We might be becoming evermore connected as a species thanks to the rise of technology and the great divides it has bridged, but there remain some things that are likely to remain more private than not for as long as we’re… well, human.
Details of certain bedroom activities fall largely under that remit, and while it might be argued that society has become a deal more liberal than it was, say, a century ago, there’s a reason topics like sex (and the multitude of branches stemming from that tree of discussion) aren’t usually discussed on work lunch breaks or in a busy grocery aisle.
That’s not to say they’re not talked among friends or colleagues in looser environments, only that a residual taboo hangs over the subject like a steadily-dissipating cloud. Personal matters are personal matters, after all, not public information to be dished out.
The internet, however, provides a safe space for such things to be debated and dissected without the fear of being judged or laughed at. It’s where bedroom trends such as “hotwifing” and “hamstering” rose to relative recent prominence, and the ideal place for us to talk about a new trend said to be garnering attention: “broadening”.
The word might not mean anything to you within the given context, but according to psychosexual therapist Natasha Silverman, there’s a high chance you’re familiar with the associated concept, whether you’d care to admit it or not.
Speaking to Metro, Silverman explained: “Broadening can create a more diffuse, full-body pleasure sensation, leading to orgasms that feel deeper, more widespread, and even more wave-like compared to the sharper, more concentrated climax that direct stimulation can create.”
Not only that, but broadening is plenty popular, with 75% of women discovering it before ever experiencing sex with a partner for the first time.
We’ll dispense with the mystery if you’re still unsure what broadening actually is: a form of female self-pleasure that involves pressing, moving or rubbing the entire vulva against an external surface.
As per the expert, resulting climaxes can feel fuller and slower-building.
“Like any type of sexual touch, broadening is deeply personal,” Silverman said.
“Some people find it’s their go-to for pleasure, while others may not enjoy the sensation or feel drawn to it, preferring penetration or direct stimulation of the external glans.”
As per Metro, a study revealed that 13% of women who indulge in broadening grind face down on flat surfaces like mattresses or floors. 18% grind on soft surfaces with a firmer centre, meanwhile, such as the arm of a sofa or rolled up blanket.
16% of women noted that they liked things a little harder, grinding on objects like table edges, and bed posts.
Silverman continued: “Explore different movements like rocking, circling, or a gentle pulsing pressure rather than only back and forth motion.”
She added: “Vary positions too, like lying on your stomach, sitting upright or standing while leaning against something or someone to create different sensations.
“You can even experiment with fabric and friction, for example using softer materials like a silk pillow case which may feel different from firmer surfaces like a bed or your own hand.”
READ MORE
- ‘Hotwifing’: The new sex trend that’s saving couples’ marriages
- Hamstering’ is the new sex trend going viral
