Dogging (sexual slang)
Encyclopedia
Dogging is a British English
euphemism
for engaging in sexual acts in a public
or semi-public place or watching others doing so. There may be more than two participants; both group sex
and gang bang
ing can be included. As observation is encouraged, voyeurism
and exhibitionism
are closely associated with dogging. The two sets of people involved often meet either randomly or (increasingly) arrange to meet up beforehand over the Internet.
Dogging started in the later part of the 20th century, in the UK, with locations mainly being public car parks and lay-bys (usually on quiet country roads) with activity normally taking place after dark. Doggers would usually leave their interior lights on in their cars so that other doggers would know that they too were doggers. Some would flash their headlights at other cars or flick the interior light on-and-off briefly. These are the most common signs to show that one is a dogger, and are also the signs used by gay men who use lay-bys as cruising grounds for sexual activity. Many dogging locations are used by both straight doggers and gay men.
In September 2003 the BBC
reported on the 'new' dogging craze. They cited the Internet
and text messaging as very common ways of organising meetings. The original definition of dogging – and which is still a closely related activity – is spying on couples having sex in a car or other public place.
There is some evidence on the Internet that the 'craze' has recently begun to spread to other countries, such as the U.S., Canada
, Ireland
, Australia
, Barbados
, Brazil
, the Netherlands
, Norway
, Poland
, Sweden
, and New Zealand
.
, exhibitionism
or public displays of sexual behaviour
; however, the laws on dogging are ambiguous. Prosecution is possible for a number of offenses such as section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986
, indecent exposure
under section 66 of the Sexual Offenses Act 2003 or for the common law offense of outraging public decency
. However, ACPO policy is that arrests are a last resort and a more gradual approach should be taken in such circumstances.
Some countries may also have laws regarding permitting, or being reckless as to whether, a minor
watches, or becomes exposed to, sexual activities.
Kent Police
force routinely monitors the sites such as swingingheaven for dogging locations as part of Policy M78 Managing Public Sex Environments policies in section 9.5.1. The police force states they have no control over these lists; however, they use them in relation to law enforcement in the locales listed.
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." 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.
in a car. It does not necessarily include the exhibitionist or voyeuristic aspects of dogging.
British English
British English, or English , is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the United Kingdom from forms used elsewhere...
euphemism
Euphemism
A euphemism is the substitution of a mild, inoffensive, relatively uncontroversial phrase for another more frank expression that might offend or otherwise suggest something unpleasant to the audience...
for engaging in sexual acts in a public
Public sex
Public sex refers to sexual acts that take place in public or semi-public places, and does not necessarily imply that the sexual activity takes place outdoors. Public places where sex acts can be performed include a car , on a beach, in the woods, as well as in a theatre, bus, street, besides...
or semi-public place or watching others doing so. There may be more than two participants; both group sex
Group sex
Group sex is sexual behavior involving more than two participants. Group sex can occur amongst people of all sexual orientations and genders...
and gang bang
Gang bang
A gang bang is a situation in which one person has sexual intercourse and performs other sex acts with a number of people, either in turn or at the same time. When the person has not consented to such activity, it is called gang rape or pack rape.A limited study by Joan and Dwight Dixon indicate...
ing can be included. As observation is encouraged, voyeurism
Voyeurism
In clinical psychology, voyeurism is the sexual interest in or practice of spying on people engaged in intimate behaviors, such as undressing, sexual activity, or other activity usually considered to be of a private nature....
and exhibitionism
Exhibitionism
Exhibitionism refers to a desire or compulsion to expose parts of one's body – specifically the genitals or buttocks of a man or woman, or the breasts of a woman – in a public or semi-public circumstance, in crowds or groups of friends or acquaintances, or to strangers...
are closely associated with dogging. The two sets of people involved often meet either randomly or (increasingly) arrange to meet up beforehand over the Internet.
Dogging started in the later part of the 20th century, in the UK, with locations mainly being public car parks and lay-bys (usually on quiet country roads) with activity normally taking place after dark. Doggers would usually leave their interior lights on in their cars so that other doggers would know that they too were doggers. Some would flash their headlights at other cars or flick the interior light on-and-off briefly. These are the most common signs to show that one is a dogger, and are also the signs used by gay men who use lay-bys as cruising grounds for sexual activity. Many dogging locations are used by both straight doggers and gay men.
In September 2003 the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
reported on the 'new' dogging craze. They cited the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
and text messaging as very common ways of organising meetings. The original definition of dogging – and which is still a closely related activity – is spying on couples having sex in a car or other public place.
There is some evidence on the Internet that the 'craze' has recently begun to spread to other countries, such as the U.S., Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Legality
In Great Britain, dogging comes under laws related to voyeurismVoyeurism
In clinical psychology, voyeurism is the sexual interest in or practice of spying on people engaged in intimate behaviors, such as undressing, sexual activity, or other activity usually considered to be of a private nature....
