Writer Amanda Romare has entered the ongoing debate about choking during sex, calling for more honest and nuanced conversations while acknowledging the serious risks involved. Romare, who has both experienced and written about sex and choking, stated that women already feel enough shame about their desires and that stigmatizing those who enjoy rougher practices is counterproductive.
The debate was reportedly sparked last fall by the TV series 'Halva Malmö består av killar som dumpat mig' (Half of Malmö Consists of Guys Who Dumped Me), which featured a character experimenting with BDSM choking sex. Critics argued the series normalized and romanticized potentially lethal violence.
This controversy emerged shortly after the Swedish National Board of Forensic Medicine (Rättsmedicinalverket) reportedly warned about how little pressure is required for a chokehold to cause permanent injuries, unconsciousness, or death. Romare hopes the discussion will lead to more open dialogue and encourage women to stop simply accommodating others' preferences without considering their own boundaries and safety.