PDA Culture in America Vs Spain, by Leanny Regalado

In my time in Seville, the first thing that I noticed is the amount of public display of affection. Everywhere I turn my head there is always a couple making out in the corner, or hugging in some way. For the first 2 weeks, I found it to be a little uncomfortable, especially while being on public transport. I usually look around to see if people feel uncomfortable but it turns out that PDA is very common in Spain, and a natural thing, and that PDA to them is not a thing that they label like Americans, When doing research I was able to find two reasons as to why the Spanish are very comfortable with PDA. One being that Spanish people are overall more affectionate, I noticed this when I met my host family and both of my host parents greeted me with two kisses on the cheeks. I was shocked to say the least but I quickly realized that it was simply just part of their culture. Not just with the kisses on the cheek but i also noticed that Spanish people tend to hold hands a lot, give more hugs and not give personal space. In America we tend to take our personal space very seriously but it seems like Spanish people don't know what personal space is. I don't mean this in a bad way, in fact, I think Americans just take their personal space way too seriously. 

Another reason that I was able to find, that I found very interesting, is that Spanish people tend to live at home with their parents until their 30s, which may be the cause why many couples show affection towards each other in public and not at home in front of their parents. This was an interesting take and for a very good reason, but overall I just think that Spaniards are just very emotional and like to showcase those emotions through display of affection. This was a culture shock for me because in the United states, usually, PDA is looked down upon especially by the older generation. I thought it would be the same here as well but even older people are kissing on the metro, and showing immense affection towards each other. After being here for 5 months, I got used to it and seeing PDA in public doesn't really bother me as much, I definitely still get a little uncomfortable when it gets a little too excessive but regardless when I go back home I will be able to look past PDA.

Resources:

https://today.yougov.com/topics/society/articles-reports/2014/01/10/no-petting-please-were-american

https://lanthorn.com/53407/opinion/opinion-column-pda/

https://www.sincerelyspain.com/blog/2018/05/08/pda-is-everywhere-in-spain/

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.