A celibate life? We often link it to religious people, but a sexless existence is becoming more common in today’s society. What drives people to decide not to have sex anymore?
Celibate living
Believe it or not, but no sex is totally hot right now. Living by celibacy means making a conscious decision not to have sex, and more and more people are making that choice. Research shows that by early 2023 there will be a marked decline in sexual activity among Dutch youth. In particular, young people between the ages of 16 and 25 are less sexually active: in 2014, 63 percent of them were still having sex, but by 2022 this had dropped to 56 percent.
Not just for Catholic priests
When you think of celibacy, Catholic clergy probably come to mind first, but sexless living occurs in multiple cultures. Anthropologist Elisa Sobo, in her book Celibacy, Culture, and Society, describes the Hindu concept of brahmacharya: the pursuit of a chaste and celibate existence. Here, Indian men try to limit their ejaculation, with the goal of improving their physical and mental well-being and promoting spiritual growth.
So, however, there are now increasing numbers of non-believers who choose to live a celibate life.
Physical and mental benefits
Some people simply have no desire for sex, but when we talk about celibate living, we are often talking about people who do have sexual desires, but consciously choose to ignore them. But why would anyone do that?
Voluntarily choosing celibacy could strengthen self-discipline and control over one’s own desires. This can not only increase self-esteem but also be helpful in other aspects of life, such as achieving personal or professional goals. In addition, it can also provide physical health benefits. For example, many people who have given up sex report that they feel fitter, have more energy and can concentrate better. Among elite athletes, celibacy has long been a popular choice for this reason.
No sex for better athletic performance
Abstaining from sex is said to contribute not only to spiritual development but also to physical performance. Historian Jared Secord discovered in his research into the first and second centuries that some Roman trainers believed that sexual abstinence would make athletes healthier and stronger. They promoted a sexless existence for their athletes because they believed it kept them fitter and improved their performance. Whether these trainers themselves followed celibacy, however, is unclear.