, exhibitionism
Exhibitionism
Exhibitionism refers to a desire or compulsion to expose parts of one's body – specifically the genitals or buttocks of a man or woman, or the breasts of a woman – in a public or semi-public circumstance, in crowds or groups of friends or acquaintances, or to strangers...
or public displays of sexual behaviour
Public sex
Public sex refers to sexual acts that take place in public or semi-public places, and does not necessarily imply that the sexual activity takes place outdoors. Public places where sex acts can be performed include a car , on a beach, in the woods, as well as in a theatre, bus, street, besides...
; however, the laws on dogging are ambiguous. Prosecution is possible for a number of offenses such as section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986
Public Order Act 1986
The Public Order Act 1986 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It creates a number of public order offences. They replace similar common law offences and parts of the Public Order Act 1936...
, indecent exposure
Indecent exposure
Indecent exposure is the deliberate exposure in public or in view of the general public by a person of a portion or portions of his or her body, in circumstances where the exposure is contrary to local moral or other standards of appropriate behavior. Indecent exposure laws vary in different...
under section 66 of the Sexual Offenses Act 2003 or for the common law offense of outraging public decency
Outraging public decency
Outraging public decency is a common law offence in England and Wales. As a common law offence it is punishable by unlimited imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.-Definition:...
. However, ACPO policy is that arrests are a last resort and a more gradual approach should be taken in such circumstances.
Some countries may also have laws regarding permitting, or being reckless as to whether, a minor
Minor (law)
In law, a minor is a person under a certain age — the age of majority — which legally demarcates childhood from adulthood; the age depends upon jurisdiction and application, but is typically 18...
watches, or becomes exposed to, sexual activities.
Kent Police
Kent Police
Kent Police is the territorial police force for Kent in England, including the unitary authority of Medway.-Area and organisation:The force covers an area of with an approximate population of 1,660,588 . The Chief Constable is currently Ian Learmonth, who was appointed in 2010 and is the former...
force routinely monitors the sites such as swingingheaven for dogging locations as part of Policy M78 Managing Public Sex Environments policies in section 9.5.1. The police force states they have no control over these lists; however, they use them in relation to law enforcement in the locales listed.
Terminology
The Sunday HeraldSunday Herald
The Sunday Herald is a Scottish Sunday newspaper launched on 7 February 1999. The ABC audited circulation in April 2011 showed sales of 31,123.From the start it has combined a centre-left stance with support for Scottish devolution...
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." 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.
Amomaxia
"Amomaxia" is the act of having sex or making outMaking out
In human sexuality, making out is a sexual euphemism of American origin dating back to at least 1949, and is used synonymously with the terms necking, heavy petting, and hooking up to refer to non-penetrative sex, though "hooking up" is also used in some cultures to imply casual sex.-History:The...
in a car. It does not necessarily include the exhibitionist or voyeuristic aspects of dogging.
In popular culture
- "Dogging" was the subject of the 2009 British film Dogging: A Love Story, which was released in the U.S. under the title Public Sex, directed by Simon EllisSimon EllisSimon Ellis is a musical director who has worked with Britney Spears, S Club 7 and East 17.-External links:**...
and written by Michael Groom and Norman Brock. - In the first episode of the third series of Being Human (TV series)Being Human (TV series)Being Human is a British supernatural drama television series. It was created and written by Toby Whithouse and is currently broadcast on BBC Three. The show blends elements of flatshare comedy and horror drama...
entitled "Lia", George, the werewolf, is arrested, accidentally, when he stumbles through a well-known "Dogging" area whilst chasing another werewolf. - In the eleventh episode of the first season of Conviction (TV series) entitled "Indiscretion", a rape victim was raped by some men who were invited to watch her through an invitation in a dogging website.
- In the 1998 film There's Something About Mary, the protagonist inadvertently urinates in "Dogging" area and is arrested when it is raided by the police.
See also
- SwingingSwingingSwinging or partner swapping is a non-monogamous behavior, in which both partners in a committed relationship agree, as a couple, for both partners to engage in sexual activities with other couples as a recreational or social activity...
- Group sexGroup sexGroup sex is sexual behavior involving more than two participants. Group sex can occur amongst people of all sexual orientations and genders...
- VoyeurismVoyeurismIn clinical psychology, voyeurism is the sexual interest in or practice of spying on people engaged in intimate behaviors, such as undressing, sexual activity, or other activity usually considered to be of a private nature....
- ExhibitionismExhibitionismExhibitionism refers to a desire or compulsion to expose parts of one's body – specifically the genitals or buttocks of a man or woman, or the breasts of a woman – in a public or semi-public circumstance, in crowds or groups of friends or acquaintances, or to strangers...
- Casual sexCasual sexCasual sex or hooking up refers to certain types of human sexual activity outside the context of a romantic relationship. The term is not always used consistently: some use it to refer to any extramarital sex, some use it to refer to sex in a casual relationship, whereas others reserve its use for...
- Hogging (sexual practice)