “dating app burnout”. It’s a prevalent phenomenon in the app-based dating world. People grow tired of the endless scroll of potential dates available on the apps. Many users become frustrated with the time they spend swiping online, compared to the time they spend actually going on dates. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“From a pure numbers perspective, of a hypothetical 10 people you match with, you'll probably have a solid conversation with seven or eight,” says Hong. “Of those seven to eight, you might net out at like one or two [in-person dates].” \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThese days, however, single people are hard-pressed to \u003Cem\u003Enot\u003C\u002Fem\u003E engage with the world of online dating – even though many know it’s hard work, and potentially disappointing. According to a 2019 study, online dating has become a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnews.stanford.edu\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F21\u002Fonline-dating-popular-way-u-s-couples-meet\u002F\"\u003Emuch more likely way to meet a partner\u003C\u002Fa\u003E than a chance encounter. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYet it can take a toll: a recent survey from UK-based dating app Badoo showed \u003Ca title=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.independent.co.uk\u002Flife-style\u002Flove-sex\u002Fbadoo-dating-apps-burnout-compatibility-b1970468.html\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.independent.co.uk\u002Flife-style\u002Flove-sex\u002Fbadoo-dating-apps-burnout-compatibility-b1970468.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emore than three-quarters of singles\u003C\u002Fa\u003E felt burnt out by unrewarding interactions and inappropriate matches from platforms and apps. Research from Hinge also found \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cosmopolitan.com\u002Fuk\u002Flove-sex\u002Frelationships\u002Fa36713162\u002Fdating-burnout\u002F\"\u003Ea significant portion of its users (61%) were overwhelmed\u003C\u002Fa\u003E by the modern dating process, and an April 2022 US study showed four in five adults “\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.globenewswire.com\u002Fnews-release\u002F2022\u002F04\u002F01\u002F2415062\u002F0\u002Fen\u002FFour-Out-of-Five-Adults-Experience-Emotional-Fatigue-or-Burnout-From-Online-Dating-78-37-New-Data-Shows.html\"\u003Eexperienced some degree of emotional fatigue\u003C\u002Fa\u003E or burnout from online dating”. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EStill, people keep using dating apps to find potential partners. It seems that regardless of how bad the experience gets, these apps remain one of the easiest ways to meet people romantically in a world that’s moving increasingly online. If people are going to remain on these apps to find dates, are there ways to mitigate the grind? \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220624-can-online-dating-burnout-be-stopped-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0cgys3w"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"Andy Hong","imageOrientation":"portrait","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220624-can-online-dating-burnout-be-stopped-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E‘So much to wade through’\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESimply, dating app burnout refers to exhaustion that comes from prolonged dating app use, says Nora Padison, a licensed graduate professional counsellor at Space Between Counseling Services in Baltimore, US. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere are a few basic signs of this fatigue: when a user associates negative feelings with approaching dating apps; when the act of using the app and the ensuing dating process exhausts them; and when it feels like “a second job”, says Padison, who has led two “modern dating support groups” for adults ages 25 to 35. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAccording to research by Leah LeFebvre, an associate professor of communications studies at the University of Alabama, more than half of the 395 Tinder users she surveyed in 2017 had \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjournals.sagepub.com\u002Fdoi\u002Ffull\u002F10.1177\u002F0265407517706419\"\u003Edeleted the app multiple times\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. In nearly 40% of those cases, it was because the user had started a relationship. But 35% of participants said they got rid of the app because they “felt unsuccessful”. This meant they either had “no responses, no matches, no potential partners or negative experiences”, LeFebvre wrote to the BBC in an email. Some just got “bored” or “tired” of using the app; others found it “pointless” – all signs of dating app burnout. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“I feel burnt out sometimes when I feel like I have to swipe through literally 100 people to find someone who I think is moderately interesting, or that I would maybe want to talk to,” says Rosemary Guiser, 32, a speech therapist based in Philadelphia, US. “It just feels like there’s so much to wade through.” \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGuiser started using apps like Bumble and Hinge when a relationship ended in January, though her first experience with dating apps was back in 2013 and 2014, with OkCupid and Tinder. She says she started to feel burnt out with the apps almost “immediately upon opening” them. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“The process of talking with someone, planning to meet with them and then meeting them – it’s a lot of time and work,” says Guiser. She doesn’t like chatting on the apps, she adds, because those text-based conversations don’t offer real insight into the other person. “You might have a great conversation with someone, but then you meet up and within 10 seconds, you realise that they’re not someone you'd want to get to know,” she says, which amounts to a waste of time. It can also be a big emotional let-down to realise that the person who seemed like great match online doesn’t actually exist in real life.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220624-can-online-dating-burnout-be-stopped-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0cgyv0z"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"Rosemary Guiser","imageOrientation":"portrait","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220624-can-online-dating-burnout-be-stopped-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDesign and behavioural issues\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe design of dating apps can also create frustrations for burnt-out users. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGuiser got tired of paywalled features that would have made her experience on the apps better, but that she hadn’t shelled out for. For instance, she looks at a potential match’s political beliefs before anything else. But on Bumble, she says, you have to pay to filter out people based on such characteristics. Since she’s not paying, she’s “forced to wade through dozens and dozens of people I wouldn’t want to give a second look to”.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt’s also tricky to navigate multiple dating apps at once, but many use more than one because they feel it improves their chances of finding a match. Hopping between different interfaces can cause problems. “I get used to the interface of one, and then I go to the other and I'm like, ‘Oops, I just swiped left on somebody that I meant to like’ or ‘I just super liked someone that I meant to just see their pictures’,” says Guiser. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThen there’s the challenge of interacting with matches. That part of the process opens up a whole other set of disheartening experiences, as many are inclined to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220505-why-people-behave-badly-on-dating-apps\"\u003Ebehave disrespectfully while online dating\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor example, a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog.pof.com\u002F2016\u002F03\u002Fpof-survey-reveals-80-millennials-ghosted\u002F\"\u003Esurvey by dating platform Plenty of Fish\u003C\u002Fa\u003E from 2016 found that among 800 millennial daters, 80% had been ghosted during the dating process. With the screen mediating person-to-person interactions, it’s easier for people not to see those they’re communicating with as human – they almost become characters in the game of online dating, instead – making it easier to not treat them humanely. Women in particular face the brunt of dating app harassment, with 44% of female users under 35 \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pewresearch.org\u002Ffact-tank\u002F2020\u002F03\u002F06\u002Fyoung-women-often-face-sexual-harassment-online-including-on-dating-sites-and-apps\u002F\"\u003Egetting called an offensive name\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and 19% facing threats of physical harm on dating apps and sites, according to the Pew Research Center.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220624-can-online-dating-burnout-be-stopped-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"I think people are more often toyed with online – Dr Joanne Orlando","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220624-can-online-dating-burnout-be-stopped-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EAs Dr Joanne Orlando, an Australia-based researcher and author focused on digital wellness, puts it, “I think people are more often toyed with online”, suggesting that not all of the people using dating apps are there to earnestly find a date. Even those who are can be cruel to other users, either intentionally or because it’s hard work to treat everyone with equal and adequate levels of humanity. Repeated negative treatment online can contribute to people’s feeling of negativity and burnout towards these apps.\u003Cem\u003E \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStay or take a break?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut regardless of their fatigue, many, like Hong, remain on the apps. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“You could compare [dating apps] a little bit to Amazon or Facebook,” says Padison, “in that they’re so accessible it has become now more the norm” to use dating apps than to meet people in other ways, even if users aren’t in love with the platforms. The Covid-19 pandemic, she adds, also habituated people to online interactions, and made \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220421-why-singles-are-pre-screening-their-dates\"\u003Emany feel the need to screen their dates\u003C\u002Fa\u003E before meeting them in real life. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt also isn’t that easy to meet romantic partners in physical spaces, particularly for those who aren’t the type to sit around in bars. Padison suggests finding group-based activities to engage in to meet people with shared interests, but that doesn’t always pan out. Hong, for instance, says he joined his community garden, but “I'm the youngest person there by decades… that is not the way I’m going to meet someone”. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EInstead, he’s figuring out ways to make the dating app experience more efficient. “I’m going red-flag hunting,” he says, by learning how to quickly pick up on aspects of a person’s profile that indicate she’s not right for him. But that in itself can be exhausting. “This perpetual judging, you're looking for landmines, and that also is mentally taxing,” he says. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBumble’s relationship expert Caroline West suggests approaching dating apps with more intention. “The majority of people on Bumble say that they are now more upfront with partners about what they want,” she says. She recommends users limit themselves to connecting with two to three matches at a time, to focus on quality over quantity. Bumble also has a feature allowing fatigued users to “snooze” their activity so they can take a break and alert matches that they’re doing so. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor some people, a dating pause is exactly what they need. Padison says she’s spoken with some clients struggling with dating app burnout about deleting them altogether and taking time instead to work on themselves. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGuiser has since stopped using dating apps because she’s been seeing someone. They’re not in an exclusive relationship, so she could still keep searching for additional partners on the apps. But she’s welcomed the opportunity to take a break. After all, when she was using the apps, Guiser got caught up in a toxic mentality of “I'm never going to find someone if I don't use these really aggressively”. That just wound up making her feel bad about herself and the experience. She’d had to learn coping strategies for how to prevent the dating experience from bringing her down, like by asking herself certain questions to make sure she was in a good place before swiping. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Am I having a good time with this? Or am I just doing this because I’m lonely and feel miserable?” she says. “I was trying to catch myself in a doom scroll of looking at people and just feeling discouraged.” Unfortunately, that doomscroll happened far too often, more so than Guiser’s positive experiences on the apps. That’s when she learned to put her phone down.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220624-can-online-dating-burnout-be-stopped-6"}],"collection":["worklife\u002Fpremium-collection\u002Flovelife"],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2022-06-27T00:00:00Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"Can online dating burnout be stopped?","headlineShort":"Why modern dating is exhausting","image":["p0cgyq2b"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"Woman looking at her phone","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[{"Content":{"Description":"Apple News Publish: Select to publish, remove to unpublish. (Do not just delete or unpublish the story)","Name":"publish-applenews-system-1"},"Metadata":{"CreationDateTime":"2016-02-05T14:32:31.186819Z","Entity":"option","Guid":"13f4bc85-ae27-4a34-9397-0e6ad3619619","Id":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","ModifiedDateTime":"2022-02-27T22:52:24.455144Z","Project":"wwverticals","Slug":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1"},"Urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:option:option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","_id":"62b420921f4b7b5d34253c8b"}],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":["worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220523-the-couples-taking-relationship-gap-years","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220511-why-women-file-for-divorce-more-than-men","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220301-does-solo-polyamory-mean-having-it-all"],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"Scrolling, chatting, meeting, ghosting: online dating can be a depressing grind that leaves many singles feeling burnt out.","summaryShort":"\"Am I just doing this because I’m lonely and feel miserable?\"","tag":["tag\u002Fhow-we-live"],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2022-06-27T20:06:25.158733Z","entity":"article","guid":"88075fea-99f1-437b-aa6d-fa50989c6d5f","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220624-can-online-dating-burnout-be-stopped","modifiedDateTime":"2022-06-28T14:47:16.243496Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220624-can-online-dating-burnout-be-stopped","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100251},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220405-single-shaming-why-people-jump-to-judge-the-un-partnered":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220405-single-shaming-why-people-jump-to-judge-the-un-partnered","_id":"62b4205c1f4b7b27dc4f2ef1","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":["worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fjessica-klein"],"bodyIntro":"The number of singletons is increasing, yet people still insist on telling them they’ll find a partner soon. What’s with all the pity?","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EAsking why someone is ‘still’ single and assuring them they’ll ‘find their person soon’ may seem like thoughtful, even sensitive, ways to check in on single friends. However, these simple phrases constitute ‘single shaming’ – and they’re likely to be more harmful than helpful. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESingle shaming results from negative biases about people who are not partnered: they must be sad and lonely for not having a partner; they’re actively looking for one, but haven’t found a match yet; and there must be something wrong with them that’s causing to them to wind up alone. All these stereotypes are driven by pressures to conform to long-held societal standards: get the partner, shared home, 2.4 kids and dog, and a person has assembled all the ingredients they need for a happy life.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhile people have been steadily re-evaluating these social norms for decades, recent research suggests single shaming is still going strong. Data from a survey by dating service Match, seen by BBC Worklife, shows 52% of 1,000 single UK adults reported experiencing single shaming “since the start of the pandemic”, likely due to the increased focus on whom people could rely on during lockdowns. And even though 59% said they were “content with their relationship status”, they still were the target of intrusive questions.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe persistence of these biases against singletons is not only demeaning, but also outdated in many countries. “Singlehood was once considered a transitional period, when people marked time until they were married or re-married,” says Bella DePaulo, author of Singled Out: How Singles are Stereotyped, Stigmatized, and Ignored, and Still Live Happily Ever After. But now, she says, Americans spend more years of their adult lives single than married. In 1970, she points out, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.census.gov\u002Flibrary\u002Fpublications\u002F2013\u002Fdemo\u002Fp20-570.html\"\u003Eciting US census data\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, 40% of US households consisted of married couples and their children, while 17% lived alone as singles. By 2012, 27% of US households consisted of singles, and just 20% were parents and children.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut even with these changing statistics, it’s clear both anecdotally and in the research that people who aren’t in romantic relationships continue to get a hard time from their coupled-up friends and family – and also from themselves. Even as singles seem to increasingly embrace and choose their relationship status, the pressure to find dates isn’t necessarily going away. But there may be at least some progress in the offing, as the growing representation of single people in the population may begin to outweigh the stigmatisation of singlehood.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220405-single-shaming-why-people-jump-to-judge-the-un-partnered-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0bzj7cj"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220405-single-shaming-why-people-jump-to-judge-the-un-partnered-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe harms of single shaming\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAccording to New York City-based psychotherapist Allison Abrams, single shaming is “negatively judging somebody for not being partnered up and not conforming to society’s expectations… of being married at a certain age”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EShamers treat non-partnered people “differently” as a result, she says. “People tend to think that you’re bored and alone when you’re single,” adds Paris-based Ipek Kucuk, dating expert with the dating app Happn.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn the study shared by Match, researchers asked about the common “shaming phrases” single people have heard from others, and 35% said they were told “you’ll find someone soon”. Twenty-nine percent heard “you must be so lonely”, while 38% reported general pity over their relationship status.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDePaulo says myths around singletons include the idea that married couples have a special mastery of life that single people don’t; that the lives of singles are “tragic”; and that being single implies being selfish. (Indeed, some research supports that these are myths, including a 2018 German study suggesting that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Facademic.oup.com\u002Fpsychsocgerontology\u002Farticle\u002F75\u002F7\u002F1423\u002F5257993?login=false\"\u003Estereotypes around miserable singles and happy couples are not at all correct\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.)\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe stereotypes about singles aren’t just wrong – they can also have damaging consequences. As psychotherapist Abrams says, internalised shame from societal attitudes towards singles can negatively affect self-image. Even if a single person’s friends and family aren’t shaming them for their status, not hitting big life milestones like marriage and children can take a toll – especially on someone who’s actively looking for a partner – because it’s what society tends to expect of them. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Many times, I've seen that play a part in depression,” says Abrams. A normalised ‘script’ for successful life can even force those who are happy being single to reconsider that attitude, and seek out something they’re fairly sure they don’t want, just so they can fit in with cultural norms.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220405-single-shaming-why-people-jump-to-judge-the-un-partnered-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"52% of 1,000 single UK adults reported experiencing single shaming “since the start of the pandemic”","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220405-single-shaming-why-people-jump-to-judge-the-un-partnered-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EAnd single shaming comes from many sources beyond nosy parents and friends. Governments play a part, by offering various benefits to those who are legally married, of which single people can’t take advantage. Some people believe this sends a message about the “right way” to go about life, serving as positive reinforcement for partnered people and making it very difficult for singles not to internalise the idea that they’re getting adulthood wrong.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn the US, for example, an employee can add their spouse to their health care plan – but single people can’t do that for important people like siblings or close friends, points out DePaulo. Couples and families also get perks not available to singles in other realms, ranging from discounts on vacations to workplaces \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fbelladepaulo.medium.com\u002Fthe-many-ways-single-people-are-treated-unfairly-at-work-645201c24ceb\"\u003Egranting special allowances\u003C\u002Fa\u003E for those with nuclear families.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESpinster versus bachelor\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ELike any cultural stigma, single shaming isn’t equally distributed. Women tend to endure the brunt of it, and certain cultures emphasise marriage and having children more than others.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFirst, consider the words to describe single women as opposed to men. While men are known as ‘bachelors’, women are called ‘spinsters’. In the late Middle Ages, the latter originated as a term to describe women who spun wool professionally, most of whom were unmarried. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.merriam-webster.com\u002Fwords-at-play\u002Fspinster-meaning-origin\"\u003Elower-status job was easier for them to get\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, since more desirable jobs were generally reserved for married women – who, through their husbands, could afford the materials required to do higher-status work. ‘Bachelors’, meanwhile, are often portrayed as fun, potentially suave (if not sleazy), living their best lives and carefree – these positive connotations \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.smithsonianmag.com\u002Fsmart-news\u002Fwhere-did-spinster-and-bachelor-come-180964879\u002F\"\u003Ego all the way back\u003C\u002Fa\u003E to Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E‘Spinster’ has taken on \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cosmopolitan.com\u002Fuk\u002Flove-sex\u002Frelationships\u002Fa30868873\u002Fspinster\u002F\"\u003Eeven more negative connotations\u003C\u002Fa\u003E over time, used to disparage unmarried (and young) women in popular culture, such as in Bridget Jones’s Diary (the titular character is in her early 30s with a solid job in London, yet dwells on her ‘spinster’ status).\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220405-single-shaming-why-people-jump-to-judge-the-un-partnered-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0bzj709"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220405-single-shaming-why-people-jump-to-judge-the-un-partnered-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E“According to the conventional wisdom – which is neither wise nor even accurate – women care more about marriage than men do,” says DePaulo. “So, I think single women are more often subjected to the annoying sorts of questions like, ‘Are you seeing anyone?’” Anecdotally, Abrams says more of her female clients share experiences of being single-shamed than her male clients, but caveats that her overall client population skews female.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Single men can get treated in disparaging and dismissive ways, too,” DePaulo adds, such as people perceiving them as childish, unable to care for themselves or “obsessed with sex”. