[S]exual life, for example, was entirely regulated by the two Newspeak words sexcrime (sexual immorality) and goodsex (chastity). Sexcrime covered all sexual misdeeds whatever. It covered fornication, adultery, homosexuality, and other perversions, and, in addition, normal intercourse practiced for its own sake.... [The ordinary citizen] knew what was meant by goodsex--that is to say, normal intercourse between man and wife, for the sole purpose of begetting children, and without physical pleasure on the part of the woman; all else was sexcrime.
George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four

Swingers are widely misunderstood.

Common misconceptions include:

- We are 'jaded' couples or on the verge of break up

- We cannot love each other very much if we have sex with other people

- Women swingers only do it because we are arm-twisted by men

- Male swingers must be a bit gay to get a hard-on with other blokes around

- Swingers are likely to run off with someone they meet through doing it

- We have unstable relationships and have affairs

- Swingers parties are rumbustious drink-and-drug-crazed frenzies

- We have sex with anyone and everyone at a party

- We have sex with whoever picks our boyfriend's car key out of a bowl

- Swingers risk catching something unpleasant

- Swingers damage their relationship and tend to split up

- There is something wrong with us

These misconceptions, though understandable, have one thing in common.

They are all wrong. And the research shows it.

There are also those who promote bigotry about swinging for their own ideological reasons. In Britain, the main anti-swingers organisation is Relate, a counselling charity heavily subsidised by the Government. Its two spokeswomen who frequently denounce swingers are religious. One of them claims to receive "higher guidance" and another admits she is phobic about casual relationships.

Despite being a pretty weird crew themselves, these spokeswomen frequently suggest that swingers are abnormal or damaged. One claimed that swinging stopped people having orgasms! But in fact Relate cannot point to even a single page of sociological research to support its prejudices against swingers.

This is rather embarassing for them and they have been known to become abusive when made to look foolish. One example of this happened on Radio 4 Woman's Hour in February 2003 when a Relate spokeswoman accused a female swinger of "sleeping around". Listen to it by clicking here and fast forwarding to the 9th minute.