Flirting in Sweden Part 4

In the Bar

Hans Andersson, a sociologist at Umea University, couldn’t just sit back and enjoy his beer. He took it to the next level, observing how people interact with each other at bars in Sweden and how the whole meat market thing works in his stomping grounds. Here’s what he came up with.

1. Guys are expected to be brave and actively seeking connections/contact, while women use subtler strategies.

2. Going to a bar isn’t seen as a trip to the meet market, but rather a space to have a great time with friends. The flirting and what not is a fun extra.

3. Traditional gender roles are more common than one might expect, but shy men and women who are on the prowl don’t really fit in. By upholding gender roles, men can assume a more powerful, read ‘masculine,’ position.

4. If action is the modus operandum, guys saw flirting as a game. Getting a phone number was equivalent to scoring a goal. A one night stand was a simple, pleasureable dalliance.

5. Picking girls up was a totally acceptable conversation topic. Bragging about conquests is openly done in front of the opposite sex.

6. The hunt for a woman isn’t just about a search for intimacy or a date, but also a brotherly endeavor where sexual conquests are a way to demonstrate masculinity.

7. Men often compare their pick up techniques with those of other men.