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ECultural demographics can influence the prevalence of single shaming, too. In her practice, Abrams has found clients with certain backgrounds, like those with families from Korea, China and India, tend to experience more pronounced single shaming from family members, as do some of her clients who moved to New York from the middle of the US. These cultures tend to emphasise more traditional gender roles around marriage, and not complying with these traditions can appear particularly unconventional. “I’ve heard one [client] say to me something like, [their] family feels shame for them not having a child at… 30 or even younger,” says Abrams. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe ‘power of numbers’\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhat it means to be single is changing, and some experts believe the shifts, both in attitudes and demographics, could help normalise singlehood – and potentially diminish the jump to judge the unpartnered.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn recent years, influential figures on social media and traditional celebrities alike have spoken out proudly about their single status. Actor Emma Watson, for example, has publicly \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.vogue.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Farticle\u002Femma-watson-on-fame-activism-little-women\"\u003Edescribed herself as “self-partnered”\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, encouraging others to view their own lack of a romantic partner as positive, not negative. “As more people are embracing their status as a single person, I think more people feel liberated to do the same,” says Abrams.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220405-single-shaming-why-people-jump-to-judge-the-un-partnered-6"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"Single women are more often subjected to the annoying sorts of questions like, ‘Are you seeing anyone?’","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220405-single-shaming-why-people-jump-to-judge-the-un-partnered-7"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EDating app Bumble’s research from October 2021, seen by BBC Worklife, showed that 53% of the more than 8,500 Bumble users surveyed across Canada, France, Germany, India, Mexico, the Philippines, Australia, the UK and the US “realized that it’s okay to be alone for a while”, thanks to the pandemic. Additionally, since Covid-19, many singletons have reported positive feelings and outcomes regarding their relationship status. Per the Match survey, 42% said they “enjoyed” being single during the pandemic.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHowever, this statistic implies the other 58% of respondents did not; in fact, pandemic-wrought isolation affected many singles negatively, and increased shaming for some – Match reported 37% of singles surveyed said they got more questions from “concerned friends and family” about their love lives. Indeed, Abrams suggests single shaming is “still pretty rampant”, even as the ever-growing numbers of singles in countries like the US suggest a possible movement away from this behaviour.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EStill, experts are hopeful that these changing demographics will continue to evolve judgements around singlehood. DePaulo calls this uptick in singletons “the power of numbers”, saying “just about every time the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.census.gov\u002Fnewsroom\u002Fstories\u002Funmarried-single-americans-week.html\"\u003ECensus Bureau releases its latest statistics\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, the findings show that there are more single people, and a greater proportion of single people, than there were before”. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EShe adds: “When whole swaths of the population are unmarried – in the US, close to half – it gets harder to insist that they all have something wrong with them.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220405-single-shaming-why-people-jump-to-judge-the-un-partnered-8"}],"collection":["worklife\u002Fpremium-collection\u002Flovelife"],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2022-04-06T13:19:07Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"'Single shaming': Why people jump to judge the un-partnered","headlineShort":"The big 'single shaming' problem","image":["p0bzhp2x"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[{"Content":{"Description":"Apple News Publish: Select to publish, remove to unpublish. (Do not just delete or unpublish the story)","Name":"publish-applenews-system-1"},"Metadata":{"CreationDateTime":"2016-02-05T14:32:31.186819Z","Entity":"option","Guid":"13f4bc85-ae27-4a34-9397-0e6ad3619619","Id":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","ModifiedDateTime":"2022-02-27T22:52:24.455144Z","Project":"wwverticals","Slug":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1"},"Urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:option:option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","_id":"62b420921f4b7b5d34253c8b"}],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":["worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220301-does-solo-polyamory-mean-having-it-all","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220308-opposites-attract-why-the-adage-is-obsolete"],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"The number of singletons is increasing, yet people still insist on telling them they’ll find a partner soon. What’s with all the pity?","summaryShort":"Why the stigma that singletons will 'find their person soon' endures","tag":["tag\u002Fhow-we-live"],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2022-04-06T00:15:20.66815Z","entity":"article","guid":"c9f64659-150c-4505-a711-8f9d6dee58db","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220405-single-shaming-why-people-jump-to-judge-the-un-partnered","modifiedDateTime":"2022-04-07T11:17:52.451996Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220405-single-shaming-why-people-jump-to-judge-the-un-partnered","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100261},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220421-why-singles-are-pre-screening-their-dates":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220421-why-singles-are-pre-screening-their-dates","_id":"62b4205c1f4b7b430049d803","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":["worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fkatie-bishop"],"bodyIntro":"First dates used to be about drinks, maybe dinner. But post-pandemic singles are opting for low-key options that allow them to ‘screen’ potential partners.","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EBefore the pandemic, Louise, 33, was a prolific dater. She would typically meet someone new from a dating app once a week, and her standard first date would be “a drink or three after work”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut when Covid-19 hit, and happy hour in her home city of London was replaced by virtual drinks and Zoom pub-quizzes, her dating life shifted, too. Louise found herself embracing phone calls and video dates with potential suitors – and she was surprised to find she enjoyed the change of pace.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“It was a positive move to get to know someone over a long period of time,” she says. “I found the slower pace suited me. I think \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex\"\u003Etaking away alcohol was a big factor\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, as you have clearer judgement and opinions on someone. The lockdowns made me really take a step back, and look at the way I was approaching dating.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen restrictions lifted, Louise chose not to dive back into her pre-pandemic dating habits. Instead, she wanted to take the best bits of dating at a distance and use them in a new approach to looking for love. She had particularly enjoyed going on walks during the months when bars and restaurants were closed but meeting outdoors was still permitted, so she continued to suggest active, outdoor dates, rather than opting for dinner and drinks.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENow, a first date for Louise is more commonly a dog walk or an activity that she would otherwise do with a friend, like a gig she’s already interested in going to. She also tends to send voice notes or call potential dates before meeting in real life.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Before Covid, I would go on dates with the mindset of ‘may as well see what they’re like’,” she says. “But by going into dates with this attitude, the chances were that it wasn’t going to be a very good match. Now that I’m back in the office, going to sports clubs and seeing friends, I don’t want to waste my time on pointless, mindless dates – I want them to be fun, and with someone I genuinely want to get to know better. So, I make sure that I take the time to get to know someone first, to make sure that we’re on the same page.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220421-why-singles-are-pre-screening-their-dates-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0c2jvkd"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220421-why-singles-are-pre-screening-their-dates-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EWhether it was \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211214-great-resignation-into-great-reshuffle\"\u003Echanging careers\u003C\u002Fa\u003E or \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220125-the-small-cities-and-towns-booming-from-remote-work\"\u003Emoving cities\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, the pandemic prompted many people to re-evaluate their lives – and love lives were not exempt from this reckoning. Louise is one of many singles to rethink their approach to dating since the pandemic; experts believe many people are now less willing to commit to a time-consuming, high-stakes first date. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EInstead, they are scoping out potential dates with voice notes, video calls or a casual meet-up woven into activities that slide more easily into their day-to-day lives. This low-stakes pre-date is changing the way that we approach looking for love – but does it lead to stronger and more \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Flovelife\"\u003Elasting connections\u003C\u002Fa\u003E?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAn ‘explosion’ of virtual dating\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor many daters, a low-stakes pre-date starts long before meeting a new match in real life.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBefore the pandemic, John Junior, 33, who lives in Cheshire, UK, would sometimes go on multiple dates in one day. But John still has concerns about catching the virus, and is also more \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210623-the-darkest-side-of-online-dating\"\u003Ewary about new people\u003C\u002Fa\u003E after being \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20201125-te-romance-scammers-exploiting-lockdown-loneliness\"\u003Ecatfished\u003C\u002Fa\u003E during the pandemic. This means he now FaceTimes people before agreeing to meet up. “It’s easier and more convenient,” he says. “I can see if we are compatible and if they really are keen. It’s been a huge positive, and it feels safer.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe rise – and subsequent staying power – of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20200717-is-video-dating-here-to-stay\"\u003Evideo first-dates\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is perhaps one of the biggest post-pandemic dating trends, and a key indicator people are looking for a first date that slots more easily into their schedule. Researchers from leading dating app Hinge say the rise of video dating has been “explosive” in recent years. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Virtual dates are the new coffee dates – a low-pressure way to see if you and your match connect,” says Logan Ury, a behavioural scientist and director of relationship science at Hinge. “It’s a chance to see if you can carry a conversation and are excited to spend more time together in person. You get a sense of the person, from the comfort of your own home, without a long commute or expensive evening.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220421-why-singles-are-pre-screening-their-dates-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"Virtual dates are the new coffee dates – a low-pressure way to see if you and your match connect – Logan Ury","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220421-why-singles-are-pre-screening-their-dates-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EThe idea of not wanting to commit time, energy and money to multiple in-person first dates is certainly one that resonates with Louise. For her, changing the way that she dates is part of a wider consideration of what she wants her life to look like post-pandemic. Having more time to herself during lockdowns brought a fresh perspective; she values quality over quantity in lots of aspects of her life. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EKate Balestrieri, a licensed psychologist and sex therapist, based in the US, says this was a common reaction to lockdowns, which forced people to confront how \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20201230-how-the-pandemic-could-redefine-our-productivity-obsession\"\u003Efast-paced\u003C\u002Fa\u003E their lives were pre-pandemic. She says the rise of the pre-date is part of a broader trend towards so-called “slow” or “intentional” dating that has developed over the last couple of years.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“The incessant swiping that used to dominate the dating world left people feeling burnt out and tired of inauthenticity,” she says. “Seeking more connection, many are adopting a slower and more intentional approach to dating, to ensure a good fit that does not waste their time or drain their energy.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe idea of time-wasting is one that comes up a lot among daters embracing low-stakes first dates. During lockdowns, people had space to think about what was really important to them – and to understand what they really missed when it was taken away. If going on lots of dates wasn’t something they particularly missed, but they were still interested in finding a partner, then a low-stakes first date can be easier to fit around more valued activities. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“People have experienced a shift in their work-life balance, and are seeing time as a more precious commodity,” says Balestrieri. “Many are now taking more care to get to know someone before allocating a lot of time and financial resources to a more formal dating process.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220421-why-singles-are-pre-screening-their-dates-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0c2jvkx"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220421-why-singles-are-pre-screening-their-dates-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA better way to find love?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EData shows post-pandemic singles are more serious about looking for love. After a lonely year or two and a slow return to ‘normal’ life, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.singlesinamerica.com\u002F\"\u003E58% of daters\u003C\u002Fa\u003E have shifted towards intentional dating, and 62% have become more interested in a meaningful, committed relationship. Only 11% of app daters now say that they want to date casually.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHow does a low-stakes first-date fit into this increased desire to find something serious?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor Balestrieri, it’s a sign of people’s growing distaste for spending time and money on casual interactions, instead saving up these resources for dates that they can see developing into more serious relationships. A low-stakes pre-date can help them filter through a crowded market of potential partners to find the people with whom they have a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220308-opposites-attract-why-the-adage-is-obsolete\"\u003Egenuine connection\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and, in these contentious times, with whom their values align. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Going through the pandemic has left people with a renewed sense of what is important to them, and allocating time on people who are not a good fit is no longer a noteworthy endeavour for many,” says Balestrieri. And although there’s no guarantee that the low-stakes pre-date will lead to more lasting love, it certainly means fewer bad dates and more time to allocate to the things that truly matter.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs for Louise, the pandemic gave her a chance to reflect on not only how she wanted to date, but whom she wanted to ultimately end up with – and she hopes the low-stakes pre-date will help her to find them. “I would like to meet someone who is genuine, and I think that by changing my habits I am giving myself a better chance,” she says. Yet, true to her slower pace of dating, Louise says she’s taking her time. “I’m in no rush to meet someone,” she says. “My life is pretty good as it is.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220421-why-singles-are-pre-screening-their-dates-6"}],"collection":["worklife\u002Fpremium-collection\u002Flovelife"],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2022-04-29T16:34:00Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"Why singles are 'pre-screening' their dates","headlineShort":"The new way to pick a partner?","image":["p0c2jvlf"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"","isSyndicated":false,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[{"Content":{"Description":"Apple News Publish: Select to publish, remove to unpublish. (Do not just delete or unpublish the story)","Name":"publish-applenews-system-1"},"Metadata":{"CreationDateTime":"2016-02-05T14:32:31.186819Z","Entity":"option","Guid":"13f4bc85-ae27-4a34-9397-0e6ad3619619","Id":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","ModifiedDateTime":"2022-02-27T22:52:24.455144Z","Project":"wwverticals","Slug":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1"},"Urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:option:option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","_id":"62b420921f4b7b5d34253c8b"}],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":["worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220405-single-shaming-why-people-jump-to-judge-the-un-partnered"],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"First dates used to be about drinks, maybe dinner. But post-pandemic singles are opting for low-key options that allow them to ‘screen’ potential partners.","summaryShort":"\"I don't want to waste my time on pointless, mindless dates\"","tag":["tag\u002Fhow-we-live"],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2022-04-28T21:51:53.502682Z","entity":"article","guid":"71cb50dd-1e7b-4916-8cc1-b39e9c41dcb8","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220421-why-singles-are-pre-screening-their-dates","modifiedDateTime":"2022-04-29T00:23:24.610945Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220421-why-singles-are-pre-screening-their-dates","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100256},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220601-the-invisible-obstacles-of-non-binary-dating":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220601-the-invisible-obstacles-of-non-binary-dating","_id":"62b4205c1f4b7b2e703b8d6a","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":["worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fjessica-klein"],"bodyIntro":"Dating can be a minefield for anyone looking for partnership – but people who identify as non-binary face many specific challenges.","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen Alexa Hermosillo, 25, came out as non-binary about a year ago, while living in San Diego, California, he found many of the people he dated still boxed him into a gender binary.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHermosillo had short hair and presented as more masculine, but was using she\u002Fhe pronouns at the time. People he dated, however, “would assign that more normatively masculine role to me”, he says (Hermosillo now identifies as trans masculine). “If we drove somewhere, I would be the person to drive. If I took them out on dates, I’d be the main person paying.” \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis is one of the many nuanced issues people who identify as non-binary face when dating. Both dating partners and dating apps are likely to assign them to a binary gender. They may be treated, as Hermosillo says he was, as someone else’s dating “experiment”, particularly if that person is newly exploring a queer identity. They’re subject to misgendering and inadvertent insults, people who try too hard to empathise with their gender identity, and those who don’t try to understand at all. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDating can be a minefield for anyone who’s looking for partnership – but for people who identify as non-binary, there are even more obstacles, often invisible to people who identify with the mainstream view of gender identity and heteronormative sexuality.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Dating as a non-binary person, you're not only faced with societal, cultural norms from people who don't know you, but you're also put in opposition to people that you're dating,” says Hermosillo, “because culture really influences what people think about you and what your role is.” That cultural influence can often put non-binary daters’ personal realities and desires at odds with their dates’ views of how they should behave. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn the US, approximately \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwilliamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu\u002Fpress\u002Flgbtq-nonbinary-press-release\u002F\"\u003E1.2 million LGBTQ adults identify as non-binary\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, according to a 2021 study by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law. Most of them (76%) report being between the ages of 18 and 29 years old. Research from the US-based non-profit Trevor Project showed that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftime.com\u002F6079326\u002Fnonbinary-lgbtq-youth\u002F\"\u003E26% of LGBTQ youth identified as non-binary\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in 2021. In other words, this seems to be an increasingly common gender identity, making up more and more of the dating population. And yet, non-binary people are still often misunderstood.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAfter all, being “outside of a binary system”, says psychologist Liz Powell, who’s based in Philadelphia and identifies as non-binary, can be particularly hard to grasp for those still operating within that binary system. “It creates this huge gap of understanding,” they say, in which those who identify within the binary “don't even think the [gender identity] you're talking about could possibly be real”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220601-the-invisible-obstacles-of-non-binary-dating-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0cb8k8v"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220601-the-invisible-obstacles-of-non-binary-dating-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGetting assigned to a gender binary\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIdentifying as non-binary means, simply, not defining one’s gender within the male versus female binary. In a sense, it challenges the very notion of that binary by showing that gender doesn’t have to fit into that long-established framework.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThough people who identify as non-binary don’t ascribe to a gender binary, the people they date still very well may. And dating a non-binary person while identifying with a gender binary might “challenge that person’s understanding of their own sexual orientation”, says Powell.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“As an Afab [assigned female at birth] non-binary person, there have been straight men I've dated who need me to be a woman in order for them to feel comfortable being attracted to and dating me,” explains Powell. “Because otherwise, it might mean that they aren’t as straight as they would like to be.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe same goes for lesbian women, for example, who put a lot of importance on their lesbian identity. “There can be ways in which your non-binary-ness can make them feel like they’re being less queer by being with you, and therefore creates more conflict and challenge,” believes Powell. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThey say their clients, most of whom are non-binary, describe similar experiences. It’s a relatively common occurrence - even in particularly progressive urban centers. Thirty-three-year old Beberoyale (who’s withholding their surname for privacy), lives in New York City. They recall dating someone there who identified as male, and asked Beberoyale for a photo of what they were wearing one day.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBeberoyale had been in the process of coming out as non-binary, “playing with wearing a packer or a binder, not wearing makeup”, they say. “I remember I was nervous to send him a picture because… I was dressed masc [masculine].” They explained that to their partner, and they thought he understood. But when they sent the photo, he replied, “That looks terrible on you. Why aren’t you wearing something that actually fits you?”