Is casual sex really so bad?

A new website aims to debunk the negative connotations of hook-up culture and show that casual sex is not always such a bad thing.

Launched by sex researcher and NYU instructor Zhana Vrangalova, The Casual Sex Project provides an outlet for people to anonymously talk about their sexual encounters and one-night stands, revealing that they are not necessarily a cause for shame or regret.

'Hook-ups are so often presented as black or white, good or bad, but it isn't this homogenous thing,' Dr Vrangalova told the Huffington Post.

'There is such a plethora of activities, feelings, hopes and expectations, partner configurations and behaviors, outcomes, circumstances... I hope this project will help people see these nuances.'

People of all ages, genders and sexual orientations are invited to share their hook-up stories on the website, detailing the circumstances of the encounter and whether they regret it or not.

More often than not, the answer is no; many contributors explain that while they may have questioned their motives at the time, ultimately the experience taught them a lesson or helped them on their path toward self-discovery.

A 25-year-old writer, for instance, who shared his story about a same-sex hook-up, wrote: 'It was part of me growing up and exploring and coming out.'

And a woman in her forties recalled how her random hook-up with a man she met a bus station was an experience she looks back on fondly, even if it didn't result in a romantic relationship.

'It was positive affirmation that I can enjoy sex without having to become attached to the person, which for me is very liberating,' she explained

'It's something I'll continue to do when the opportunities present themselves.'

The unique and eye-opening aspect of The Casual Sex Project is that it shows how random hook-ups are not just for college students, but for people of all ages who wish to explore their sexuality.

'I thought it would be useful for people to have a place to share their stories of hook-ups, in a sort of structured and organized way, and to read about other people's experiences in this way,' explained Dr Vrangalova.

She is also working on a book and documentary about the lives of people who have slept with at least 1,000 people, without obtaining those partners through sex work.

'I think it'd be absolutely fascinating to tell the life stories and put faces (not necessarily literally) to such a highly sexual lifestyle,' she said.

Margot Peppers