TAMPA BAY, Fla. — A new website designed for women seeking more casual relationships than offered on traditional dating sites was announced today.
According to the company, Swurve is a network where users categorize their ideal relationships as friends with benefits and no strings attached.
“It operates on the concept that women should be as free as men to explore their sexuality without encumbrances,” the company said.
The new site claims to pick up where the sexual revolution left off, creating a casual, judgment free environment where women can openly explore a less committal variety of relationship options than those offered on traditional dating sites.
The company said a study released earlier this year by the University of Minnesota found the emotional well-being of individuals who listed their most recent sexual encounter as one involving a casual partner to be as stable and emotionally healthy as participants who were involved with long term partners.
Swurve said both sexually active men and women were polled in the study which found there to be no detectable differences between the emotional and psychological health of those who engaged in casual sex when compared to those who limited themselves to sexual activity within the confines of committed relationships.
Swurve’s founder, Michelle Leone said the study offers further support that casual relationships can be mutually beneficial for both sexes and describes stigmas associated with casual relationships as "gender biased" and "antiquated."
"There are many reasons a woman may feel engaging in a long term relationship is not the right thing for her at that time," Leone said. "They may have recently exited a long term relationship, current demands of their career or education makes it difficult to maintain, or perhaps they are just not looking to settle down."
She added, "Whatever the motivation, there is a growing segment of the female population that isn't as intent on finding Mr. Right as they are interested in finding Mr. Right 'now.' What I've set out to accomplish with Swurve is to create a community where women could comfortably explore and embrace their sexuality in an environment that is not abrasive and vulgar to feminine sensibilities. And that's what I feel we've accomplished."
Swurve allows users to join for free by validating their email address. They can then create a profile that expresses their sexual identity, relationship status and expectations.
The online community caters to men and women seeking casual encounters across the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Australia.