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220601-the-invisible-obstacles-of-non-binary-dating-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"Dating a non-binary person while identifying with a gender binary might ‘challenge that person’s understanding of their own sexual orientation’ – Liz Powel","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220601-the-invisible-obstacles-of-non-binary-dating-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003ETraditional beauty standards can strongly influence how potential partners treat their non-binary dates. It can be even more complicated if a non-binary person sits at the intersection of multiple marginalised identities. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor New York-based Cheyenne Davis, 27, who self-describes as “fat, Black, and non-binary”, these types of biases play a lot into how potential dates may assign them to a female category. “I personally feel that because I'm not a white person, I don't present androgynously because I’m not thin,” they say. “We don't have enough representation of people that look like me as non-binary… that are outside of white androgyny.” This lack of representation can often lead to misgendering, even when Davis specifies that they’re non-binary on dating apps.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStruggles on and off the apps\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EStill, Davis regularly runs into problems with being misgendered on dating apps, which tend to cater to people who operate within the gender binary.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOne dating app that they’ve used, BLK, which targets black users, offered a particularly disappointing experience for Davis as a black person looking to date other black people. The options for how you can appear on the app, they say, are “man”, “woman” or “other”, which Davis finds to be “very unsavoury” –“other” comes off as dehumanising terminology.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFeeld, says Davis, which services people who are \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210326-ethical-non-monogamy-the-rise-of-multi-partner-relationships\"\u003Eethically non-monogamous\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220301-does-solo-polyamory-mean-having-it-all\"\u003Epolyamorous\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and\u002For \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210818-what-does-sex-positivity-mean\"\u003Ekinky\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, offers more and better options for how people can describe their gender. However, representation for people of colour is a problem on Feeld, which Davis calls “very white”. They also say they’ve been better able to describe their non-binary identity on apps like Hinge and OkCupid – but even people Davis met through those apps, they say, “would misgender me from time to time”. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESeveral non-binary folks who spoke with the BBC described the same, recurring problem with dating apps; while many allow users to identify as non-binary, their profiles still get lumped in with men or women when it comes to how other users of the app can view them. Even though these users specify that they don’t align with either of those genders, their profiles are served up to other users as if they do, since on most apps, users can specify that they’d like to see men’s profiles, women’s profiles, or both – leaving non-binary people with no category that makes sense for them.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220601-the-invisible-obstacles-of-non-binary-dating-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0cb8kfc"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220601-the-invisible-obstacles-of-non-binary-dating-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EAfter all, most dating apps were created with a gender binary in mind. Bumble, for instance, describes itself as “women-first” (per an email to BBC Worklife from a Bumble representative), assuming a gender binary when it comes to how people match up on the app. The Bumble representative, however, also notes that users can choose who they’d like to be seen by on the app, like if they want to be seen by “women, men, non-binary people, a selection of two options, or everyone”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThen there are dating apps such as Lex, which primarily target users who identify as “queer, trans, gender non-conforming, two spirit, and non-binary”, according to the dating service’s website. A representative from the company wrote to the BBC, “Our app does not work under a binary system. It truly is a fluid experience.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThese apps can be helpful for non-binary users, some of whom say meeting a person online gives them a chance to better screen potential dates before meeting up in person. Davis feels that “there's a level of safety that comes with online dating as a marginalised person, because you can curate what you're seeing [and] what you're not seeing”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFrom their past experience with dating apps, Beberoyale, who always includes their pronouns in their dating app profiles, has developed a sort of sixth sense for users who are liable to see them “as a woman”, they say. They’ve found that dating queer as opposed to straight men has been best, since they’re “already in the [LGBTQ+] community”, which gives them a better understanding of gender identities that exist outside the binary.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESince there is a certain level of safety and assurance for non-binary people in LGBTQ+ and non-heteronormative communities, many prefer to date specifically within those communities. “A lot of non-binary folks that I know aren't as active on the apps. They tend to prefer to meet folks through queer or kink or poly communities,” says Powell, “because the apps are a much higher source of misgendering… than those more community-based spaces.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe problem with these in-person spaces is that they can be limiting in terms of numbers. While dating apps have a seemingly endless supply of users looking for dates, local LGBTQ+ communities are generally small worlds. “It just becomes a much narrower pool of folks who are going to be able to be on the right page,” says Powell.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMaking a “baseline effort”\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EUltimately, it’s not that hard to be respectful to non-binary people when going on dates, says Powell says – “it just takes a certain baseline amount of effort”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220601-the-invisible-obstacles-of-non-binary-dating-6"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"I’ve had a person, instead of calling me ‘m’lady’, like in Medieval times, call me, ‘m’theydie’ – Cheyenne Davis","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220601-the-invisible-obstacles-of-non-binary-dating-7"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EFor example, people can share their pronouns and ask their date’s pronouns at the beginning of an outing. When discussing sex, it’s helpful to ask things like whether there are certain words that a dating partner does or doesn’t like to use to describe various body parts, or certain body parts they prefer not to use at all during sex. There are plenty of alternatives to traditional, gendered words; Davis has had dates come up with creative, non-binary terms of endearment. “I’ve had a person, instead of calling me ‘m’lady’, like in Medieval times, call me, ‘m’theydie’,” they say. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThat said, it’s important to not overdo it when it comes to having conversations about how a non-binary person self-identifies. “Don't make this about your journey around non-binary people,” advises Powell. “The same way that if you were dating a person who had a prosthetic limb, if you spent the entire dinner talking about their prosthetic limb, that would be frickin’ weird.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThat can happen when people who aren’t necessarily in the right place to date a non-binary person end up dating someone who identifies that way. For some people, their sexual orientation is very important to their identity, so dating someone who doesn’t prescribe to a gender binary “might threaten that orientation”, says Powell. “I think it is important to ask yourself whether you're actually a good person to date a non-binary person.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EUltimately, it comes down to treating people on dates like people, not some abstract idea of a non-binary individual. Powell has observed that often, people view dating non-binary folks as a “virtuous” act, because it signals that they’re more open to different types of folks. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Remember that those people also have their own wants and needs, and they want to date people who are down for the people they actually are,” adds Powell, “not just because those people are willing to be with them because they don't want to look bad.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220601-the-invisible-obstacles-of-non-binary-dating-8"}],"collection":["worklife\u002Fpremium-collection\u002Flovelife"],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2022-06-02T14:14:46Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"The invisible obstacles of non-binary dating","headlineShort":"The hidden hurdles of non-binary dating","image":["p0cb8jm2"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[{"Content":{"Description":"Apple News Publish: Select to publish, remove to unpublish. (Do not just delete or unpublish the story)","Name":"publish-applenews-system-1"},"Metadata":{"CreationDateTime":"2016-02-05T14:32:31.186819Z","Entity":"option","Guid":"13f4bc85-ae27-4a34-9397-0e6ad3619619","Id":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","ModifiedDateTime":"2022-02-27T22:52:24.455144Z","Project":"wwverticals","Slug":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1"},"Urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:option:option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","_id":"62b420921f4b7b5d34253c8b"}],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":["worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220405-single-shaming-why-people-jump-to-judge-the-un-partnered","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211101-why-demisexuality-is-as-real-as-any-sexual-orientation","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220421-why-singles-are-pre-screening-their-dates"],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"Dating can be a minefield for anyone looking for partnership – but people who identify as non-binary face many specific challenges.","summaryShort":"When a person doesn't identify as a man or woman, dating can get complicated","tag":["tag\u002Fhow-we-live"],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2022-06-02T06:09:38.086926Z","entity":"article","guid":"60f3f319-a2d7-4d91-9469-ee20eff7c65c","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220601-the-invisible-obstacles-of-non-binary-dating","modifiedDateTime":"2022-06-02T11:16:50.640558Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220601-the-invisible-obstacles-of-non-binary-dating","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100252},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-age-gaps-the-relationship-taboo-that-wont-die":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-age-gaps-the-relationship-taboo-that-wont-die","_id":"62b4205b1f4b7b2942657453","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":["worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fkatie-bishop"],"bodyIntro":"Societies are increasingly progressive; today, many people accept that love presents in many ways. So why do people still judge couples who are many years apart?","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp class=\"xmsonospacing\"\u003EA viral chart from 2019 keeps popping up on social media: a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.insider.com\u002Fleonardo-dicaprio-girlfriends-reddit-chart-2019-3\"\u003Egraph detailing Leonardo DiCaprio’s dating history\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. A Reddit user had spotted a trend – although the actor was 44 at the time, he seemingly only dated women aged 25 or younger, always breaking up with partners before they reached their 26th birthday.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"xmsonormal\"\u003EResponses to the chart were mixed; some commended DiCaprio for his ability to attract younger women, while others berated the veteran actor, begging him to find someone closer to his own age. Even at three years old, the chart continues to resurface, as commentators keep a keen eye on DiCaprio’s current relationship with 24-year-old Camila Morrone.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe reactions to the actor’s dating habits embody the contentious views surrounding age-gap relationships – for some, they are a source of admiration, while for others, there is something inherently unsettling about coupling up with a much younger person. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFrom Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, to George and Amal Clooney, high-profile age-gap relationships have always set tongues wagging. Although in 2014 the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffivethirtyeight.com\u002Ffeatures\u002Fwhats-the-average-age-difference-in-a-couple\u002F#:~:text=The%20average%20age%20difference%20(for,12%20months%20apart%20in%20age.\"\u003Eaverage age difference\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in US heterosexual relationships was a relatively small 2.3 years, many couples have a much wider gap. In Western countries, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.taylorfrancis.com\u002Fchapters\u002Fedit\u002F10.4324\u002F9780203874370-7\u002Fmay%E2%80%93december-paradoxes-exploration-age-gap-relationships-western-society-western-society-justin-lehmiller-christopher-agnew\"\u003Earound 8%\u003C\u002Fa\u003E of male-female couples have an age-gap of 10 years or more, rising to 25% in male-male unions and 15% of female-female relationships. For some the gap is even larger – data suggests that around 1% of heterosexual couples in the US have an age difference of 28 years or more. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOur views around age-gap relationships are shaped by thousands of years of evolutionary psychology, and generations of social and cultural norms. Within the last hundred years, economic shifts and increased gender equalities have changed what is considered a ‘normal’ age-gap, and recent social justice movements have increased scrutiny of power dynamics in mixed-age relationships. Couples with large age gaps often face judgement, and while some experts believe that this could be about to change, others argue that young people could be becoming more disapproving of mixed-age love than ever before. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAn evolutionary nudge\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThose who find DiCaprio’s dating habits distasteful aren’t without good reason. Aversions to age-gap relationships are very common and, like most taboos, they stem from thousands of years of evolution as well as more recent social and cultural cues. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“In many cultures, it is not considered acceptable to fall in love with someone who is much older or younger than you,” says Dr Elena Touroni, a consultant psychologist and co-founder of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic in London. “From an evolutionary perspective, the drive to have a family can have an impact on who we choose to have a relationship with – both from a biological perspective but also in the sense of both parents being alive to raise the child.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-age-gaps-the-relationship-taboo-that-wont-die-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"In many cultures, it is not considered acceptable to fall in love with someone who is much older or younger than you - Dr Elena Touroni","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-age-gaps-the-relationship-taboo-that-wont-die-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EFor both \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002F7657747\u002F\"\u003Emen\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.britishfertilitysociety.org.uk\u002Ffei\u002Fat-what-age-does-fertility-begin-to-decrease\u002F\"\u003Ewomen\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, fertility tends to decline after the age of about 35, and though women lose their ability to conceive much more rapidly, it makes sense that we’ve evolved to be attracted to people who are similarly aged. Although there is relatively little data on age in LGBTQ+ relationships, we know that age-gaps among same-sex couples are much more common, perhaps reflecting how much the ability to biologically conceive together influences how we approach finding a partner. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt’s not just about parenting, however. Pairing up with someone of a similar age makes your relationship \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theatlantic.com\u002Fhealth\u002Farchive\u002F2014\u002F11\u002Fwhy-to-marry-someone-your-own-age\u002F382520\u002F\"\u003Emore likely\u003C\u002Fa\u003E to go the distance, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fftp.iza.org\u002Fdp10863.pdf\"\u003Eresearch shows\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Experts believe that this is because these couples tend to go through life challenges and stages at a similar time, and can therefore continue to find common ground. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“In the initial 10 years of marriage, people report higher levels of marital satisfaction when their partner is younger than them,” says Grace Lordan, an associate professor of behavioural science at the London School of Economics, who is currently researching age-gap relationships and happiness. “However, over time, the marital satisfaction of different-aged couples declines more than similar-aged partners. The probability of similar-aged couples divorcing is also lower.” \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYet despite these factors nudging us towards partners of the same age, socio-economic circumstances can sometimes counteract evolutionary urges. In 1900, the average age-gap between couples \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpaa2008.princeton.edu\u002Fpapers\u002F80695\"\u003Ewas about double the gap in 2000\u003C\u002Fa\u003E;  historically people (particularly those in the middle- and upper-classes) would have been much more likely to marry someone far older or younger than them. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe reasons for this are both biological and economic. If a 50-year-old man wants to have children, it is not in his interest to couple up with a similarly-aged woman who is much less likely to still be fertile. In a patriarchal society in which men have the economic power, the choice to pair up with a much younger woman would be more likely to be available to him.   \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn the 19th and early 20th Centuries, most women were excluded from the workforce, so it made sense for them to prioritise marrying someone who had already achieved financial security. For men, it made sense to establish themselves economically and worry about marriage at a later date – when due to their increased social power they were able to find younger wives who provided the best chance of having children. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhom we judge and why\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs women have gained greater economic power, however, the appeal of a much-older spouse has fallen, making age-gap relationships less common – and often more taboo. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThese days, even as most societies embrace increasingly progressive views on love, relationships and the rich variety of ways they can present, couples where one person is much older than the other still face judgement. Rather than assume people are happily together, there's a tendency to worry about possible power imbalances, and view the relationship as transactional, assuming one party is seeking to elevate their social status or wealth. There's even specific vocabulary to aid that judgement; an older man must be a ‘sugar daddy’, a younger woman a ‘gold-digger’ or victim of ‘daddy issues’.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-age-gaps-the-relationship-taboo-that-wont-die-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0bw0ztd"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"Franc President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-age-gaps-the-relationship-taboo-that-wont-die-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EIn recent years, that vocabulary has been expanded to include relationships in which women are the significantly older partner; words like ‘cougars’ and ‘toyboys’ reflect the rise in this kind of relationship. Statistics show that in 1963 just \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fuk\u002F2003\u002Fdec\u002F12\u002Fgender.britishidentity\"\u003E15% of UK brides were older than their groom\u003C\u002Fa\u003Es. By 1998, this had risen to 26%, and findings from one \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.jstor.org\u002Fstable\u002F23016658?mag=stigma-around-older-woman-younger-man-relationships&seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents\"\u003E2011 study\u003C\u002Fa\u003E suggested that the number of women married or \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.jstor.org\u002Fstable\u002F23016658?mag=stigma-around-older-woman-younger-man-relationships&seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents\"\u003Ecohabiting with a man five years or younger had almost tripled\u003C\u002Fa\u003E since the 1970s. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWomen who choose to date younger men seem to face a disproportionate amount of judgement. “Us humans are judgemental, and if what our neighbour is doing is misaligned with what we expect, we put a spotlight on it,” says Lordan. “Women who match with younger men go most against the grain when it comes to our narrative of marriage, and so suffer the most judgement.” \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe media attention that surrounded French President Emmanuel Macron’s marriage to a woman 24 years his senior, or the fevered coverage of 41-year-old Kim Kardashian’s relationship with 28-year-old Pete Davidson only underlines this. Yet Touroni believes that older men\u002Fyounger women relationships are now perceived with even more judgement than older women\u002Fyounger men couples. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis is perhaps in part linked to the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20190718-the-metoo-evolution\"\u003E#MeToo movement\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, which placed increased attention on power dynamics in relationships. Some argue a significant age-gap, combined with the social and economic power that men wield in a male-dominated society, can leave young women in a vulnerable position. One study conducted shortly after #MeToo took hold shows that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.sciencedirect.com\u002Fscience\u002Farticle\u002Fabs\u002Fpii\u002FS019188691830120X\"\u003Emany outsiders believe that there’s an aspect of exploitation in age-gap relationships\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Researchers found young people were particularly averse to relationships in which the male partner was older, and posited this was because they assumed that the relationship was exchange-based – for example, that people were exchanging sex for a certain lifestyle. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWill the age-gap taboo disappear?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EToday, there is an increased acceptance that all relationships look different – whether this relates to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220224-why-sexual-identities-shifted-during-the-pandemic\"\u003Esexuality\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210610-why-more-women-identify-as-sexually-fluid-than-men\"\u003Egender\u003C\u002Fa\u003E or even the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210326-ethical-non-monogamy-the-rise-of-multi-partner-relationships\"\u003Enumber of people\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in the same relationship.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-age-gaps-the-relationship-taboo-that-wont-die-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"Us humans are judgemental, and if what our neighbour is doing is misaligned with what we expect, we put a spotlight on it – Grace Lordan","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-age-gaps-the-relationship-taboo-that-wont-die-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003ETouroni says as more kinds of relationships are normalised, she hopes that people will respect the choices of those in age-gap relationships. “We are living in an era of more freedom and flexibility, so I would like to think that over time we will become significantly less judgemental about other people’s relationship choices, whether that’s age-gaps or anything else.” \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYet there’s little evidence that society’s fascination with age-gaps is lessening. So-called May-to-December celebrity love affairs still regularly make headlines, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.sciencedirect.com\u002Fscience\u002Farticle\u002Fabs\u002Fpii\u002FS019188691830120X\"\u003Eyoung people\u003C\u002Fa\u003E seem even more judgemental of age-gap relationships than their older counterparts, particularly when a man is older than a female partner. Given that young people are generally at the forefront of social changes, their disapproval could mean that the age-gap taboo might become even more deeply entrenched. