The COVID-19 pandemic provided young adults with a positive respite from societal pressure, a Northeastern study says, giving young women a greater sense of independence and demonstrating possible healthier and more inclusive dating scripts.
Before the pandemic, contemporary sexual culture normalized casual encounters among young adults without clear distinctions between a hookup and dating.
It offered contradictory risks and rewards for young adults, and young women in particular, says Linda Blum, professor of sociology in the College of Social Sciences and Humanity.
COVID, however, upended the lives of young adults at a life stage when they usually shape their sexual and romantic individualities.
The pandemic created a rare case of a collective break for everyone, Blum says. She decided to investigate how this natural experiment would challenge…
