Public displays of affection have been a part of human history for thousands of years, shifting with culture, class, religion and geography.
From the open sensuality of Ancient Rome to the reserved courtship of the Victorian era, here’s a very short history of PDA and some of our favourite highlighted photographs.
Ancient Times
In Ancient Rome and Greece, affection in public was relatively common. Roman couples kissed in the street, and even formal greetings sometimes involved a kiss.
However, the meaning of these gestures varied: some were romantic, others were social or symbolic. Public baths and festivals often involved open sensuality, especially among the elite.
In contrast, Ancient Egyptian and Chinese cultures placed more emphasis on modesty. Affection was generally expressed in private, especially among the upper classes.
Medieval Europe
During the Middle Ages, public affection became more restricted, especially within Christian Europe. The Church promoted modesty and discouraged overt displays of intimacy.
That said, hand-holding, courtly gestures, and symbolic tokens of affection (like favours or poems) were socially acceptable, especially in the context of engagement or marriage.
The Early Modern Period
By the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe, attitudes varied by class and region. In aristocratic circles, flirtation and affection could be quite public at social events. Among working-class people, dances and fairs allowed for physical closeness, though sex and overt sensuality were expected to happen in private.
The Victorian Era (19th Century)
Victorian values promoted emotional restraint and modesty, especially in Britain and its colonies. Public kissing or touching was seen as inappropriate, especially for women. Couples were expected to court formally, often with little to no physical contact until marriage. This era shaped many of the modern Western norms around PDA being “improper” or embarrassing.
The 20th Century
Public affection gradually became more accepted, particularly after the two World Wars, when soldiers returning home were photographed kissing their partners in the street.
The 1960s and ’70s, with the rise of counterculture and sexual liberation, saw a cultural shift: kissing, hugging, and even open sexual expression became part of protest, art, and everyday life, especially in Western cities.
Even today, many of the most beautiful public kissing photography has been captured at protests or celebrations especially ones centred around the LGBTQ+ community.
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Today
Attitudes toward PDA vary widely across the world. In many Western countries, public kissing and touching are considered normal for couples.
In other regions, especially parts of the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, public affection remains taboo or even illegal. LGBTQ+ couples in particular may still face social stigma or risk, depending on location.
At the same time, new forms of ‘public’ intimacy, like social media affection or being affectionate on camera, have created new conversations privacy, performance and celebration of love.
At Sensuali, we believe public affection is beautiful, natural, and an act of resisting shame around pleasure, love and sex. Keep kissing urgently, keep stroking hands mindlessly, keep giving back rubs, keep running into each other’s arms – keep spreading love!
Some Modern PDA Hightlights
Here are some of our favourite times public affection has been captured on camera:
Travel and street videographer, Sam Youkilis, is known for capturing public displays of affection between couples of all ages, across all areas of the world. His renowned Instagram account is a refreshing reminder that public affection is something to be celebrated, rather than condemned.
In the 1980s, Nan Goldin played a major role in normalising the act of public and semi-public displays of affection through her raw realistic photographs that captured intimacy, often within the context of her own intimate relationships or those of her loved ones.
In 2018, for The New York Times, photographer Ryan McGinley captured ‘24 Kisses Around New York City in 24 Hours‘, with each photo caption including the couples names, ages, where they lived, and how long they had been together. The project is a beautiful celebration of public intimacy in one of the most bustling cities in the world.
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Iso
Iso is a writer and filmmaker based in East London. She is passionate about all things erotic and leads a sexy, shame-free life in hope that she can inspire others to do the same. Originally from a Northern seaside town, she is naturally drawn to the best things in life: candyfloss, trashy karaoke bars and heart-shaped sunglasses.