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Overall, I do hold out hope that we are becoming less judgemental of others, whatever their choices are,” says Lordan. “But the narratives of what a ‘good’ relationship looks like are so hard-wired in Western society, it is unlikely that we will reach a place where people stop judging the lifestyle choices of others that go against these norms, including age-gap couples.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-age-gaps-the-relationship-taboo-that-wont-die-6"}],"collection":["worklife\u002Fpremium-collection\u002Flovelife"],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2022-03-25T00:00:00Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"Age gaps: The relationship taboo that won't die","headlineShort":"The relationship taboo that won't die","image":["p0bw0xlw"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"An older man and a younger woman, looking happy","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[{"Content":{"Description":"Apple News Publish: Select to publish, remove to unpublish. (Do not just delete or unpublish the story)","Name":"publish-applenews-system-1"},"Metadata":{"CreationDateTime":"2016-02-05T14:32:31.186819Z","Entity":"option","Guid":"13f4bc85-ae27-4a34-9397-0e6ad3619619","Id":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","ModifiedDateTime":"2022-02-27T22:52:24.455144Z","Project":"wwverticals","Slug":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1"},"Urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:option:option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","_id":"62b420921f4b7b5d34253c8b"}],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":["worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220301-does-solo-polyamory-mean-having-it-all","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220224-why-sexual-identities-shifted-during-the-pandemic","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex"],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"Societies are increasingly progressive; today, many people accept that love presents in many ways. So why do people still judge couples who are many years apart?","summaryShort":"Why can't people accept that some couples simply aren't close in age?","tag":["tag\u002Fhow-we-live"],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2022-03-24T20:32:06.290632Z","entity":"article","guid":"801eca88-2e55-4a5c-8801-cc14431e0428","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-age-gaps-the-relationship-taboo-that-wont-die","modifiedDateTime":"2022-03-24T20:32:06.290632Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-age-gaps-the-relationship-taboo-that-wont-die","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100263},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220420-are-baby-boomers-having-the-best-time-in-bed":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220420-are-baby-boomers-having-the-best-time-in-bed","_id":"62b4205c1f4b7b2e703b8d69","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":["worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fjessica-klein"],"bodyIntro":"Older adults are often passed over in conversations about intimacy. But they may be having more fun than everyone else.","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003ESociety loves to focus on the sex and dating lives of Gen Z and millennials. How are they dating, what sexual orientations are they identifying with and what are their relationships like? But as glossy as young love may be, dating and sex don’t begin and end in young adulthood. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn fact, both activities can improve significantly with age. Multiple studies show people who’ve lived longer may just be having the best sex. For example, a 2016 study of more than 6,000 adults in the US showed “\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.tandfonline.com\u002Fdoi\u002Ffull\u002F10.1080\u002F00224499.2016.1233315\"\u003Eage had a positive relationship with sexual quality of life\u003C\u002Fa\u003E”, with researchers concluding that older respondents had developed what they dubbed “sexual wisdom” – which referred to not just sexual prowess, but also respondents’ aptitude as a considerate and giving partner. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“With life experience, people might be learning more about their own sexual preferences and their partners’ likes and dislikes,” says Miriam Forbes, senior research fellow at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, who worked on the study. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESimilarly, research on the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.routledge.com\u002FMagnificent-Sex-Lessons-from-Extraordinary-Lovers\u002FKleinplatz-Menard\u002Fp\u002Fbook\u002F9780367181376\"\u003Esex lives of adults in their 60s to 80s\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, conducted by Dr Peggy Kleinplatz, director of the optimal sexual-experiences research team at the University of Ottawa, overwhelmingly showed the subjects’ intimate lives had improved with the years. And a 2018 study out of Israel showed that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002F30489170\u002F\"\u003Eadults aged 60 to 91 had transitioned their focus “from lust to love”\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and from “getting to giving” sex over time. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWith a body of research suggesting skill, expertise and better communication in both sexual and romantic desires come with experience, younger people may stand to learn much about relationships from their older peers. It could even reshape the narrative of our sexual journeys, deconstructing traditional notions of who is having the best sex and when.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220420-are-baby-boomers-having-the-best-time-in-bed-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0c25dqz"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"A stock shot from Grace and Frankie","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220420-are-baby-boomers-having-the-best-time-in-bed-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA closer look at senior intimacy\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIncreasing public interest in senior dating and sexuality is a new phenomenon. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen Dr Stacy Lindau started as a medical student in the mid-1990s in Rhode Island, US, she was taught to ask her older patients about their sexual histories – but she noticed her teachers weren’t doing that themselves. Nevertheless, she did ask – and the questions about her patients’ past experiences elicited a “twinkle in their eye”, she says. “They came to life and had a story to tell.” \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf simply asking older patients about their intimate lives had this positive effect, it certainly seemed like an area worth studying to figure out how to address their overall wellness. But Lindau noticed that while studies had been conducted to focus on the sexual behaviours of younger adults, none centred on those 60 and up. The studies on younger people received funding because their cohort was most affected by HIV\u002FAIDS, suggests Lindau, a popular and crucial research subject at that time. However, as effective treatments for HIV\u002FAIDs extended the lives of those living with the virus, research on the subject shifted to encompass older people. Meanwhile, the “successful marketing of erectile dysfunction drugs” added another influence that “really opened the door” for studying sexuality among older adults, says Lindau. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis helped Lindau get funding for the study she and colleagues conducted, published in 2008. Featuring more than 3,000 US adults aged 57 to 85, Lindau’s study revealed that more than half of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002Fpmc\u002Farticles\u002FPMC2426743\u002F\"\u003Epeople between 65 and 74 years old had had sex at least once\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in the previous year, but that older adults weren’t particularly likely to discuss their sex lives with physicians. The study also served as a template that paved the way for similar longitudinal studies on intimacy among older adults in both \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.elsa-project.ac.uk\u002F\"\u003Ethe UK\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftilda.tcd.ie\u002F\"\u003EIreland\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMeanwhile, in her clinical work, Lindau continued to discuss the sex and dating lives of people in their 60s and 70s. Along with learning about her older patients’ continued interest in maintaining active sex lives, she also learned that dating apps had “become more mainstream” among older people, allowing them to put themselves out there in a way that wasn’t quite available in the past. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Another theme I heard is what a gift it is to age,” says Lindau. Her patients, many of whom had survived cancer or other illnesses, were learning how to embrace the aging process in part by adapting their sex and dating lives to their current realities, essentially turning age-related obstacles into creative learning experiences. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis attitude is reflected in the aforementioned studies focused on intimacy among people in their 60s and older, and in Kleinplatz’s research on people in that age group from all over the world. “We learned that ‘great lovers’ are made, not born,” says Kleinplatz. “Typically, the peak sexual experiences began in midlife and beyond.” \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn other words, these researchers showed the path to sexual fulfilment was one that almost necessarily took time. And that “sexual wisdom” Forbes discussed in her research doesn’t just make intimacy \u003Cem\u003Epossible\u003C\u002Fem\u003E at older ages – it often makes it better.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220420-are-baby-boomers-having-the-best-time-in-bed-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0c259nm"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"A couple in bed together","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220420-are-baby-boomers-having-the-best-time-in-bed-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EReframing the sexual journey\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe generation of sexual liberation is indeed having sex – and perhaps better sex than everyone else. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAnd although many people may still feel prickly talking about the romantic lives of older adults, this group is increasingly gaining voice – and ultimately normalising their positive sexual experiences. On television, shows that depict older adults as they navigate romance and sexuality, like Grace and Frankie and The Kominsky Method, are on the rise; many seniors are also getting to speak on the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2022\u002F01\u002F12\u002Fmagazine\u002Fsex-old-age.html\"\u003Ejoys and challenges of sex in later life\u003C\u002Fa\u003E (and even about \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Flifeandstyle\u002F2022\u002Fmar\u002F09\u002Fwere-having-way-better-sex-than-our-kids-the-joy-of-lovemaking-in-your-70s\"\u003Eliving their best sex lives\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in their 70s). \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis narrative shift can help put the sex lives of younger adults in perspective. Instead of hearing the usual (and not especially scientific) statistics about men \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmelmagazine.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fstory\u002Fscience-says-a-man-is-in-his-prime-at-18-or-25-or-50\"\u003Ehitting their sexual peaks\u003C\u002Fa\u003E at 18 and women doing so at 35, these closer looks at older adults’ intimate lives challenge the viewpoint that a booming sex and dating life must be achieved in a person’s 20s or 30s – or else they’ve missed their window. On the contrary, sex lives can be thought of as a holistic journey, one that improves with time and experience. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“By the time you’re old, you’ve learned how to work around things,” says Dossie Easton, 78, author of The Ethical Slut. “Experience gives us a wider repertoire and more of a way to match with any given person.” And the data appears to agree – great sex is far from limited to the young; it’s part of a future that younger sexually active people are working towards.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220420-are-baby-boomers-having-the-best-time-in-bed-4"}],"collection":["worklife\u002Fpremium-collection\u002Flovelife"],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2022-04-22T00:00:00Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"Are Baby Boomers having the best time in bed?","headlineShort":"The lovers with 'sexual wisdom'","image":["p0c2598k"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[{"Content":{"Description":"Apple News Publish: Select to publish, remove to unpublish. (Do not just delete or unpublish the story)","Name":"publish-applenews-system-1"},"Metadata":{"CreationDateTime":"2016-02-05T14:32:31.186819Z","Entity":"option","Guid":"13f4bc85-ae27-4a34-9397-0e6ad3619619","Id":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","ModifiedDateTime":"2022-02-27T22:52:24.455144Z","Project":"wwverticals","Slug":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1"},"Urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:option:option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","_id":"62b420921f4b7b5d34253c8b"}],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":["worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-age-gaps-the-relationship-taboo-that-wont-die","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220405-single-shaming-why-people-jump-to-judge-the-un-partnered","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220308-opposites-attract-why-the-adage-is-obsolete"],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"Older adults are often passed over in conversations about intimacy. But they may be having more fun than everyone else.","summaryShort":"Are Baby Boomers having more fun than everyone else?","tag":["tag\u002Fhow-we-live"],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2022-04-22T00:00:36.51257Z","entity":"article","guid":"0d94becf-46bc-4e23-b0e0-d5074ddf39d4","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220420-are-baby-boomers-having-the-best-time-in-bed","modifiedDateTime":"2022-04-22T01:03:53.430154Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220420-are-baby-boomers-having-the-best-time-in-bed","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100259},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220308-opposites-attract-why-the-adage-is-obsolete":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220308-opposites-attract-why-the-adage-is-obsolete","_id":"62b4205b1f4b7b431505d821","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":[],"bodyIntro":"The old adage tells us opposites attract. Not only is it wrong – but it may be less true than ever.","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EPeople have long lived by the adage ‘opposites attract’ – the introvert will fall for the extrovert, the bad boy for the straight-A student. This belief is lodged in popular culture, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffaculty.weber.edu\u002Feamsel\u002FClasses\u002FPracticum\u002FTA%20Practicum\u002Fpapers\u002FMcCutcheon%20(1991).PDF\"\u003Ehas been for years\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut while many people are quick to agree that opposites attract, and may even jump to an example in their own life, multiple researchers have debunked the idea throughout the years. “The research is pretty clear, actually, that it’s not true,” says California-based clinical psychologist Ramani Durvasula, an expert in toxic relationships. “People who have shared interests, temperaments and all that do tend to be more likely to date.” \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIndeed, various studies have shown friends and romantic partners tend to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002F26828831\u002F\"\u003Eshare core beliefs, values and hobbies\u003C\u002Fa\u003E; people tend to be \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pnas.org\u002Fcontent\u002F108\u002F28\u002F11710#:~:text=Here%2C%20we%20found%20that%20having,for%20either%20sex%20of%20face.\"\u003Eattracted to\u003C\u002Fa\u003E or \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjournals.sagepub.com\u002Fdoi\u002Fabs\u002F10.1177\u002F0956797613494852\"\u003Etrust\u003C\u002Fa\u003E those with similar physical features; and some research suggests people \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjournals.sagepub.com\u002Fdoi\u002Fabs\u002F10.1177\u002F0956797616678187?journalCode=pssa\"\u003Ego for others with like personalities\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Essentially, both researchers and psychologists largely say people have long been drawn to those with shared traits, beliefs and interests. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere's also a body of evidence to suggest that opposites repel – particularly around views and values. And in an increasingly divided social, political and cultural climate in countries across the world, it's possible that we’re even less likely to fall for someone who thinks very differently to us. Factors like social media indicate it’s becoming significantly easier for daters to jump into ‘bubbles’ of like-minded others, leaving the idea of ‘opposites attract’ more outdated than ever. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESeeing eye-to-eye – even if it looks otherwise\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt’s difficult to exactly pinpoint the origin of the saying ‘opposites attract’, but \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.jstor.org\u002Fstable\u002F2087753\"\u003EAmerican sociologist Robert F Winch suggested it\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in a 1954 paper in the American Sociological Review. His research focused on “complementary needs in mate selection” – the idea that people sought out partners who had certain qualities they lacked (like the introvert choosing the extrovert, perhaps as a way for the introvert to benefit from the extrovert’s influence).\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220308-opposites-attract-why-the-adage-is-obsolete-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"There’s been really strong, widespread evidence for similarity attraction – Angela Bahn","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220308-opposites-attract-why-the-adage-is-obsolete-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EClose on the heels of Winch’s research, however, other scientists began drawing different conclusions. Less than a decade later, another US-based social psychology researcher, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpsycnet.apa.org\u002FdoiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fh0044721\"\u003EDonn Byrne, challenged the opposites-attract hypothesis\u003C\u002Fa\u003E with his own paper. Byrne hypothesised that “a stranger who is known to have attitudes similar to those of the subject is better liked than a stranger with attitudes dissimilar to those of the subject [and] is judged to be more intelligent, better informed, more moral, and better adjusted”. His research supported both hypotheses. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“That was the beginning,” says Angela Bahn, associate psychology professor at Wellesley College, US. “Ever since, there’s been really strong, widespread evidence for similarity attraction.” \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBahn found this in her own 2017 study, in which researchers met pairs of people by approaching them in public spaces in Massachusetts. They observed that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002F26828831\u002F\"\u003Esimilarity between the pairs was statistically significant\u003C\u002Fa\u003E on “86% of variables measured”, including attitudes, values, recreational activities and substance use. More specifically, pairs of friends and romantic partners matched closely on attitudes about gay marriage, abortion, the government’s role in citizens’ lives and the importance of religion. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EStill, there are plenty of reasons why it may \u003Cem\u003Eseem \u003C\u002Fem\u003Elike opposites attract, such as superficial differences that make people appear more opposed than they really are. A “straight-laced accountant” and “disinhibited artist”, for example, may look like an antithetical couple, suggests Durvasula – but “their values, whether that's around family [or] political ideology,” would likely be similar.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220308-opposites-attract-why-the-adage-is-obsolete-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"A group of activists making placards","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220308-opposites-attract-why-the-adage-is-obsolete-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EInterestingly, personality remains one area where conclusions are less straightforward. In Bahn’s study, for example, pairs displayed “lower levels of similarity” in personality, specifically when it came to what are known as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.psychologytoday.com\u002Fus\u002Fbasics\u002Fbig-5-personality-traits\"\u003Ethe “big five” personality traits\u003C\u002Fa\u003E – openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism. Bahn explains that, for example, \"two people who are highly dominant are not going to work well together, so that’s the one area where complementarity, which you can spin as ‘opposites attract’, is much more common”.  \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut another 2017 study by University College London social psychology lecturer Youyou Wu came up with different findings. Looking at the Facebook profiles of roughly 1,000 couples and 50,000 pairs of friends, Wu and colleagues “showed that there is\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjournals.sagepub.com\u002Fdoi\u002Fabs\u002F10.1177\u002F0956797616678187?journalCode=pssa\"\u003E similarity stronger than was previously found\u003C\u002Fa\u003E… for all five personality traits” among pairs – more indication that opposites may indeed not attract, even if it may seem the case. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDating apps encourage seeking similar partners\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis isn’t to say, however, that people with polarised values and views won’t find success together; it happens, of course, and there can be benefits to disagreement – or even fundamental opposition – in couples. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EParis-based Ipek Kucuk, 29, a dating and trends expert at dating app Happn, says she recently went from dating a person with whom she “agreed on everything” to someone who has alternate perspectives on hot-button issues like vaccination and religion. “Before I broke up with my ex, I didn't know how bored I was,” says Kucuk. “While it was quite a roller coaster of conversations with my current partner because he shocked me with some of his opinions, it really made me grow… it broadens my perspective. I really appreciate that.” \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHowever, Kucuk says she holds certain beliefs that she must share with her intimate partner – like feminism and the support of LGBTQ rights. And many others seem to have the same preference.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220308-opposites-attract-why-the-adage-is-obsolete-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"Screenshots from OkCupid's dating app","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220308-opposites-attract-why-the-adage-is-obsolete-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EToday, sharing political views has been essential to couples matching up. In one example, mentions of “Black Lives Matter” (or BLM) \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.tinderpressroom.com\u002FYear-In-Swipe-2020\"\u003Eincreased by 55 times in 2020\u003C\u002Fa\u003E on the dating app Tinder, indicating that people were unwilling to compromise on partners who didn’t share their most crucial convictions. After OkCupid released a badge users could put on their profiles to show their support of BLM, users who included the badge became two times more likely to match with other users who had the badge, an OkCupid representative told BBC Worklife over email. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe outsized cultural influence of social media – and its algorithms that connect people with similar beliefs – may be pushing daters even more towards those who share the same views and attitudes. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs Wu explains, several dating apps recommend people in your social media networks, or based on shared ‘likes’ on Facebook or follows on Twitter. And roughly \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pewresearch.org\u002Ffact-tank\u002F2020\u002F02\u002F06\u002F10-facts-about-americans-and-online-dating\u002F\"\u003E48% of US adults between ages 18 and 29 used dating apps\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, per a 2019 Pew Research study. “Based on our research showing that friends are similar in personality to begin with,” says Wu, the people using dating apps that recommend friends of friends are essentially just meeting more people like themselves. