{"id":122884,"date":"2021-02-11T14:54:34","date_gmt":"2021-02-11T13:54:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=122884"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:25:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:25:23","slug":"valentines-day-without-any-romance-it-does-help-if-you-dress-nicely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2021\/02\/11\/valentines-day-without-any-romance-it-does-help-if-you-dress-nicely\/","title":{"rendered":"Valentine’s Day without any romance: ‘It does help if you dress nicely’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Taking long walks or making video calls. As a consequence of the measures surrounding corona, there are not that many activities left for couples or students who are dating. Especially in lieu of Valentine’s Day getting closer and closer. “But it does help if you dress nicely. Don’t just sit around in your sweatpants”, says cultural sociologist Samira van Bohemen during a broadcast of EM TV <\/i>on Thursday.<\/p>\n

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Samira van Bohemen<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

For couples and singles alike, a lot has changed due to corona and the accompanying regulations. The patience of couples is currently being severely tested and singles are seeing very little opportunities to get to know each other. \u201cPeople are feeling unsettled and stressed,\u201d Van Bohemen explains. \u201d There is uncertainty about work or about whether or not you can see each other and that often causes problems. For example, if a relationship is already not going so well and there\u2019s a lot of stress on top of that, then couples are more likely to choose to break up a relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Living in each other\u2019s pocket<\/h2>

Although sometimes the opposite is true. The crisis can actually prompt people to move in together more quickly. \u201cDuring the lockdown, there is also a great need for intimacy. This means that many couples spend a lot of time together. According to Van Bohemen, constantly <\/span>living in each other\u2019s pocket<\/span> does have a slight advantage: \u201cThis way, you can soon see if someone is right for you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Psychology student Laura Laban began a relationship a year ago and she and her boyfriend have spent much of their time together during the lockdown. \u201cI got into a relationship with my boyfriend right before the first lockdown,\u201d Laura says. \u201cWe were still doing a lot of fun things together back then.\u201d But things soon changed. \u201cA spontaneous afternoon out shopping together is no longer an option.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Laura and her boyfriend<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

Yet things are not going too badly in the relationship sphere, Laura emphasises. \u201cIn fact, things are going really well between us. There are no tensions and we\u2019re still not tired of each other. If we were together for two weeks non-stop, that wouldn\u2019t bother me at all.\u201d According to her, there are also plenty of fun activities left that they can do together. \u201cWe often cook together, for one thing. We also still really enjoy hanging out on the couch together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Less dating and less sex<\/h2>

Singles are hot having an easy time of it either. Although students use dating apps more than they did before the crisis, dates or sex tend to follow on from this less often, as revealed in <\/span>a survey conducted by Erasmus Magazine last December<\/a>. Van Bohemen recognises the outcomes. \u201cThe whole dating thing is on the back burner. You can go for a walk outside, but that\u2019s about it. Also, lots of people are not comfortable with meeting someone in their home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t

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