How the Longest Shutdown in History Impacted American Sex Lives

Edward had more time on his hands recently than he’s used to. Okay, pause for the jokes about the government’s fondness for whacking off, but whatever your feelings about politicians’ recent behavior, most mid-level federal employees are committed to their work and were frustrated by the shutdown. Consequently, the furlough created a perfect storm for a porn popularity surge.

Take about 800,000 federal workers, plus contractors and support staff experiencing intense anxiety about money, job security and self-worth; multiply by unstructured hours with no clear timeline for renewed normalcy. Is it difficult to see the appeal in a free, readily available stress-reliever? Recent data from Pornhub showed an overall uptick of about 6 percent in D.C.’s usage following the shutdown. Edward, who works in research and is considered “nonessential” personnel (i.e. he could stay home while laid off, rather than coming in and working for no pay), thinks that’s about right. “I don’t want to give the impression that I have watched a lot more porn,” he says, “but my usage has increased.”

He’s not alone. Pornhub saw a rise—yeah, we said it—in specific windows, particularly late-night (much like early-notice snow days, when people know they don’t have to be anywhere in the a.m.) and around 1 in the afternoon. These spikes could easily be connected to the new non-routine. People were home during the day, the kids and perhaps the spouse were out—why not? “[I’ve had] time to watch in the morning, which is something I never really had before,” Edward says. He enjoyed making the best of the post-breakfast quiet in his house—there wasn’t much else to do.

Their wishes to the contrary, most workers were forbidden to access their professional lives during the shutdown. Computers, files, all of it was off-limits. Drake, another recently-not-working federal worker, points out that the furloughed time wasn’t like usual days off. “Unlike a normal day off where you might check email or do a little work from home, these distractions [were] not occurring,” he says. That restriction magnified the stresses of job separation and lost income—tension that, despite the promise of back pay, will continue until the mandate is fulfilled in weeks to come. “Most of the people I know are proud of their work, and it is not fun seeing it disrupted this way. I think public service is about helping the country and we [were] not allowed to do that,” Edward says. “In addition, there is stress for many about just paying the bills. So, one way to get a break from it is to have a little fun.”

Many dual-employee D.C. couples have been home for more than a month twiddling their… thumbs. It’s not crazy to predict a D.C. baby tsunami in September or October.

Besides, as Dr. Emily Morse of the SiriusXM show and podcast Sex with Emily says, who isn’t entitled to a little fun? Despite suggestions that all work should proceed out of a basic sense of national service, the inability to pay bills or even determine employment status warrants some release. “We tend to hold public figures up to a certain standard, but in reality, everyone is human and watching porn is totally okay,” Dr. Emily says. “Just because someone works for the government, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be allowed the same sexual freedoms as other people.”

Porn site xHamster offered free premium access for furloughed employees and vice president Alex Hawkins says the company had “a terrific response.” Some were skeptical about this offer, particularly the danger of putting ID on an adult site, but Hawkins says they were able to verify employment via Skype, eliminating a paper trail or security risk. “People [were] home from work, they’re stressed out — and we offer escape and relief,” says Hawkins. “The orgasm is a powerful weapon against anxiety and depression, not to mention free and fun.”

Free and fun were both in short supply as the shutdown dragged on, which added another component—boredom. After more than a month, with no certainty of the endgame, the distractions that initially helped to pass the time were no longer so interesting. “People who took on a project like painting a bedroom or remodeling a bathroom [had] likely completed those tasks,” Drake says. A new commitment seemed iffy—no one was sure when they’d be head back to work—which left porn as an appealingly commitment-free option, with an escape into fantasy as a means of dealing with the real world’s uncontrollable mess.

“People [were] home from work, they’re stressed out—the orgasm is a powerful weapon against anxiety and depression, not to mention free and fun.”

“Using porn can be a very healthy way to explore your sexuality and your arousal,” says Dr. Emily, providing a safe method of experimenting with new erotic ideas while also relieving stress. Of course, just like all good things, it’s best to enjoy in moderation. Inability to perform without porn, or missing or avoiding other commitments—like, say, returning to work— are indicators of a problem, she says, which is true for all genders.

Hawkins, the xHamster VP, emphasizes that, despite traditional assumptions that porn is for men, use is largely equitable. “Perhaps most interestingly, [we saw] about a 50/50 split between men and women,” he says, adding that this reflects the global trend overall. Pornhub saw a greater increase in female use during the shutdown—about 12 percent over the norm. They also observed higher traffic in specific categories: the top three were an increase of 71 percent in “outdoor,” 66 percent in “threesomes,” and 60 percent in “old/young.” Not sure exactly what this says about D.C.’s flavor preferences—you can draw your own conclusions—but clearly a lot of people were getting away from their problems by getting off.

The shutdown is over—for now, at least. Presumably, those numbers will level out again, or at least resume their previous time-slots for those headed back to work. But, with the precariousness of the situation in Washington, sex and pornography remain quick and easy ways to reduce tension. While some, like Edward the researcher, have relied on porn in lieu of sex—he says his wife doesn’t know about his viewing—many dual-employee D.C. couples have been home for more than a month twiddling their… thumbs. It’s not crazy to predict a D.C. baby tsunami in September or October. After all, porn is good for more than just masturbation. As Dr. Emily says, while tension can kill libido, sexual release and, ideally, closeness can kill tension. “It’s important to always communicate with our partners about our needs,” she says. Whether it includes intimacy or not, though, “orgasms and pleasure help relieve stress.”