Introduction
The book “Hooking Up: Sex, Dating, and Relationships on Campus” by Kathleen Bogle gives a review of the cultural concept of “hooking up.” The primary focus of the author is to address recent behavior trends on campuses and in universities involving the uncommitted sexual encounters that are being experienced in these institutions (Bogle, 4). These sexual encounters are replacing traditional dating procedures and scripts. Therefore, the book gives a better explanation of the behaviors, results, and emotions associated with sexual interaction. The author uses interview research methods to collect her data. Thus, she asked her interviewees questions to try to deduce common characteristics in the hook-up experiences among her respondents. The researcher conducted interviews at one small campus and a large state university (Bogle, 6). Thus, the main objective of the interviews is to understand the term hookup. Hence, Bogle allowed her respondents to define the word hookup in their own words. The respondents’ definitions of the word hookup demonstrated the ambiguity of the term since participants offered different definitions. Some termed it kissing, while others referred to it as sexual intercourse. Thus, she suggested the term “hooking up” may be deliberately unclear, as it enables readers to interpret it in their own words. Bogle outlines several themes of hook-up culture that have emerged in today’s campus life. These themes include sex, dating, and relationships. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to describe the themes outlined by Kathleen Bogle.
Sex Behavior Theme
Sex Differences
One of the main themes in Hooking Up is the sex differences identified from the author’s interviews. Through the interviews, one can identify that there is a sexual double standard for men and women in campus society. Therefore, men and women are subject to different opinions and views due to their sexual conduct (Bogle, 96). Thus, men are praised and acknowledged for their heterosexual contacts, while girls are stigmatized for the same behaviors (Bogle, 97).
Sexual Engagement
Once partners start to interact in a hookup encounter individually, they determine how far they are willing to go regarding sex. Thus, a person’s moral beliefs and values factor into one’s actions towards one’s sex life (Bogle, 72). Therefore, understanding sexual behavior in the hookup context is difficult since hookup involves a wide range of sexual conduct. For instance, it is normal for some to relate hookup to “just kissing,” while others consider hookup to be “sexual intercourse” (Bogle, 75). Thus, the sexual culture norm of hookup is determined by the individuals involved in it.
Relationship and Hook-Up Theme
“Hookup” Relationship
A relationship is another theme in Bogle’s book. A hookup encounter could lead to different results. First, the most likely outcome of a hookup is “nothing” (Bogle, 127). Therefore, most likely, the individuals involved in hookups go their separate ways after they have encountered one another, and their relationship remains the way it was before. Thus, if the people in hookups are friends, their relationship remains the same, and if they are acquaintances, they become friendlier in their next meeting (Bogle, 133).
The main aspect of the hookup relationship is that there are no strings or feelings attached. The people involved in hookup relationships remain unattached. The research illustrated that they might feel awkward after the encounter. Although the outcome of a hookup is nothing, it doesn’t prevent the partners from hooking up again. Moreover, repeated hookups don’t always imply that the people might be in a relationship (Bogle, 137). Occasionally, people involved in hookups are likely to meet only on the weekend.
“Seeing Each Other” Relationship
Another relationship that is the outcome of a hookup is known as “seeing each other.” This type of relationship is realized when there are several repeated hookups. In this type of relationship, the people involved in hookups organize hangouts several times to talk with each other. There is no commitment, and this type of relationship is short-lived (Bogle, 137). The women indicated that the men’s commitment determines the relationship’s continuity. The least likely outcome of a hookup is a real relationship.
Dating Theme
Traditional Dating
College students have abandoned the traditional norm of dating. They have recognized that the traditional dating method is not a current mechanism that one could use to have a partner (Bogle, 158). Therefore, nowadays, relationships start by hooking up. The terms dating and date are still used on campuses, although without as much weight as they held before. Dating is used by individuals who are in a “seeing each other” relationship (Bogle, 159). The students in this bracket do not go for dinner or on dates as they did under traditional dating.
Dating Vs. Hooking Up
Dating and hooking up have different norms of behavior. Although some similarities might occur, they are very distinct (Bogle, 158). Dating occurs when men ask an interested woman to go out with them. The man would ask in advance and give the lady time to prepare. Hookups are unplanned interactions, while either a lady or a man can start the interaction.
Conclusion
The primary focus of the study is understanding the concept of hooking up in relation to sexual behavior, dating, and relationships on campuses and in universities today. These sexual encounters are replacing the traditional dating procedures and scripts (Bogle, 163). Therefore, the book gives a better explanation of the behaviors, results, and emotions associated with sexual interaction. The author uses interview research methods to collect her data. Thus, she asked her interviewees questions to try to deduce common characteristics in the hookup experiences among her respondents.
References
Bogle, K. A. (2008). Hooking up: Sex, dating, and relationships on campus. NYU Press.
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