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDating apps that cater to people with specific views have also been \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.vox.com\u002Fplatform\u002Famp\u002Fthe-goods\u002F2018\u002F12\u002F26\u002F18150322\u002Frighter-donald-daters-patrio-conservative-dating-apps\"\u003Ecropping up over the last several years\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, specifically surrounding the divisive 2016 presidential election in the US. Apps that debuted around that time targeting politically conservative users included Righter, Conservatives Only and Donald Daters. Two years after the election, Bumble \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnymag.com\u002Fintelligencer\u002F2018\u002F12\u002Fbumble-dating-app-introduces-filters.html\"\u003Einstituted a ‘filtering’ feature\u003C\u002Fa\u003E that allowed users to pass over profiles of people who didn’t fit their political and lifestyle preferences. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“It's easy to connect with people who you agree with online,” says Bahn. “The algorithms on social media platforms show us things that they think we're going to agree with already.” \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOnline dating services appear to embrace this – it’s a feature, not a bug. According to the OkCupid spokesperson, “OkCupid is notorious for helping people connect on social and political issues due to our questions-based algorithm.” She further specified issues the dating site helps people “match on”: reproductive rights, gun control, the Covid-19 vaccine and BLM. The company’s release of badges, like the BLM badge and a “Climate Change Advocate” badge, to help people easily find others who share their key beliefs, suggests that this trend is only growing. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENow, the online networks and sites many of us use to find friends, dates and, ultimately, love are all nudging us towards people who seem to think similarly to us. That’s not all bad – the plethora of data showing the high percentage of couples who share views and values suggests it’s a good indicator of a lasting relationship. But there are downsides too; if we only date people who think just like us, we’re less likely to have the kind of conversations Kucuk is enjoying with her partner – the debates that challenge our assumptions and perhaps even open our eyes to different world views. Yet given the prevalence and power of technology – and the fact that opposites didn’t exactly attract to begin with – the adage may well be on its way to obsolescence.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220308-opposites-attract-why-the-adage-is-obsolete-6"}],"collection":[],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2022-03-11T00:00:00Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"Why opposites don't attract in love and sex","headlineShort":"Why opposites attract less than ever","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"A man and a woman looking at each other","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":[],"relatedTag":[],"summaryLong":"The old adage tells us opposites attract. Not only is it wrong – but it may be less true than ever.","summaryShort":"In matters of love and sex, the 'opposites attract' adage is outdated and untrue","tag":null,"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2022-03-10T20:55:04.842393Z","entity":"article","guid":"3f650ae4-a331-40b0-9fd6-862694c56e02","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220308-opposites-attract-why-the-adage-is-obsolete","modifiedDateTime":"2022-03-10T20:58:08.812721Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220308-opposites-attract-why-the-adage-is-obsolete","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100262},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220228-the-inevitability-of-the-office-romance":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220228-the-inevitability-of-the-office-romance","_id":"62b4206e1f4b7b4ed7728672","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":[],"bodyIntro":"Work is a prime breeding ground for relationships to blossom – and there are good reasons we often fall for our colleagues, whether in person or virtually.","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EIt is decidedly less sexy to send a colleague a winking emoji over messages than to exchange a coy look at the coffee machine. Yet even as the passing interactions that once kindled office romances became impossible during lockdown, colleagues have still found each other – even without conference tables or desks for sparks to fly over.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFebruary 2022 data from the US’s Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) suggests \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.shrm.org\u002Fabout-shrm\u002Fpress-room\u002Fpress-releases\u002Fpages\u002Fnew-shrm-survey-the-rise-of-workplace-romance.aspx\"\u003Eworkplace romance may have actually increased\u003C\u002Fa\u003E as employees hunkered down at home. A third of the 550 Americans surveyed responded that they began or sustained a relationship with a colleague during the pandemic – a 6% rise since the pre-pandemic days of 2019.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEven in a global pandemic, workers have found a way to keep dating colleagues – a fact that underscores the inevitability of office romance. The workplace is a breeding ground for love and lust, even though many companies frown on colleagues dating, and view it as an HR nightmare. Experts say there are specific reasons why workers just can’t stop hooking up with their colleagues – even while siloed during a global health crisis.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA tale as old as time \u003Cbr \u002F\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDespite being considered somewhat taboo, 75% of respondents to the SHRM survey said they were fine with colleagues dating each other. (After all, half said they’d fancied a colleague at some point in time.) And as much as fraternisation is a headache for many companies, romance among colleagues has existed for decades – if not centuries.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Even going back to the Industrial Era, there was still some discussion about people becoming attracted to each other in the workplace,” says Amy Nicole Baker, professor at the University of New Haven, US, who studies workplace romance and organisational psychology. As far back as the 1800s, there’s been pearl-clutching around romantic interactions in the earliest days of white-collar work, with women and men in offices engaging in ‘\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Facademic.oup.com\u002Fjah\u002Farticle-abstract\u002F100\u002F1\u002F273\u002F747883\"\u003Ebehaviours that had no name’\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, according to critics at the time.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut many lovers meet at work, and it \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftheconversation.com\u002Fcnn-president-jeff-zuckers-resignation-shows-why-even-consensual-office-romances-can-cause-problems-176338\"\u003Edoesn’t necessarily end in scandal\u003C\u002Fa\u003E (conversely, it could lead to a fairy-tale ending, like \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.insider.com\u002Fhow-did-barack-and-michelle-obama-meet-2017-10\"\u003Ethe Obamas, who met at a Chicago law office while in their 20s\u003C\u002Fa\u003E). Data from 2017 shows that as many as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pnas.org\u002Fcontent\u002F116\u002F36\u002F17753\u002Ftab-figures-data\"\u003Eone in 10 heterosexual couples in the US say that they met at work\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Considering some data shows people in the US between the ages of 20 and 50 spend nearly \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.visualcapitalist.com\u002Fwho-americans-spend-the-most-time-with-by-age\u002F\"\u003Efour times as much time with colleagues than they do with friends\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, this seems all but bound to happen.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220228-the-inevitability-of-the-office-romance-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220228-the-inevitability-of-the-office-romance-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003E“It’s not surprising that so many people are interested in people at work”, as work has been “taking up more and more and more of our time” for years, says Vanessa Bohns, associate professor of organisational behaviour at Cornell University US, who studies the dynamics of workplace romance. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhile the most common methods of meeting mates fluctuate – more people get together online now, for example, and fewer people meet through family friends – those finding love at work “is a constant” statistically, says Baker. That constant has lasted into the pandemic, a time in which hooking up with colleagues may actually \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.shrm.org\u002Fhr-today\u002Fnews\u002Fhr-news\u002Fpages\u002Fworkplace-romance-report-cupids-arrows-are-flying.aspx\"\u003Efeel less risky\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, since you’re out of the watchful eye of your boss or teammates. (Some colleagues are even \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.washingtonpost.com\u002Flifestyle\u002F2021\u002F08\u002F06\u002Foffice-romance-pandemic-dating\u002F\"\u003Esecretly working from each other’s homes\u003C\u002Fa\u003E as remote work stretches on.)\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“As long as people are interacting together in a shared work environment, you see the basic mechanics of human attraction happening,” says Baker – whether that environment is physical or virtual. And the psychology behind those mechanics keeps inevitably nudging colleagues into something more, even during a pandemic. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E‘Intimacy and familiarity’\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe workplace is a prime place for two key drivers for attraction to develop, says Amie Gordon, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, US, who studies the psychology of relationships. Spending so much time with someone in an environment like the workplace “very likely could lay the ground for romance, because of all the factors we know contribute to romance: intimacy and familiarity”, she says.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFirst, the more a person sees something (or someone), the more they are disposed to like it. This favouring of familiarity is a psychological bias called the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fdictionary.apa.org\u002Fmere-exposure-effect\"\u003Emere-exposure effect\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. “Just seeing someone repeatedly” can lead to attraction, says Gordon.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220228-the-inevitability-of-the-office-romance-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"Consistent exposure and interaction builds preference, regardless of physical location – which may explain why office romance has survived in the remote-work era","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220228-the-inevitability-of-the-office-romance-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003ESimilarly, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fonlinelibrary.wiley.com\u002Fdoi\u002Ffull\u002F10.1111\u002Fj.1559-1816.2011.00741.x?casa_token=_zgMNwZOH6sAAAAA%3ADyje5ssmhRtGqlx71uROmU8IpWXvvpPHx4j5yMYP3t9V8h9hNkqbx9ho9O4_aQ71LtDkEJBCGu-OSb0A\"\u003Eresearch on workplace romance has shown\u003C\u002Fa\u003E that being \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210804-hybrid-work-how-proximity-bias-can-lead-to-favouritism\"\u003Ein the same proximity\u003C\u002Fa\u003E as someone for a long time can help spur a preference for that person; the more often we see someone physically close, and the more interactions we have with them, the faster interpersonal attraction builds. (That bias could even apply to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210804-hybrid-work-how-proximity-bias-can-lead-to-favouritism\"\u003Ebosses favouring employees\u003C\u002Fa\u003E who put in more face time with them.)\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut this bias is by no means limited to physical proximity. “It’s also an emotional proximity and an intellectual proximity,” says Baker. Whether on email, Zoom or Slack, “you’re still interacting with each other”, she says. This consistent exposure and interaction still builds preference, regardless of physical location – which may explain why office romance has survived in the remote-work era.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAnother factor that transcends a physical office is people’s preference for those similar to them – which could potentially extend to work, considering colleagues picked the same career and company. “If you’re both lawyers, or both trained the same way, or both think of the world in the same way, that similarity will also foster a liking and understanding,” says Baker.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis chemistry can be magnified when people tackle a problem together. Research has long shown stressful situations \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.scientificamerican.com\u002Farticle\u002Fhow-the-stress-of-disaster-brings-people-together\u002F\"\u003Ecan build social bonds\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. But the same phenomenon “absolutely” applies to the workplace, says Baker: “Think about all the common workplace stressors. You have crises that come up: it could be a toxic boss, it could be the logistics of the job, long hours, intense work.” Weathering a gruesome all-nighter or a fallout with a client, “getting through something hard together leads to a sense of ‘we-ness’”, explains Gordon.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIt’s inevitable – now what?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAlthough office romance is practically inevitable – and widely accepted – it’s still complicated.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFirst, colleagues getting together can \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.shrm.org\u002Fresourcesandtools\u002Fhr-topics\u002Femployee-relations\u002Fpages\u002Fworkplace-romances-getting-to-the-heart-of-the-matter.aspx\"\u003Eincrease the risk of sexual harassment claims\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and reports of hostile work environments, as well as create conflicts of interest. More commonly, an office romance can also make the rest of the team uncomfortable, and affect performance. Observers of the romance can feel unnerved, because “you go from pretty clear workplace norms about what’s acceptable behaviour. Once someone on the team has a dual relationship – so that they’re not just a co-worker – that changes the norm in a way that’s awkward”, says Bohns. “You don’t know what’s appropriate anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220228-the-inevitability-of-the-office-romance-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220228-the-inevitability-of-the-office-romance-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EGiven office romance isn’t going away, however, some experts say smart companies will allow employees to date, while making sure professional lines aren’t being crossed. “Managing it, as opposed to pretending it doesn’t exist – or shouldn’t exist – is the better approach,” says Johnny C Taylor Jr, CEO of SHRM. He believes mandatory disclosure – at least to HR and a worker’s direct manager – is key (and many companies have so-called ‘\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnews.bloomberglaw.com\u002Fdaily-labor-report\u002Flove-contracts-go-mainstream-as-employers-track-office-romance\"\u003Elove contracts’\u003C\u002Fa\u003E that require workers to do exactly that).\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you’re entering an office romance yourself, experts urge you to think about your motives, and weigh the pros and cons. Crucially, if you’re involved with a boss or subordinate, they urge immediately disclosing the relationship to HR, and asking for a supervisor re-assignment. But if you’re dating a peer, a situation Baker says most people view as less risky or problematic than dating someone at a different power level, it’s up to you to tell anyone beyond HR. Just know the rest of your team “are going to figure it out”, says Taylor.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBaker feels sooner rather than later should be the approach; the longer someone waits to disclose a relationship, the more others will start “to feel like something was being hidden from them” and will “react negatively”. They may mentally review their past interactions with you and your colleague, and re-examine any comments each person made, or suddenly be suspicious about why the two of you went on a business trip, or if you are sharing resources or information the rest of the team doesn’t have. “The more people have to reassess the past, the more problematic” it could be, says Gordon. All of these risks and complications of office romance exist, whether people are sharing a desk or exchanging Slack messages from different post codes.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDespite these rules and potentially precarious situations, though, office romances willstill happen – and with all the psychological factors involved, it’s hard to blame colleagues for falling for each other. Still, it’s important for workers to be aware of the implications, no matter how relaxed their team may be, or how trivial ripple effects may seem. After all, not every office romance ends in forever – and there’s no fun in spotting your ex’s face on the grid during a Zoom call every day.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220228-the-inevitability-of-the-office-romance-6"}],"collection":[],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2022-03-02T00:00:00Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"The inevitability of the office romance","headlineShort":"Why office romance is inevitable","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":[],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"Work is a prime breeding ground for relationships to blossom – and there are good reasons we often fall for our colleagues, whether in person or virtually.","summaryShort":"Why work is a prime breeding ground for relationships and hook-ups","tag":[],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2022-03-01T21:52:21.356287Z","entity":"article","guid":"9147bb2f-fda7-47b0-99a0-5945a21e71a8","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220228-the-inevitability-of-the-office-romance","modifiedDateTime":"2022-03-04T16:00:32.387345Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220228-the-inevitability-of-the-office-romance","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100265},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220408-why-millennials-arent-cohabiting-as-a-trial-marriage":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220408-why-millennials-arent-cohabiting-as-a-trial-marriage","_id":"62b4205c1f4b7b42eb46563a","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":["worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fmeredith-turits"],"bodyIntro":"Although moving in with a first partner was once considered a significant milestone on the path to forever, younger generations aren’t necessarily co-habiting with marriage in mind.","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EFor years, moving in with a partner was an almost sacred decision, saved for the latter stages of a relationship when partners were on track for marriage. Just a few decades ago, many couples didn’t even share a home until they tied the knot. And while this is still the case for some people today, especially within specific religions or cultures, moving in has become commonplace in countries such as the UK and US – and much less likely to be linked to assumptions about the future. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENew research from the UK provides a close look at young people’s changing behaviours and attitudes towards moving in with a romantic partner for the first time. As well as confirming younger generations are breaking the mould around past co-habiting patterns, the study’s results also indicate that the way millennials in particular feel about moving in with their first significant other is different than previous generations.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERather than being a significant milestone on the pathway to permanency, moving in today might be more linked to convenience, says the researchers. It seems young people are continuing to dislodge old notions of what it means to be with a partner, both now and down the line – and proving that milestone moments don’t look the same as they once did.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo longer a ‘test run’\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt’s fitting to look at trends around co-habitation now, since co-habitants are the fastest growing demographic in the UK. ONS data from 2018 shows \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ons.gov.uk\u002Fpeoplepopulationandcommunity\u002Fbirthsdeathsandmarriages\u002Ffamilies\u002Fbulletins\u002Ffamiliesandhouseholds\u002F2018\"\u003Ethe number of co-habiting couples is outpacing\u003C\u002Fa\u003E married couples and lone-parent families, increasing more than 25% between 2008 and 2018. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere are similar patterns in the US: millennials are more likely than Gen X were at the same age to be living with a romantic partner. Pew Research Center data from 2019 showed \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pewresearch.org\u002Fsocial-trends\u002F2020\u002F05\u002F27\u002Fas-millennials-near-40-theyre-approaching-family-life-differently-than-previous-generations\u002F\"\u003E12% of millennials were co-habiting and unmarried\u003C\u002Fa\u003E; at the same age, in 2003, only 8% of Gen Xers were doing so.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220408-why-millennials-arent-cohabiting-as-a-trial-marriage-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"25% to 27% of couples in the two older cohorts separated within two years of moving in together; in the youngest cohort, this percentage shot up to 43%","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220408-why-millennials-arent-cohabiting-as-a-trial-marriage-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003ETraditional narratives around co-habitation are often directly linked to marriage, whether believing that people bunk up with the explicit intention of settling down, or at least ‘checking’ their long-term compatibility with their partners. But younger generations may be proving these storylines wrong.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EResearchers from University College London and the University of St Andrews \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ucl.ac.uk\u002Fioe\u002Fnews\u002F2022\u002Fmar\u002Fpeople-born-80s-not-likely-marry-their-first-cohabiting-partner\"\u003Eexamined the changes in views around what it means to move in with a first partner\u003C\u002Fa\u003E now versus years ago, as well as the strength of those partnerships. Using data from the British Household Panel Survey and the Understanding Society study, the researchers examined a study sample of 3,233 people from three birth cohorts: 1974 to 1979, 1980 to 1984 and 1985 to 1990, observed between 1991 and 2016. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe findings showed co-habiting behaviours and relationship outcomes of these groups differed dramatically – even though the groups studied were relatively close in age.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn terms of staying with partners, the group born in the 1970s had a 50-50 chance of staying together. Data from younger cohorts indicated less long-term stability. When examining how long couples stayed together, 25% to 27% of couples in the two older cohorts separated within two years of moving in together. In the youngest cohort – those born between 1985 and 1990 – this percentage shot up to 43%.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe research also provides a sense of the motivations behind moving in together. The data indicated that people born in the 1970s mostly treated first-time co-habiting as a test run with partners – a kind of ‘trial marriage’. Yet millennials seem to be less interested in the ‘try-before-you-buy’ approach, instead choosing moving in as a practical decision.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe study’s lead researcher, Alina Pelikh, a research fellow in demography at UCL, says there are many reasons for this, including convenience and economic benefit as well as less stigma around co-habiting.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220408-why-millennials-arent-cohabiting-as-a-trial-marriage-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0bzxrs9"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220408-why-millennials-arent-cohabiting-as-a-trial-marriage-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EThis chimes with other data around the acceptability of moving in together. An increasing number of people approve of co-habitation, even for partners who don’t plan to get married. This is particularly true among younger generations: additional 2019 Pew data showed more than three-quarters of people aged 18 through 29 say \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pewresearch.org\u002Fsocial-trends\u002F2019\u002F11\u002F06\u002Fmarriage-and-cohabitation-in-the-u-s\u002F\"\u003Eit’s acceptable for unmarried couples to live together\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, whether or not they plan to marry.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGalena Rhoades, research professor in psychology and director of the Family Research Center at the University of Denver, US, agrees that changing social attitudes around co-habiting have enabled younger generations to adopt a more casual attitude around moving in together, rather than viewing it as a test-run for marriage.