Sexuality and Public Display of Affection in Seville, Spain, By Gwyneth Broadrick

One of the first aspects of cultural differences I noticed in Seville in comparison to my home in Colorado is the abundance of public affection, display of sexuality, and overall romanticism I encounter on the street. With examples ranging from holding hands to passionate kissing, it is clear that Seville has more acceptance for gestures of public affection as compared to parts of the U.S. I took time to conduct a small observational study where I made note of the abundance of public affection I encountered while on an hour-long walk throughout central Seville. In total, I saw 13 couples holding hands, 8 couples having elongated embraces, and 5 taking part in subtle to passionate kissing. I also found that though more heterosexual couples were observed, there is a great prevalence of gay and lesbian couples throughout Spain, which I have also observed in the nightlife, specifically in bars and club settings. The nightlife also reveals aspects of public affection, such as the cultural aspects of dancing among the Spanish and the frequency of being invited to partake. I believe a few cultural aspects can be responsible for these public displays and the pride of sexuality. Collectivism, for example, is a common societal aspect among the Spaniards. This is seen through the way people socialize with one another, often taking to the street to gather in large crowds and frequently inviting one another to have drinks or tapas. Socialization is a large aspect of Spanish culture and the community in Seville is very strong and connected. In this way, there may not be as much hesitation to showing public affection as compared to the individualistic society of America. Spaniards also tend to invite others into their personal space, such as the two kisses on the cheek when greeting one another, even when meeting a stranger. This may contribute to the acceptance of public affection as Americans often are wearier of how close one gets to a stranger. I must admit, there tends to be more youth partaking in acts of public affection and this could be due to generational differences and the liberalization of sexual freedom that may not be attributed to culture. As stated in the article The Economics and Social Politics of Spanish, Spain experienced sexual progressivism at the end of the Franco dictatorship in the 1970s, yet there are still strong ties to the Catholic Church and a strong conservative base of adults (Yan 2016). This article also states that due to conservatism among adults, it may not be acceptable for youth to bring significant others into their homes, contributing to the abundance of public display of affection outside of the household (2016). It is very common for the household to remain a sacred place for the family alone and for people to rather socialize in the street or at bars and restaurants. However, I do believe that both generational aspects and cultural aspects come together to create this safe and common space for the Spanish to show their love for one another. This may be my favorite aspect of the people of Seville, as it is refreshing to see a society so passionate for one another with the freedom to display it without the fear of discrimination or violence.


Works Cited

Yan, J. (2016, October 12). The economics and social politics of Spanish PDA. Berkley 
Center of Religion, Peace and World Affairs. Retrieved November 10, 2021, from https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/posts/the-economics-and-social-politics-of-spanish-pda.