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full screenRasmus Gozzi. Photo: Joanna Górecka
The strypsex phenomenon has found its way into popular culture.
That could be one of the reasons why strangulation has increased, says researcher and forensic pathologist Catherine White.
– Music has a certain influence, says the artist Rasmus Gozzi, who is behind the song “Strypsex in my garage”.
“Fuck what the psychologist said
I want hard, give me strangulation sex in your garage
Because it won’t be now rave you’re going to strangle me
Give me strangulation sex in your garage”
So goes the chorus in the song “Strypsex i ditt garage”, made by the artist and music producer Rasmus Gozzi.
The controversial song, which arrived in 2021, quickly climbed Spotify’s charts and has millions of listens.
Rasmus Gozzi tells Aftonbladet that he is skeptical that his music would have influenced strangulation sex to become more common.
– That popularity has grown long before my song, but of course music has some influence.
He says that the song came about in connection with the fact that there was a lot of attention about strangulation.
– There was a campaign against it. The song is about a girl who sings about her sexual fantasies. But the song is fictional. I have been questioned a lot and want to be clear that the song is not intended to put anyone in danger in any way.
“It’s about communication”
His view is that strangulation is relatively common, even among young people.
– But I’m not an expert on strangulation per se. As long as strangulation takes place under controlled conditions and does not put anyone in danger, it is up to everyone what they want to do. Consent is important and no one should be harmed or harmed and have to take their own life.
– There’s a hell of a difference between not being able to breathe at all or if it’s something you agree on. It’s about communication, says Rasmus Gozzi.
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full screen”As long as strangulation takes place under controlled conditions and does not put anyone in danger, it is up to everyone what they want to do”. Photo: Magnus Wennman
Coroner and researcher Catherine White is the UK’s foremost expert on strangulation and medically responsible for the “Institute for addressing strangulation”.
She believes that the reason why strangulation has increased is due to a combination of different things. In addition to porn becoming harder, strangulation sex has become normalized in popular culture.
– During the covid pandemic, a women’s magazine published an article along the lines of, “Do you want to heat up your sex life – try strangulation sex.”. There are also a lot of TV series where strangulation is normalized, for example the series Idol and Euphoria, says White.
– Young people are fed this via social media and song lyrics and TV series. They think it’s normal, that it belongs.
“There is no safe way”
In the case of young people who practice strangulation, the reason is sometimes thought to be different, says coroner and researcher Catherine White.
– Many young people probably don’t want to do it, but the boys think it’s expected of them and the girls think they have to agree to it in order not to seem boring.
However, Catherine White is clear.
– There is no safe way to practice strangulation.