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“Co-habiting is becoming more and more a stage in dating, rather than a stage in marriage,” says Rhoades. Her research also shows millennials are less concerned about co-habitation as a path to marriage; often, younger generations report that they just started living together out of happenstance. “It's not really seeing [co-habitation] as a decision or a commitment event in a relationship. And I think that's become more and more true over time.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EPelikh suggests young people see living with a partner simply as an alternative to being single, and that marriage or long-term partnership may not even be a consideration for years to come.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EShe also highlights the speed with which these changes have occurred, saying: “We see that there is a lot of difference between the youngest ones, those [born] closer to the ’90s, and those closer to the ’70s.” Usually, she explains, these substantial attitude swings generally occur over generations – say, between the 1950s and 1990s – yet they occurred in relatively short periods of time. She says such dramatic differences among groups only five years apart is surprising, and indicates change happened unusually fast.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220408-why-millennials-arent-cohabiting-as-a-trial-marriage-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"Co-habiting is becoming more and more a stage in dating, rather than a stage in marriage – Galena Rhoades","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220408-why-millennials-arent-cohabiting-as-a-trial-marriage-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EImportantly, Pelikh caveats that the data only accounts for partnerships formed up to age 27. So, we don’t know how first-time co-habiting millennials after this age fare. She posits that these relationships could potentially be stronger, driven by factors such as people knowing themselves better, or being in a more economically stable position.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E‘The bigger picture’\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhile we have a sense of Gen X and millennial trends, what’s not clear is whether Gen Z will continue these behaviours.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESome signs point to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex\"\u003EGen Z continuing a more pragmatic approach\u003C\u002Fa\u003E like millennials. Indeed, Gen Z are finding themselves in similarly tight economic situations, and some research has shown this \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww2.deloitte.com\u002Fcontent\u002Fdam\u002FDeloitte\u002Fglobal\u002FDocuments\u002F2021-deloitte-global-millennial-survey-report.pdf\"\u003Egeneration is increasingly pessimistic about this changing\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Additionally, as positive attitudes towards co-habitation grow, Gen Z will be taking decisions about moving in together free of the stigma many of their predecessors faced.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn some cases, Gen Z are also showing signs of prioritising establishing themselves as individuals before coupling up. This may continue to push younger generations’ first co-habitations increasingly later in life, similar to patterns the researchers observed in millennials.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERegardless of how these behaviours play out for Gen Z, Pelikh believes these findings are particularly pertinent now, since hitting life milestones is no longer linear for younger generations – yet there’s still stigma around their transitions not following ‘traditional’ timelines or behaviours. In other words, it may be helpful to show how common it is for young people to split with their first-time co-habiting partners, to shake loose some of the remaining judgement from older generations.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EPelikh believes this data spotlights “the broader complexity of adulthood” – and can potentially provide a sigh of relief to those who feel nervous about not taking the path once considered standard. “We all live our lives, but what we don’t have is the bigger picture,” she says.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EResearch like this helps continue to highlight the dramatic way \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210315-the-tyranny-of-life-milestones\"\u003Emilestones are morphing among generations\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. What may have been meaningful for one generation is quickly changing – and this may paint an increasing vivid picture of what the future of adulthood looks like.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220408-why-millennials-arent-cohabiting-as-a-trial-marriage-6"}],"collection":["worklife\u002Fpremium-collection\u002Flovelife"],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2022-04-08T12:29:40Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"Why millennials aren’t moving in together as a trial marriage","headlineShort":"Why millennials are moving in together","image":["p0bzxrnf"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[{"Content":{"Description":"Apple News Publish: Select to publish, remove to unpublish. (Do not just delete or unpublish the story)","Name":"publish-applenews-system-1"},"Metadata":{"CreationDateTime":"2016-02-05T14:32:31.186819Z","Entity":"option","Guid":"13f4bc85-ae27-4a34-9397-0e6ad3619619","Id":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","ModifiedDateTime":"2022-02-27T22:52:24.455144Z","Project":"wwverticals","Slug":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1"},"Urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:option:option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","_id":"62b420921f4b7b5d34253c8b"}],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":["worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220104-are-gen-z-more-pragmatic-about-love-and-sex","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220124-why-people-arent-as-picky-in-love-as-they-think","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220228-the-inevitability-of-the-office-romance"],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"Although moving in with a first partner was once considered a significant milestone on the path to forever, younger generations aren’t necessarily co-habiting with marriage in mind.","summaryShort":"Is bunking up with a partner a 'trial marriage'? Not so fast, say millennials","tag":["tag\u002Fhow-we-live"],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2022-04-07T22:11:23.864081Z","entity":"article","guid":"d37a8687-f8f6-40f0-a7ef-2a5da63bf09d","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220408-why-millennials-arent-cohabiting-as-a-trial-marriage","modifiedDateTime":"2022-04-07T22:37:50.691444Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220408-why-millennials-arent-cohabiting-as-a-trial-marriage","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100260},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220224-why-sexual-identities-shifted-during-the-pandemic":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220224-why-sexual-identities-shifted-during-the-pandemic","_id":"62b4207f1f4b7b5d4d5c450f","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":[],"bodyIntro":"With time to contemplate and reassess, some people have begun exploring new sexual identities and other desires “beyond the binary”.","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003ELauren, 25, identified as bisexual since 2014. This designation for her sexual identity worked fine until the pandemic hit. With her Master’s degree programme newly virtual, and social events and daily commutes wiped off her calendar, Lauren suddenly had a lot more alone time to contemplate her identity. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003E“Having all that time and consuming a lot of media made me reflect more on my past relationships, specifically with men,” she says. “How did I not realise that all of the relationships I had with men were totally unsatisfying?”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003ELockdown-induced isolation has given many people the opportunity to more deeply analyse elements of their lives and identities, whether that be \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220125-the-small-cities-and-towns-booming-from-remote-work\"\u003Ethe places they live\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211214-great-resignation-into-great-reshuffle\"\u003Ejobs they work\u003C\u002Fa\u003E or their \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20201203-why-the-pandemic-is-causing-spikes-in-break-ups-and-divorces\"\u003Eromantic\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20211201-family-estrangement-why-adults-are-cutting-off-their-parents\"\u003Efamily relationships\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Among these intimate shifts, some research indicates people’s attitudes towards their sexuality have evolved amid the pandemic, too.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003EDating app Bumble surveyed more than 4,000 users in the US, UK, Ireland, Australia and Canada in August 2020 (data reviewed by BBC Worklife), and 21% said they were planning to “express their sexuality differently… compared to a year ago.” Another Bumble survey showed \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fbumble.com\u002Fen\u002Fthe-buzz\u002Fsexual-preferences-covid-lockdown\"\u003E14% shifted their sexual desires during the pandemic\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, opting, for example, for same sex-relationships when they’d previously only been with those of another gender.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003EAdditionally, research conducted between March and July 2020 among LGBTQ+ respondents by the Social Relations, Attitudes and Diversity Lab at Ontario’s Trent University, reviewed by BBC Worklife, showed that 11% “felt their ability to be out about their… identity had changed as a result of Covid-19”. Of those, several reported that this took place because during the pandemic, they had “time to myself to figure out my sexual identity”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003EBefore the pandemic, Lauren says she barely had free time among working, going to school and her social life. “I [couldn’t] deal with any big life changes, and shifting identities felt like a big life change.” But the mandatory slowdown gave her the space she needed to re-examine her sexuality. Speaking with her therapist and watching other women who formerly identified as bisexual come out as lesbians on TikTok brought her to newly identify as a lesbian herself. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003EOnce too overwhelming to contemplate – or not top-of-mind at all – these “big life changes” are now on the table for an increasing number of people, especially women, as some found themselves questioning the cultural norms they’d always subscribed to.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220224-why-sexual-identities-shifted-during-the-pandemic-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220224-why-sexual-identities-shifted-during-the-pandemic-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERe-evaluating the ‘default settings’\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003E“Everybody is always so busy in life that it’s really easy to try to escape yourself,” says New York City-based clinical psychologist Jennifer Guttman. In other words, she says, it’s natural for people to put self-discovery on the back burner.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003ERegarding sexuality, this means it’s simpler for many people to default to a “heteronormativity” mindset, and not question the go-to heterosexuality that they grew up with, says Karen Blair, who heads Trent University’s Social Relations, Attitudes and Diversity Lab.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003E“Much of our media and culture still sends us the message that most of us will be straight,” says Blair. Since sexuality exists on a spectrum where “many, if not most, fall somewhere in between”, she adds, there isn’t much motivation for people to question their sexuality if the “default settings” fit well enough.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003EBut when people could “press the pause button during lockdown”, says Guttman, she observed “more clients than ever” exploring their sexual orientations. Of her 65 clients, she estimates that 10 to 12 re-thought their sexuality in that time, compared to just one client who’d done so before the pandemic.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003E“All of them started to notice that they were feeling unmoored, lost, anxious, depressed. The fact that they felt uncomfortable with themselves was disturbing to them.” Many began to address this discomfort by assessing whether they were on the right career path, but over time, they ended up digging “far deeper than work,” says Guttman.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E‘I entered the pandemic straight’\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003EAlthough the pandemic slashed dating options for many people, others saw a newly open door.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003ELondon-based Alexa, 24, had long identified as straight, but was already questioning her sexuality while in her fourth year of university in New York State before Covid-19 hit. So, as the pandemic pushed her into online dating, Alexa found it was easier to make the switch around what types of partners she was looking for – she could do it from the comfort of her own home. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003EIn early 2021, Alexa decided to switch her Tinder settings from only men to “everyone”. The ease with which she could make that change made the exploration feel, in a sense, lower stakes. She still “wasn’t sure” about her sexual identity at the time, but by changing her dating app settings, “at least the option was open”, she says.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220224-why-sexual-identities-shifted-during-the-pandemic-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"Of 65 clients, Guttman estimates that 10 to 12 re-thought their sexuality in that time, compared to just one client who’d done so before the pandemic","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220224-why-sexual-identities-shifted-during-the-pandemic-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003EAccording to Blair’s research, this experience is relatively common. With people spending more time “courting” online before meeting up in person due to pandemic-related restrictions, “it may have been more likely that people would toy with the idea of ‘checking the other box’ when asked who they were looking to meet”, she says. Dating someone of a different gender than people were used to became “a bit more approachable”.\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cbr \u002F\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003EBoth experts and daters alike told BBC Worklife that media also contributed to people re-thinking their sexual orientations, including social networks, podcasts and television shows – which people were consuming at higher rates while isolating indoors. Guttman even advised some of her clients to listen to podcasts and watch shows “with more LGBTQIA+ interactions” to “normalise” it for those newly testing out those identities. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003EAt the same time, many TikTok users like Violet Turning, a New York City-based sex educator, saw a swell of young women discussing their shift from identifying as straight to lesbian, queer or bisexual during the pandemic.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003E“My whole feed was young women who were like, ‘I entered the pandemic straight, and now I’m in a lesbian relationship’,” says Turning. Some mentioned having “suppressed” those desires until the pandemic gave them space to explore, while Turning saw others say they’d taken time to discover the history of heterosexual relationships and began newly questioning their sexuality after learning more about female oppression in those contexts. She sees the spread of this information on TikTok as “validating for folks… exploring sexuality beyond the binary”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003EThis was true for Lauren, who downloaded TikTok during the pandemic, and was immediately confronted with videos of people who, like her, had identified as bisexual before coming out as lesbian. She attributes this to more people getting involved with online conversations at a time when pandemic-based restrictions severely limited in-person social lives. (There are \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210610-why-more-women-identify-as-sexually-fluid-than-men\"\u003Eseveral reasons\u003C\u002Fa\u003E why more women seem to embrace sexual fluidity than men, a ratio reflected in Guttman’s clients – of the roughly dozen who explored changes to their sexual orientation during lockdowns, just two were men.)\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220224-why-sexual-identities-shifted-during-the-pandemic-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220224-why-sexual-identities-shifted-during-the-pandemic-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDeeper introspection post-lockdowns?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003EStill, seeing people re-examine their sexual orientations on TikTok is different from publicly coming out in one’s own life. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003EWhen Alexa realised she was queer, it was “very scary”, she says: first, because she felt she wasn’t the person she’d thought she was; and because it totally altered her vision of the future, which she’d previously thought would consist of her living the life of a straight person. Telling other people felt scary, too.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003E“I was worried about what people would think of me, and I know that’s internalised homophobia,” she says. She also didn’t like drawing attention to herself, and was hesitant to apply a label to her orientation.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003EGuttman has noticed this discomfort with labels across multiple clients, who re-thought their orientations throughout the past couple of years. Many felt “internal pressure” about whether they should “come to a label quickly or not”, she says, even if they were still in the exploratory phase. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003ELauren has since come out as lesbian to her friends and family, including her Catholic mother. “That was probably the hardest person to tell,” she says. The identity shift she made during the pandemic will remain for the long-term. Going forward, she says she’s only dating “women and nonbinary” folks, and “not anybody who actively identifies as a cis man”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\"Body\"\u003EStill, it’s hard to say to whether people will keep up this level of introspection as life inches toward “normal\". Covid-19 and related restrictions haven’t disappeared, but from what Guttman’s seen, at least, “people have continued to engage in reflection through self-empowerment books, podcasts and therapy,” she says. “I have also seen that whatever shifts people made \u003Cem\u003Evis-à-vis\u003C\u002Fem\u003E their sexual fluidity or sexual orientation during the pandemic have continued as the world opens up.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220224-why-sexual-identities-shifted-during-the-pandemic-6"}],"collection":[],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2022-02-25T12:32:19Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"Why sexual identities shifted during the pandemic","headlineShort":"How the pandemic changed sexuality","image":[],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":[],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"With time to contemplate and reassess, some people have begun exploring new sexual identities and other desires “beyond the binary”.","summaryShort":"\"I entered the pandemic straight, and now I'm in a lesbian relationship\"","tag":[],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2022-02-24T21:37:08.578713Z","entity":"article","guid":"13de87f7-0349-463d-a1c3-b3c6ccd57564","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220224-why-sexual-identities-shifted-during-the-pandemic","modifiedDateTime":"2022-02-24T22:38:43.17599Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220224-why-sexual-identities-shifted-during-the-pandemic","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100264},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-great-sexpectations-how-our-mindsets-shape-our-love-lives":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-great-sexpectations-how-our-mindsets-shape-our-love-lives","_id":"62b420891f4b7b575132e7eb","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":["worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fdavid-robson"],"bodyIntro":"Your sex mindset can dictate how you deal with problems in the bedroom, with huge consequences for relationship quality.","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EIn one memorable episode of Sex and the City, Carrie admits to being completely taken with her new beau, Jack Berger. “Everything is fresh, everything is a first, everything is foreplay,” she says, describing their time together. “Even a trip to Bed Bath & Beyond can be an ecstatic errand… And of course, those first kisses are the greatest in the world.” \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe first two times they are intimate, however, Carrie finds the experience distinctly disappointing. “Dump him,” Samantha advises Carrie – following up with an unprintable take on the phrase “fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me”. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe episode – whose title was “Great Sexpectations” – caught the attention of psychologist Jessica Maxwell, a senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. “I was caught off guard that the characters would just assume sex should be relatively effortless and be so willing to throw in the towel on a relationship if the sex is bad,” she says. Yet her conversations with her friends suggested that many people in real life take Samantha’s attitude. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThose thoughts led Maxwell to investigate the ways our beliefs can influence our intimate relationships in the short and long term. On the one hand, there is the “sexual growth mindset” – the belief that satisfaction requires effort and work. On the other, there’s the “sexual destiny mindset” – the idea that natural compatibility between sexual partners is the key factor that allows couples to maintain sexual satisfaction, which means that any struggles in a sexual relationship can signal the relationship is destined to fail. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn a series of studies, Maxwell has found these mindsets can dictate the ways people deal with problems in the bedroom, with huge consequences for the quality of their relationships. Her research suggests that by forging more constructive ‘sexpectations’, we might all enjoy a healthier and happier love life. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERomantic destiny?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMaxwell’s findings join a growing body of literature examining the effects of mindsets across many different areas of life. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe most famous studies come from Carol Dweck at Stanford University. In decades of research, she has examined whether people believe academic ability is fixed and cannot be changed, or whether they see their abilities as something that can grow with practice. In general, people with the growth mindsets seem keener to take on new challenges and are better able to handle setbacks. And attempts to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjournals.sagepub.com\u002Fdoi\u002Fabs\u002F10.1177\u002F09567976211028984\"\u003Epromote the growth mindset\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, applied in a supportive educational environment, seem to increase students’ overall achievement, so that struggling children can better meet their potential.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-great-sexpectations-how-our-mindsets-shape-our-love-lives-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0bw043s"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"A couple arguing","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-great-sexpectations-how-our-mindsets-shape-our-love-lives-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EInspired by Dweck’s findings, psychologists across the world have now explored the role of mindsets in many other outcomes, including people’s \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.sciencedirect.com\u002Fscience\u002Farticle\u002Fabs\u002Fpii\u002FS1469029217306696\"\u003Ehealth and fitness\u003C\u002Fa\u003E behaviour, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20200306-the-surprising-truth-about-finding-your-passion-at-work\"\u003Epassion in the workplace\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and the strength of their romantic relationships. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you have a “romantic destiny mindset”, you are more likely to agree with statements such as: “Potential relationship partners are either compatible or they are not” and “Relationships that do not start off well inevitably fail”. You will probably believe in love at first sight. If you have a “romantic growth mindset”, meanwhile, you might see love as something that blossoms as you get to know each other. You’re more likely to agree with statements such as “The ideal relationship develops gradually over time” and “Challenges and obstacles in a relationship can make love even stronger”. