Dogging (sexual slang)

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Vandalised "DOG ON LEASH ONLY" sign amended to refer to dogging, Kennington Park, London, 2012 Dogging on a Leash Only.jpg
Vandalised "DOG ON LEASH ONLY" sign amended to refer to dogging, Kennington Park, London, 2012

Dogging is a British English slang term for engaging in sexual acts in a public or semi-public place or watching others doing so. [1] There may be more than two participants; both group sex and gang banging can be included. As observation is encouraged, voyeurism and exhibitionism are closely associated with dogging. The people involved meet either randomly or, increasingly, arrange beforehand over the Internet to meet up. [2]

Contents

In September 2003, BBC News [3] reported on the "new" dogging craze. They cited the Internet and text messaging as common ways of organising meetings. The original definition of dogging—and which remains a closely related activity—is spying on couples having sex in a car or other public place, [4] and the term had been in use on Britain's railways for many years. It would have been well-known at least as far back as 1951. [5]

There is some evidence on the Internet that the "craze" has begun to spread to other countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Denmark, [6] the Netherlands, Norway, [7] Poland, [8] and Sweden. [9]

Legality

In Great Britain, dogging comes under laws related to voyeurism, exhibitionism, or public displays of sexual behaviour. Prosecution is possible for a number of offences such as Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986, [10] exposure under section 66 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, [11] or for the common law offence of outraging public decency. As of 2010, Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) policy was that arrests are a last resort and a more gradual approach should be taken in such circumstances. [12] As such public sex in some areas of the UK sits in a slightly grey area legally: "…Public sex is a popular—and quasi-legal—activity in Britain, according to the authorities and to the large number of Web sites that promote it. (It is treated as a crime only if someone witnesses it, is offended and is willing to make a formal complaint.) And the police tend to tread lightly in public sex environments, in part because of the bitter legacy of the time when gay sex was illegal and closeted men having anonymous sex in places like public bathrooms were routinely arrested and humiliated." [1]

Terminology

The Sunday Herald of Scotland wrote in 2003, "The term dogging originated in the early 1970s to describe men who spied on couples having sex outdoors—these men would 'dog' the couples' every move and watch them." [13] An alternative etymology posits dog walking as the origin of the term; audience members, and indeed participants, could use the ordinary exercise of their pets as cover for their sexual assignations. [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 Hardacre, Sarah (7 October 2010). "Here's the Pub, Church and Field for Public Sex". The New York Times . Puttenham Journal (column). p. A10. Archived from the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  2. ↑ "'Dogging' hotspot to be policed". BBC News. 9 February 2009. Archived from the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  3. ↑ "'Dogging' craze sex disease risk". BBC News. 8 September 2003. Archived from the original on 1 February 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  4. ↑ Kahney, Leander (19 April 2004). "Dogging Craze Has Brits in Heat". Wired . Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  5. ↑ Ian Allan Publishing (1996). British Railway Disasters. Ian Allan. p. 192. ISBN   978-0-7110-2470-0.
  6. ↑ Hansen, Kåre Rolf (29 May 2011). "Masser af sex på landsdelens rastepladser" (in Danish). TV Midtvest. Archived from the original on 21 June 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  7. ↑ Gray, Martin (4 February 2007). "Tenner på risikosex". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Oslo. Archived from the original on 15 July 2007. Retrieved 20 August 2007. Fenomenet 'dogging' brer om seg og er i ferd med å få fotfeste i Norge.
  8. ↑ "Uprawiają seks w centrum Warszawy" (in Polish). onet.pl. 9 October 2007. Archived from the original on 12 June 2007. Retrieved 7 January 2014. Łazienki, park Szczęśliwicki i Skaryszewski to ulubione miejsca doggersów. Umawiają się przez internet, by na oczach przypadkowych przechodniów uprawiać niezobowiązujący seks. Archive date is [sic].
  9. ↑ Abrahamsson, Karin (14 July 2008). "Sommarens heta sextrend". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 26 May 2010. Retrieved 12 June 2010. Träffpunkter och nätverk för dogging finns över hela Sverige.
  10. ↑ "Section 5". Public Order Act 1986 . UK Statute Law Database. Archived from the original on 14 September 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  11. ↑ "Section 66". Sexual Offences Act 2003 . UK Statute Law Database. Archived from the original on 5 September 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  12. ↑ "Police leniency call on park sex". BBC News. 17 October 2008. Archived from the original on 9 September 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  13. ↑ Johnston, Jen (21 September 2003). "Councils voice concern over new sex craze". Sunday Herald . Glasgow. Archived from the original on 22 September 2003. Retrieved 28 August 2010.

General and cited references

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