Rising Concerns Over Choking Sex Among Youth in Sweden
Choking sex, or strypsex, is increasingly prevalent among youth in Sweden, raising serious safety concerns and calls for urgent societal action.
Key Points
- • Strypsex is becoming more common among young people in Sweden.
- • Forensic experts warn of long-term health risks, including brain damage.
- • The normalization of strypsex is heavily influenced by pornography.
- • Activists urge for clearer laws and preventive measures to combat strypvåld.
A concerning trend of increased choking sex, known as strypsex, among young people in Sweden has emerged, according to recent findings presented at a conference by Rättsmedicinalverket. This practice, largely influenced by pornography and social pressure, poses severe health risks, including potential long-term brain damage as highlighted by forensic doctor Eva Rudd.
Choking as a form of sexual activity has become normalized within younger demographics, with some reporting that they feel compelled to participate due to perceived expectations. Eva Rudd cautioned that aside from the immediate dangers, there are significant risks to lifelong brain function, which can impair learning and cognitive abilities.
Support organizations, such as 1 000 möjligheter, have noted that strypvåld, or choking violence, is prevalent in intimate relationships, particularly affecting women aged 20 to 34. The organization’s secretary-general, Zandra Kanakaris, emphasized that many young women associate choking with what they see in popular media, leading to misconceptions about consent and safety.
Calls for societal change are growing, with activists stressing the need for clearer legal definitions and preventive measures to address strypvåld. Kanakaris and Unizon president Olga Persson have urged the community to engage in open discussions, asserting that the normalization of such dangerous practices reflects deeper issues of male violence towards women. The issue at hand requires immediate attention to prevent further dangerous trends among youth.