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe two sets of beliefs are not necessarily mutually exclusive, meaning you could score high (or low) on both measures. (You might expect compatibility to be somewhat important and hope to have instant chemistry with your future partner, while also recognising the need to work hard at building a deeper connection.) And the research shows that these beliefs \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1037\u002F0022-3514.74.2.360\"\u003Ecan both profoundly influence couples’ interactions\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor example, people who score higher on the destiny mindset scale may fare well in the first flush of romance, but they are more likely to lose interest in the relationship when times get tough. “The belief is that, if my partner and I are having conflict, it means we’re not compatible,” says Dylan Selterman, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, US. “There’s a shift away from repair and commitment.” \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn one recent paper, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002F29244527\u002F\"\u003ESelterman surveyed around 500 people about the times they had cheated in a relationship\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. He found that the people with the destiny mindsets were more likely to blame it on factors such as neglect from their partner. When they felt things were falling apart, they simply felt less committed to staying faithful.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-great-sexpectations-how-our-mindsets-shape-our-love-lives-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"The conflict can be seen as an opportunity for us to learn more about each other and to grow together in a positive direction – Dylan Selterman","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-great-sexpectations-how-our-mindsets-shape-our-love-lives-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EThe people who score high on the growth mindset scale, meanwhile, tend to deal better with conflict, since they believe they can work through it. “The conflict can be seen as an opportunity for us to learn more about each other and to grow together in a positive direction,” says Selterman. In his study on cheating, these people were significantly less likely to blame their infidelity on problems such as low commitment to their existing relationship. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESex takes work\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs interesting as these studies were, the focus had been on the romantic rather than the physical side of the relationship. Maxwell suspected that our attitudes to sex might be equally important, with unique consequences for our relationships. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETo find out, she designed a parallel set of scales that measured the “sexual destiny mindset” and the “sexual growth mindset”. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ELike its romantic equivalent, the sexual destiny mindset focused on the belief that sexual compatibility is instant and reflects the overall suitability of their partner, through agreement with statements such as “If sexual partners are meant to be together, sex will be easy and wonderful” and “It is clear right from the start how satisfying a couple’s sex life will be over the course of their relationship”. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe sexual growth mindset, in contrast, is measured through agreement with statements such as “Making compromises for a partner is part of a good sexual relationship” and “A satisfying sexual relationship is partly a matter of learning to resolve sexual differences with a partner”. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn a series of studies, Maxwell and her colleagues have confirmed that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002F27808534\u002F\"\u003Epeople’s sexual mindsets influenced their sexual satisfaction\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and their overall relationship quality above and beyond their romantic mindsets. The sexual destiny mindsets were especially important when couples faced disagreements about their sex life. “They're letting what happens in the bedroom bleed over to affect their overall judgments about the relationship,” says Maxwell. A greater endorsement of sexual growth beliefs, in contrast, tended to produce happier relationships, in and out of the bedroom.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-great-sexpectations-how-our-mindsets-shape-our-love-lives-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0bw04zw"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"A couple in bed","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-great-sexpectations-how-our-mindsets-shape-our-love-lives-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EMaxwell next wanted to know how variations in mindsets affected people’s day-to-day sex lives. (In general, people’s scores on mindset scales are thought to be relatively stable over time but they can move around an average “set point”.)  She asked participants to complete a diary over three weeks, which allowed her to track changes to people’s mindsets and the overall quality of their sexual experiences. “We found that greater endorsement of the belief that ‘sex takes work’, on any given day, brings benefits,” she says. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs further evidence, Maxwell explored the ways that the sexual mindsets influenced couples’ transitions to parenthood – an event that is known to play havoc with sexual relationships. In line with the previous findings, the growth beliefs predicted greater satisfaction for both the individual and their partner during this difficult time. High destiny beliefs, in contrast, resulted in considerably less satisfaction. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMaxwell and her colleagues have now \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002F33656409\u002F\"\u003Ereplicated these findings in other contexts\u003C\u002Fa\u003E – and she has been pleased to see that many other researchers are now investigating the importance of mindsets in our sexual relationships. They have shown, for example, that mindsets influence how well people \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002F29161224\u002F\"\u003Ecope with low sexual desire\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjournals.sagepub.com\u002Fdoi\u002Fabs\u002F10.1177\u002F02654075211038624\"\u003Ecommunication between partners\u003C\u002Fa\u003E about their sexual needs.\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESexual healing\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn the future, might this research provide new interventions for couples who are struggling to connect? \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESo far, there is some evidence that the mindsets are malleable, at least temporarily. In one recent study from the University of Minnesota Duluth, US, researchers asked some participants to read a (fake) news article, which emphasised the idea that couples’ love can blossom with hard work – text that was designed to prime a romantic growth mindset. They were then questioned about their attitudes to various kinds of perceived infidelity – from flirting with someone to cybersex and direct sexual contact. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1017\u002Fjrr.2019.21\"\u003Epeople primed with the growth mindset tended to take more forgiving attitudes\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-great-sexpectations-how-our-mindsets-shape-our-love-lives-6"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"They're letting what happens in the bedroom bleed over to affect their overall judgments about the relationship – Jessica Maxwell","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-great-sexpectations-how-our-mindsets-shape-our-love-lives-7"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EMaxwell has performed a similar experiment using articles that attempted to manipulate people’s sex mindsets. Once participants had read the articles, she gave them bogus feedback on how compatible they were as a couple, based on a survey they’d taken 10 days beforehand. Hearing they had low sexual compatibility with their partner led many participants to reassess their relationship quality – but the effect was much less pronounced among those who had been primed with the growth beliefs, suggesting that they would be less pessimistic and defeatist when they had real-life disagreements about their sexual needs. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe article promoting the sexual growth mindset also increased participants’ willingness to accommodate their partner’s sexual needs, Maxwell found. (Needless to say, she debriefed the couples afterwards and explained that the feedback on their compatibility was fake – so no one left the lab under any false beliefs about their relationships.)\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMaxwell emphasises that these are preliminary findings of a short-term manipulation, but she is optimistic that education about the growth mindset could help to inform couples’ therapy. “I think it would have to involve multiple exposures to the idea,” she says, and she thinks that the couples would need encouragement to apply what they had learnt. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMaxwell also points to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.psychologytoday.com\u002Fus\u002Fblog\u002Fromantically-attached\u002F201805\u002Fpopcorn-therapy-can-watching-movies-save-your-marriage\"\u003Ea study\u003C\u002Fa\u003E that asked couples to watch movies depicting relationship problems, before reflecting on the content and describing how the same lessons might apply to their own lives – a surprisingly simple intervention that significantly reduced divorce rates over a three-year period. “It was essentially as effective as regular couples therapy,” she says. She’d be interested to see whether you could apply the same method, but with an extra focus on the mindsets the characters are revealing and the effects that has on the relationships. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou could ask couples to spot when the characters fail to communicate their needs because of their destiny mindset, for example, and to suggest ways that the fictional couples could use a growth mindset to navigate the problems more constructively. \u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf so, it may be time to start re-watching those Sex and the City episodes.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EDavid Robson is a science writer and author of \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fdavidrobson.me\u002Fthe-expectation-effect\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Expectation Effect: How Your Mindset Can Transform Your Life\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003Cem\u003E, published by Canongate (UK) and Henry Holt (USA) in early 2022. He is \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.twitter.com\u002Fd_a_robson\"\u003E\u003Cem\u003E@d_a_robson\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003Cem\u003E on Twitter.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-great-sexpectations-how-our-mindsets-shape-our-love-lives-8"}],"collection":["worklife\u002Fpremium-collection\u002Flovelife"],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2022-03-21T00:00:00Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"Great sexpectations: How your mindset shapes your love life","headlineShort":"The mindset that leads to better sex","image":["p0bw00yd"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"A couple lying in bed together","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[{"Content":{"Description":"Apple News Publish: Select to publish, remove to unpublish. (Do not just delete or unpublish the story)","Name":"publish-applenews-system-1"},"Metadata":{"CreationDateTime":"2016-02-05T14:32:31.186819Z","Entity":"option","Guid":"13f4bc85-ae27-4a34-9397-0e6ad3619619","Id":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","ModifiedDateTime":"2022-02-27T22:52:24.455144Z","Project":"wwverticals","Slug":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1"},"Urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:option:option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","_id":"62b420921f4b7b5d34253c8b"}],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":["worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220301-does-solo-polyamory-mean-having-it-all","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220224-why-sexual-identities-shifted-during-the-pandemic","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex"],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"Your sex mindset can dictate how you deal with problems in the bedroom, with huge consequences for relationship quality.","summaryShort":"How 'destiny' or 'growth' beliefs influence your love life","tag":["tag\u002Fhow-we-think"],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2022-03-20T19:42:52.898815Z","entity":"article","guid":"87ed5303-def8-4b47-b08b-1edbf52d1bdb","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-great-sexpectations-how-our-mindsets-shape-our-love-lives","modifiedDateTime":"2022-03-20T20:04:46.350261Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-great-sexpectations-how-our-mindsets-shape-our-love-lives","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100264},"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220314-the-financial-infidelity-that-can-sink-couples":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:article:worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220314-the-financial-infidelity-that-can-sink-couples","_id":"62b4205b1f4b7b42eb465635","ambientVideo":"","articleType":"story","assetVideo":null,"author":["worklife\u002Fauthor\u002Fbryan-lufkin"],"bodyIntro":"Secrecy and dishonesty around spending creates rifts in relationships. Why aren’t we talking about it more?","businessUnit":"worldwide","cards":[{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EThree months before high-school sweethearts Tai and Talaat McNeely were about to tie the knot, Tai had learned that Talaat had been keeping a secret from her: he had sizable loans and credit-card debt. It almost ended their relationship.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“He didn’t want to tell me the truth about his finances,” says Tai. Even though the Chicago-based couple had gone through counseling which touched on money matters in the lead-up to their wedding, Talaat had still kept his complicated financial situation hidden from Tai. To her, it was a breach of trust that almost derailed their engagement.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETalaat had committed what’s known as ‘financial infidelity’: when a person in a couple hides or withholds money-related issues and decisions from their partner. According to a January 2022 survey by US News & World Report, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmoney.usnews.com\u002Fcredit-cards\u002Farticles\u002Fsurvey-30-have-either-committed-financial-infidelity-or-been-a-victim\"\u003Eas many as one in three\u003C\u002Fa\u003E couples deal with financial infidelity in the US alone; other surveys suggest the practice is getting \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.creditcards.com\u002Fstatistics\u002Ffinancial-infidelity-cheating-poll-2020\u002F\"\u003Emore common with each passing year\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. The effects can be devastating: a 2018 study showed 76% of married couples involved in financial infidelity say the experience \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnewprairiepress.org\u002Fcgi\u002Fviewcontent.cgi?article=1159&context=jft\"\u003Enegatively impacted their relationship\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, and 10% got divorced over it.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EExperts say the reason financial infidelity is so common is because we find money matters in general hard to talk about – and things become even harder when we think we’ve mismanaged our money or used it in a way that our partner might disapprove of. But they also say that conquering that taboo around discussing money is key for couples to survive the fallout – or avoid it altogether.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe ’hidden’ nature of financial infidelity\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFinancial infidelity covers a wide range of behaviours. It could be something as seemingly banal as not filling in your partner on tiny purchases here and there, like the after-work happy hours with colleagues. But it could also be something more serious: siphoning money from shared accounts, lying about your income or debts, lending large amounts without consent, making extravagant purchases without permission or keeping bank accounts or credit cards secret.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"infographic","imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","pullQuoteImageAlignment":"centre","videoImageAlign":"centre","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220314-the-financial-infidelity-that-can-sink-couples-0"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0bvbrms"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220314-the-financial-infidelity-that-can-sink-couples-1"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EMichelle Jeanfreau, associate professor of child and family sciences at the University of Southern Mississippi, US, says there still isn’t a lot of public awareness about financial infidelity. According to her and her colleagues’ research, while 27% of people surveyed explicitly admitted to committing financial infidelity, more than half of them reported committing behaviours that could be classified as financial infidelity – suggesting many people don’t know what exactly constitutes financial infidelity.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EJenny Olson, an associate professor of marketing at Indiana University, US, who’s studied the phenomenon, says two main components must exist to classify as financial infidelity. One: you have to be engaging in a financial behaviour you know your partner would disapprove of; two: you keep that behaviour a secret. “There’s anticipated disapproval,” she says.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhile there is limited data, experts suspect that financial infidelity has been on the rise for decades, since more households now have two breadwinners. “Now, people have separate bank accounts, multiple income streams, a lot of people have more than one job, a lot more people are talking about their side hustles,” says Jeanfreau. “I think it’s just easier to blur the lines.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt's also easier to keep it secret nowadays because “it’s hidden, and it’s so difficult to observe”, says Olson. “We’re not managing a cheque book at the kitchen table. We’re logging on [to banking apps] to see some seemingly virtual expenditures that don’t feel real, depleting a pool of shared resources.” So, it’s easier to commit (and harder to notice) financial infidelity when your funds feel intangible and invisible.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAutonomy and avoidance\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere are many reasons people might hide some or all of their spending from their partner.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOlson suggests some people commit financial infidelity as a way of reclaiming autonomy in the relationship; they use spending as a means of reasserting their power. “We have this wanting to not just be together, but separate,” says Olson. “We’re our own individual persons, and we like to have some autonomy with our finances as well.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220314-the-financial-infidelity-that-can-sink-couples-2"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"PullQuote","iFrameType":"","pullQuote":"Problems with managing money can make you feel less than, and worried about what people will think of you – Beverly Harzog","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220314-the-financial-infidelity-that-can-sink-couples-3"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003EBut the most common reason people keep finances secret is because they want to avoid a confrontation or being made to feel embarrassed about their spending. Rather than being an act of malice, financial infidelity often occurs because the perpetrator cares so much about what their partner is going to think of them that they hide their transgressions.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOttawa-based Melissa Houston, an accountant, says she knew her spiral of overspending was wrong, but didn’t want to reveal her behaviour to her husband because he trusted her to run their finances. “There’s just so much shame around mismanaging money,” she says. “I was embarrassed. I was ashamed.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHouston began overspending as “an avoidance behaviour” triggered by dissatisfaction with her job as an accountant. Things came to a head when she told her husband she’d committed to the purchase of an in-ground swimming pool in the backyard. When she came clean, she says, “the look of disappointment on his face was brutal”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBeverly Harzog, credit card expert and columnist at US News & World Report, and the editor of its January 2022 financial infidelity survey, says money matters can be highly emotional. “As adults, problems with managing money can make you feel less than, and worried about what people will think of you,” she says.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut our ability to discuss money can also depend on our upbringing, adds Harzog: “Was it taboo to talk about money, was it openly discussed or was it never really addressed?” Recent UK research showed \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.maps.org.uk\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F08\u002Fup-to-4-million-parents-keep-mum-on-money-matters\u002F\"\u003Eless than half\u003C\u002Fa\u003E of the 3,000 parents surveyed talked openly with their children about money – even though encouraging financial literacy \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsjes.springeropen.com\u002Farticles\u002F10.1186\u002Fs41937-019-0027-5\"\u003Efeeds into healthier spending\u003C\u002Fa\u003E in adult life.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETai McNeely says even before she found about Talaat’s debts, she was the more financially savvy of the two; she’d already paid off a car as a teenager and put herself through university. “I had the great credit score, he didn’t. I knew how to handle all the money, he didn’t.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBouncing back\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDealing with financial infidelity as a couple can be hard – and the first challenge may be finding out about it. According to the US News & Report survey, only 8% of partners find out about it via a confession. Often, partners will only find out what’s going on by noticing little things – the arrival of more boxes than usual, or the fact that their partner’s holiday bonus never materialised.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBroaching the subject can also feel very hard. “I like the word ‘taboo’ to discuss money,” says Jeanfreau. “Like, you’re supposed to know what to do with it, but no one wants to talk about it.” Olson adds that “we’ve been trained not to” bring the subject of money up, despite “finances being a huge part of our lives” and “a bedrock of a relationship”.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220314-the-financial-infidelity-that-can-sink-couples-4"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[]},"cardType":"Image","iFrameType":"","image":["p0bvbrz7"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageOrientation":"landscape","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220314-the-financial-infidelity-that-can-sink-couples-5"},{"bodyHtml":{"assets":[],"html":"\u003Cp\u003ETo avoid problems, say both experts, it’s important to establish a regular time to discuss spending, including setting budgets for each person. And for people who do find their partners committing financial infidelity, the experts recommend avoiding hostility or judgment, even though it can be upsetting.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“We do all make mistakes,” says Harzog. “Hopefully, this person is important to you. At least put in the effort to see if you can come back from that.” She says financial breaches of trust aren’t usually as serious in a relationship as someone having an affair, for instance. As long as one person doesn’t feel trust has been irrevocably destroyed, couples can bounce back.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn the wake of her financial infidelity, Houston changed jobs; she started her own business to empower women to take control of their money. While she and her husband are still rebuilding trust, she says that their communication around money and spending has become much more honest, open and frequent. She believes that getting coaching or therapy to tackle the issues causing the financial behaviour, like a lack of satisfaction in other parts of life, is crucial. “It is so important, even when you get your money mindset back on track, to keep checking in on yourself,” she says.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMcNeely and her husband, meanwhile, have now been married for 16 years. Together they run a podcast and YouTube channel that gives financial advice to couples. McNeely says that once her husband acknowledged what he had done, they were able to work together as a team to move on. Even though his actions temporarily screeched their relationship to a halt, she realised that the complicated, awkward nature of discussing money – even with your life partner – could be more to blame than the partner himself.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E“It wasn’t that he didn’t love me,” she says. “He just didn’t want to disappoint me.