Can casual sex ever really be casual?

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. With this in mind, the woman went on to ask: “What does casual sex, on the whole, do for women?” It’s a good question – and if you ask it on TikTok, many will tell you about uneven power dynamics between men and women, and how it prevents them from enjoying heterosexual sex outside of romantic relationships. “Even now there’s ‘hot girl summers’, a prevalent porn culture, and the idea that abundant casual sex is an important life stage,” she says. “Because we both knew it was always casual, I came away having learned elements of what I would like in someone and what I wouldn’t.” open image in gallery ‘If you’re wanting to have sex to connect emotionally, you may end up feeling empty if the other person isn’t on the same page’ With this in mind, casual sex can be great for women and everyone else. “There’s no doubt power dynamics can affect casual sex relationships, but stereotypes do not define society,” says Tamara Hoyton, sex therapist at the charity Relate.