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E"},"cardType":"Body","iFrameType":"","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220314-the-financial-infidelity-that-can-sink-couples-6"}],"collection":["worklife\u002Fpremium-collection\u002Flovelife"],"disableAdverts":false,"displayDate":"2022-03-18T00:00:00Z","embeddedCustomHtml":"","embeddedInfographicUrl":"","embeddedType":"infographic","headlineLong":"The 'financial infidelity' that can sink couples","headlineShort":"The spending that leads to infidelity","image":["p0bvbr3s"],"imageAlignment":"centre","imageAltText":"","isSyndicated":true,"latitude":"","longitude":"","mpsVideo":"","option":[{"Content":{"Description":"Apple News Publish: Select to publish, remove to unpublish. (Do not just delete or unpublish the story)","Name":"publish-applenews-system-1"},"Metadata":{"CreationDateTime":"2016-02-05T14:32:31.186819Z","Entity":"option","Guid":"13f4bc85-ae27-4a34-9397-0e6ad3619619","Id":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","ModifiedDateTime":"2022-02-27T22:52:24.455144Z","Project":"wwverticals","Slug":"option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1"},"Urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:option:option\u002Fpublish-applenews-system-1","_id":"62b420921f4b7b5d34253c8b"}],"partner":null,"primaryVertical":"worklife","promoAlignment":"centre","promoAltText":"","promoImage":null,"relatedStories":["worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220301-does-solo-polyamory-mean-having-it-all","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220228-the-inevitability-of-the-office-romance","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20210507-asexuality-the-ascent-of-the-invisible-sexual-orientation"],"relatedTag":null,"summaryLong":"Secrecy and dishonesty around spending creates rifts in relationships. Why aren’t we talking about it more?","summaryShort":"The financial secrecy that breaks up relationships","tag":["tag\u002Fhow-we-live"],"textToSpeech":false,"creationDateTime":"2022-03-17T20:12:22.254093Z","entity":"article","guid":"620fdeb3-8586-485b-8e0a-800d093d17e9","id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220314-the-financial-infidelity-that-can-sink-couples","modifiedDateTime":"2022-03-17T20:12:22.254093Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220314-the-financial-infidelity-that-can-sink-couples","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100265}},"tags":{"tag\u002Fhow-we-live":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:tag:tag\u002Fhow-we-live","_id":"62b420ad1f4b7b64a539efdc","assetImage":null,"description":"","linkUrl":"","name":"How We Live","creationDateTime":"2021-02-05T16:05:21.855044Z","entity":"tag","guid":"e9353e70-d92d-4966-b57f-eb655a24b486","id":"tag\u002Fhow-we-live","modifiedDateTime":"2022-02-27T23:26:19.601218Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"tag\u002Fhow-we-live","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100265},"tag\u002Fhow-we-think":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:tag:tag\u002Fhow-we-think","_id":"62b420991f4b7b64c17b37ab","assetImage":null,"description":"","linkUrl":"","name":"How we think","creationDateTime":"2021-03-11T19:37:50.321256Z","entity":"tag","guid":"52a9a0a6-92ac-4d4c-9906-b514c70909eb","id":"tag\u002Fhow-we-think","modifiedDateTime":"2022-02-27T23:26:24.330005Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"tag\u002Fhow-we-think","cacheLastUpdated":1657756100264}},"navigations":{"worklife\u002Fnavigation\u002Fworklife":{"urn":"urn:pubpipe:wwverticals:navigation:worklife\u002Fnavigation\u002Fworklife","_id":"62b420921f4b7b574e0bfa3b","item":[{"lineOne":"","lineTwo":"What is Worklife?","showFeaturedButton":false,"url":"\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20190721-what-is-bbc-worklife\u002F","id":"worklife\u002Fnavigation\u002Fworklife-0"},{"lineOne":"","lineTwo":"How We Work","showFeaturedButton":false,"url":"\u002Fworklife\u002Ftags\u002Fhow-we-work\u002F","id":"worklife\u002Fnavigation\u002Fworklife-1"},{"lineOne":"","lineTwo":"How We Live","showFeaturedButton":false,"url":"\u002Fworklife\u002Ftags\u002Fhow-we-live\u002F","id":"worklife\u002Fnavigation\u002Fworklife-2"},{"lineOne":"","lineTwo":"How We Think","showFeaturedButton":false,"url":"\u002Fworklife\u002Ftags\u002Fhow-we-think\u002F","id":"worklife\u002Fnavigation\u002Fworklife-3"}],"primaryVertical":"worklife","creationDateTime":"2019-07-18T15:53:01.743599Z","entity":"navigation","guid":"6928af2b-9d4d-4352-8cdb-b0e9735b1d2d","id":"worklife\u002Fnavigation\u002Fworklife","modifiedDateTime":"2022-03-01T10:07:39.242262Z","project":"wwverticals","slug":"worklife\u002Fnavigation\u002Fworklife","cacheLastUpdated":1657756099434}},"partners":{},"modules":{},"indexModules":{},"aroundTheBBC":{},"weathers":{},"destinations":{},"videos":{}},"ads":{},"destinationsAZ":{"azIndexFilter":"Continent"},"collectionsAZ":{"indexFilter":"MOST_RECENT"},"relatedArticlesById":{},"article":{"currentActiveArticle":null,"primaryArticle":null},"loader":{"message":null,"show":false},"location":{"currentLocation":"\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex","previousLocation":null,"isFirstRendering":true},"serverRender":true,"hasArticleHero":{"value":false},"visitedCollectionIndex":false,"visitedTagIndex":false,"metaData":{"title":null},"fetchArticleGroupByArticleId":{"isFetching":false,"id":"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex","error":null,"endpoint":undefined},"fetchArticleById":{"isFetching":{"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex":false},"error":null},"fetchTagsByVertical":{"isFetching":false,"error":null},"fetchCollectionsIndexByVerticalReducer":{"isFetching":false,"error":null},"fetchDestinationsIndexByVerticalReducer":{"isFetching":false,"error":null},"fetchNavigationById":{"isFetching":false,"id":"worklife\u002Fnavigation\u002Fworklife","error":null},"fetchCollectionById":{"isFetching":false,"id":null,"error":null},"fetchDestinationById":{"isFetching":false,"id":null,"error":null},"fetchAroundTheBBCByVertical":{"isFetching":false,"id":null,"error":null},"fetchTagById":{"isFetching":false,"id":null,"error":null},"fetchWeatherById":{"isFetching":false,"id":null,"error":null},"fetchModuleByVertical":{"isFetching":null,"error":null},"pagination":{"articleInfiniteScroll":{"worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex":{"site\u002Fworklife\u002Farticle\u002Fpremium-collection\u002Flovelife":{"pages":{"1":{"isFetching":false,"error":null,"items":["worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220624-can-online-dating-burnout-be-stopped","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220601-the-invisible-obstacles-of-non-binary-dating","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220523-the-couples-taking-relationship-gap-years","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220421-why-singles-are-pre-screening-their-dates","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220420-are-baby-boomers-having-the-best-time-in-bed","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220408-why-millennials-arent-cohabiting-as-a-trial-marriage","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220405-single-shaming-why-people-jump-to-judge-the-un-partnered","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-age-gaps-the-relationship-taboo-that-wont-die","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220317-great-sexpectations-how-our-mindsets-shape-our-love-lives","worklife\u002Farticle\u002F20220314-the-financial-infidelity-that-can-sink-couples"],"cacheLastUpdated":1657756100269}},"totalItems":29,"totalPages":3,"currentPage":1,"itemsPerPage":10}}},"collectionArticlesIndex":{},"tagArticlesIndex":{},"verticalArticlesIndex":{},"premiumCollectionArticlesIndex":{},"swimlaneCollectionArticles":{},"destinationArticlesIndex":{}}}</script> <script>window.__ENTITY_ROUTES__ = {"article":{"path":"\u002F:moduleId(future|worklife|culture|travel)\u002Farticle\u002F:primaryArticleId","entityMapping":":moduleId\u002Farticle\u002F:primaryArticleId"},"previewArticle":{"path":"\u002F:moduleId(future|worklife|culture|travel)\u002Fpreview\u002Farticle\u002F:primaryArticleId","entityMapping":":moduleId\u002Farticle\u002F:primaryArticleId"},"premiumCollection":{"path":"\u002F:moduleId(future|worklife|culture|travel)\u002F:id","entityMapping":":moduleId\u002Fpremium-collection\u002F:id"},"collectionArticlesIndexColumn":{"path":"\u002F:moduleId(future|worklife|culture|travel)\u002Fcolumns\u002F:id","entityMapping":":moduleId\u002Fcolumn\u002F:id"},"collectionArticlesIndexSection":{"path":"\u002F:moduleId(future|worklife|culture|travel)\u002Fsections\u002F:id","entityMapping":":moduleId\u002Fcolumn\u002F:id"},"tagArticlesIndex":{"path":"\u002F:moduleId(future|worklife|culture|travel)\u002Ftags\u002F:id","entityMapping":":moduleId(future|worklife|culture|travel)\u002Ftag\u002F:id"},"tagsIndex":{"path":"\u002F:moduleId(future|worklife|culture|travel)\u002Ftags","entityMapping":"\u002F:moduleId\u002Ftags"},"verticalArticlesIndex":{"path":"\u002F:moduleId(future|worklife|culture|travel)","entityMapping":"\u002F:moduleId(future|worklife|culture|travel)"},"collectionsColumnsIndex":{"path":"\u002F:moduleId(future|worklife|culture|travel)\u002Fcolumns","entityMapping":"\u002F:moduleId\u002Fcollections"},"collectionsSectionsIndex":{"path":"\u002F:moduleId(future|worklife|culture|travel)\u002Fsections","entityMapping":"\u002F:moduleId\u002Fcollections"},"destinationsIndex":{"path":"\u002F:moduleId(travel)\u002Fdestinations","entityMapping":"\u002Fdestinations"},"destinationIndex":{"path":"\u002F:moduleId(travel)\u002Fdestinations\u002F:destinationId","entityMapping":":moduleId\u002Fdestination-guide\u002F:destinationId"}};</script> <script>window.__PWA_CLIENT_SIDE_ENABLED__=true</script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819js_/https://static-web-assets.gnl-common.bbcverticals.com/features/pwa/20220627-121132-6c8d5ccb739bf0e69926695c29fb48bc3e1fbf37/static/js/bundle.2217920b.js"></script> <script>window.BBC_GNL_PWA_MAIN();</script> <script type="text/javascript"> (function() { /** CONFIGURATION START **/ var _sf_async_config = window._sf_async_config = (window._sf_async_config || {}); _sf_async_config.uid = '50924'; _sf_async_config.domain = 'bbc.co.uk'; _sf_async_config.flickerControl = false; _sf_async_config.useCanonical = true; _sf_async_config.sections = 'worklife,premium_lovelife,howwelive'; _sf_async_config.path = '/worklife/article/20220209-dry-dating-the-rise-of-sober-love-and-sex'; _sf_async_config.authors = "Jessica Klein"; /** CONFIGURATION END **/ function loadChartbeat() { var e = document.createElement('script'); var n = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; e.type = 'text/javascript'; e.async = true; e.src = '//web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://static.chartbeat.com/js/chartbeat.js'; n.parentNode.insertBefore(e, n); } loadChartbeat(); })(); </script> </div> <div id="orb-footer" class="orb-footer" dir="ltr"> <div id="navp-orb-footer-promo"></div><aside role="complementary"><div id="orb-aside" class="orb-nav-sec b-r b-g-p"><div class="orb-footer-inner" role="navigation" aria-label="BBC"><h2 class="orb-footer-lead">Explore the BBC</h2><div class="orb-footer-primary-links"><ul class="domestic"><li class="orb-nav-home"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/"><span>Home</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-news"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news"><svg class="product-icon" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 512 512" enable-background="new 0 0 512 512" xml:space="preserve" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true"><g><path fill="#B80000" d="M302,424h-68c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S232,422.552,232,422V306c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S233.448,304,234,304h68c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S304,305.448,304,306v116c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S302.552,424,302,424z"></path><path fill="#EB0000" d="M422,280H234c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S232,278.552,232,278V90c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S233.448,88,234,88h188c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S424,89.448,424,90v188c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S422.552,280,422,280z"></path><path fill="#D30000" d="M206,328H90c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S88,326.552,88,326V210c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S89.448,208,90,208h116c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S208,209.448,208,210v116c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S206.552,328,206,328z"></path></g></svg><span>News</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-sport"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport"><svg class="product-icon" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 512 512" enable-background="new 0 0 512 512" xml:space="preserve" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true"><g><path fill="#FFD230" d="M90,184h332c0.552,0,1.052-0.224,1.414-0.586S424,182.552,424,182V90c0-0.552-0.224-1.052-0.586-1.414 S422.552,88,422,88H90c-0.552,0-1.052,0.224-1.414,0.586S88,89.448,88,90v92c0,0.552,0.224,1.052,0.586,1.414S89.448,184,90,184z"></path><path fill="#FFA100" d="M306,424h116c0.552,0,1.052-0.224,1.414-0.586S424,422.552,424,422v-92c0-0.552-0.224-1.052-0.586-1.414 S422.552,328,422,328H306c-0.552,0-1.052,0.224-1.414,0.586S304,329.448,304,330v92c0,0.552,0.224,1.052,0.586,1.414 S305.448,424,306,424z"></path><path fill="#FFBA00" d="M210,304h212c0.552,0,1.052-0.224,1.414-0.586S424,302.552,424,302v-92c0-0.552-0.224-1.052-0.586-1.414 S422.552,208,422,208H210c-0.552,0-1.052,0.224-1.414,0.586S208,209.448,208,210v92c0,0.552,0.224,1.052,0.586,1.414 S209.448,304,210,304z"></path></g></svg><span>Sport</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-weather"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather"><svg class="product-icon" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 512 512" enable-background="new 0 0 512 512" xml:space="preserve" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true"><g><path fill="#067EB3" d="M316.234,368.56l52.326-52.326c0.391-0.391,0.586-0.902,0.586-1.414c0-0.512-0.195-1.024-0.586-1.414 L252.594,197.44c-0.391-0.391-0.902-0.586-1.414-0.586s-1.024,0.195-1.414,0.586l-52.326,52.326 c-0.391,0.391-0.586,0.902-0.586,1.414s0.195,1.024,0.586,1.414L313.406,368.56c0.391,0.391,0.902,0.586,1.414,0.586 C315.332,369.146,315.844,368.95,316.234,368.56z"></path><path fill="#1969A6" d="M90,424h74c0.552,0,1.052-0.224,1.414-0.586S166,422.552,166,422V258c0-0.552-0.224-1.052-0.586-1.414 S164.552,256,164,256H90c-0.552,0-1.052,0.224-1.414,0.586S88,257.448,88,258v164c0,0.552,0.224,1.052,0.586,1.414 S89.448,424,90,424z"></path><path fill="#149EDC" d="M258,166h164c0.552,0,1.052-0.224,1.414-0.586S424,164.552,424,164V90c0-0.552-0.224-1.052-0.586-1.414 S422.552,88,422,88H258c-0.552,0-1.052,0.224-1.414,0.586S256,89.448,256,90v74c0,0.552,0.224,1.052,0.586,1.414 S257.448,166,258,166z"></path></g></svg><span>Weather</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-iplayer"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer"><svg class="product-icon" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 512 512" enable-background="new 0 0 512 512" xml:space="preserve" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true"><g><path fill="#DC2878" d="M182,358h-68c-0.55,0-1.05-0.225-1.412-0.587C112.225,357.05,112,356.55,112,356V156 c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414S113.448,154,114,154h68c0.55,0,1.05,0.225,1.413,0.587C183.775,154.95,184,155.45,184,156v200 c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414S182.552,358,182,358z"></path><path fill="#FF4C98" d="M372.106,248.243l34-58.89c0.275-0.476,0.33-1.022,0.197-1.517c-0.133-0.495-0.453-0.94-0.93-1.215 l-173.205-100c-0.478-0.276-1.023-0.332-1.518-0.2c-0.494,0.132-0.938,0.454-1.214,0.932l-34,58.89 c-0.275,0.476-0.33,1.022-0.197,1.517c0.133,0.495,0.453,0.94,0.93,1.215l173.205,100c0.478,0.276,1.023,0.332,1.518,0.2 C371.386,249.042,371.83,248.721,372.106,248.243z"></path><path fill="#AF0D5B" d="M372.106,263.757l34,58.89c0.275,0.476,0.33,1.022,0.197,1.517c-0.133,0.495-0.453,0.94-0.93,1.215 l-173.205,100c-0.478,0.276-1.023,0.332-1.518,0.2c-0.494-0.132-0.938-0.454-1.214-0.932l-34-58.89 c-0.275-0.476-0.33-1.022-0.197-1.517c0.133-0.495,0.453-0.94,0.93-1.215l173.205-100c0.478-0.276,1.023-0.332,1.518-0.2 C371.386,262.958,371.83,263.279,372.106,263.757z"></path></g></svg><span>iPlayer</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-sounds"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds"><svg class="product-icon" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 512 512" enable-background="new 0 0 512 512" xml:space="preserve" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true"><g><path fill="#A13104" d="M122,304H78c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S76,302.552,76,302v-92c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S77.448,208,78,208h44c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S124,209.448,124,210v92c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S122.552,304,122,304z"></path><path fill="#D24712" d="M230,376h-80c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S148,374.552,148,374V138c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S149.448,136,150,136h80c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S232,137.448,232,138v236c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S230.552,376,230,376z"></path><path fill="#FA6400" d="M422,424H258c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S256,422.552,256,422V90c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S257.448,88,258,88h164c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S424,89.448,424,90v332c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S422.552,424,422,424z"></path></g></svg><span>Sounds</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-bitesize"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize"><svg class="product-icon" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 512 512" enable-background="new 0 0 512 512" xml:space="preserve" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true"><g><path fill="#6100A8" d="M134,400H78c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S76,398.552,76,398V162c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S77.448,160,78,160h56c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S136,161.448,136,162v236c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S134.552,400,134,400z"></path><path fill="#7222C6" d="M254,400h-92c-0.552,0-1.052-0.224-1.414-0.586S160,398.552,160,398V114c0-0.552,0.224-1.052,0.586-1.414 S161.448,112,162,112h92c0.552,0,1.052,0.224,1.414,0.586S256,113.448,256,114v284c0,0.552-0.224,1.052-0.586,1.414 S254.552,400,254,400z"></path><path fill="#963CE1" d="M444.77,373.863l-85.829,26.232c-0.529,0.162-1.073,0.093-1.526-0.148s-0.812-0.655-0.973-1.184 L273.901,126.63c-0.16-0.528-0.091-1.07,0.149-1.521c0.241-0.451,0.653-0.811,1.18-0.972l85.829-26.232 c0.529-0.162,1.073-0.093,1.526,0.148s0.812,0.655,0.973,1.184l82.542,272.133c0.16,0.528,0.091,1.07-0.149,1.521 C445.71,373.342,445.297,373.702,444.77,373.863z"></path></g></svg><span>Bitesize</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-cbeebies"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies"><span>CBeebies</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-cbbc"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc"><span>CBBC</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-food"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/food"><span>Food</span></a></li></ul><ul class="international"><li class="orb-nav-homedotcom"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/"><span>Home</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-newsdotcom"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/news"><span>News</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-sport"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/sport"><span>Sport</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-reeldotcom"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/reel"><span>Reel</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-worklife"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/worklife"><span>Worklife</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-traveldotcom"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/travel"><span>Travel</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-future"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/future"><span>Future</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-culture"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/culture"><span>Culture</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-tv"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m"><span>TV</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-weather"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/weather"><span>Weather</span></a></li><li class="orb-nav-sounds"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds"><span>Sounds</span></a></li></ul></div></div></div></aside><footer role="contentinfo"><div id="orb-contentinfo" class="orb-nav-sec b-r b-g-p"><div class="orb-footer-inner"><div><ul><li class="orb-footer-terms"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/terms/">Terms of Use</a></li><li class="orb-footer-about"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc">About the BBC</a></li><li class="orb-footer-privacy"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/privacy/">Privacy Policy</a></li><li class="orb-footer-cookies"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/cookies/">Cookies</a></li><li class="orb-footer-accessibility"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/">Accessibility Help</a></li><li class="orb-footer-parental"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/guidance">Parental Guidance</a></li><li class="orb-footer-contact"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact">Contact the BBC</a></li><li class="domestic orb-footer-newsletter"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcnewsletter">BBC emails for you</a></li><li class="international orb-footer-newsletter"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcnewsletter">Get Personalised Newsletters</a></li><li class="international orb-footer-ads"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbcglobalnews.com/">Advertise with us</a></li><li class="international orb-footer-adchoices"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/cookies/how-does-the-bbc-use-cookies-for-advertising/">AdChoices / Do Not Sell My Info</a></li></ul><small><em class="orb-hilight">Copyright © 2022 BBC.</em> The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. <span class="orb-footer-links"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/guidance/feeds-and-links" class="orb-hilight">Read about our approach to external linking.</a></span></small></div></div></div></footer></div><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819js_/https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/orbit/c112a8f36cf65a87b0355cbdb46acf5a/js/redirect.js" async=""></script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819js_/https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/orbit/c112a8f36cf65a87b0355cbdb46acf5a/js/performance.js" data-release="3.0.0-2188.1a888476" data-ux="v5" async=""></script> <script type="module" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819jm_/https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/orbit/c112a8f36cf65a87b0355cbdb46acf5a/js/more-drawer.mjs"></script> <script type="module" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819jm_/https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/orbit/c112a8f36cf65a87b0355cbdb46acf5a/js/orbit.mjs" async=""></script><script nomodule="" type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819js_/https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/orbit/c112a8f36cf65a87b0355cbdb46acf5a/js/orbit.js" async=""></script> <script type="text/javascript">/*<![CDATA[*/ (function() { function loadJs(url) { var script = document.createElement('script'); script.type = 'text/javascript'; script.src = url; script.async = true; document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0].appendChild(script); } window.bbcuser.isUKCombined().then(function(isUK) { if (isUK) { loadJs('https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/orbit/c112a8f36cf65a87b0355cbdb46acf5a/js/edr.js'); } }); })(); /*]]>*/</script> <script type="module">if (window.bbcuser && window.bbcuser.isUKCombined) { bbcuser.isUKCombined().then(function (isUK) { if (isUK) { import('https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://nav.files.bbci.co.uk/searchbox/607ffea8a9089c592ef68b9e4084edfb//js/search-suggest.js').then(drawer => { drawer.setupSearchDrawer({ searchboxAppStaticPrefix: 'https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://nav.files.bbci.co.uk/searchbox/607ffea8a9089c592ef68b9e4084edfb/', variant: 'default', }); }); } }); }</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819js_/https://nav.files.bbci.co.uk/navpromo/34f98a4c8573fabed16dc8acea28feb8/js/footerpromo.js" data-base="https://navpromo.api.bbci.co.uk" data-variant="" async=""></script> <script type="text/javascript">window.COOKIES_STATIC_HOST="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/cookies/6f7a92d4fabe448fb9b4b2169f055909/cookie-banner/cookie-prompt/"</script><script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819js_/https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/cookies/6f7a92d4fabe448fb9b4b2169f055909/cookie-banner/cookie-banners.bundle.js" async=""></script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819js_/https://nav.files.bbci.co.uk//user-activity-helper/a8196ecdef2d10b40b1afc53b833773a/js/detectview.bundle.js" async=""></script><script type="text/javascript">"use strict";window.__reverb.__reverbLoadedPromise.then(function(e){return e.initialise().then(function(){return e.viewEvent()})},function(){console.log("Failed to load reverb. No event sent")});</script><noscript><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819im_/https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=17986528&cs_ucfr=0&cv=2.0&cj=1"></noscript> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819js_/https://mybbc.files.bbci.co.uk/notification-ui/5.0.12//js/NotificationsMain.js" defer="defer"></script><script type="module">const drawerAPI = await window.shimport('orbit-drawer'); !window.location.href.includes('/notifications') && window.bbcuser.isUKCombined().then(function(isUK) { if (isUK) { window.NotificationsMain.run(drawerAPI, "https://web.archive.org/web/20220713234819/https://mybbc.files.bbci.co.uk/notification-ui/5.0.12/");}})</script> </body> </html>