Fart Barrier: Passing gas as a sign of true relationship intimacy
Anyone who has been in a relationship has experienced this: You’ve been dating for a while, everything is going smoothly, and you’re even talking about moving in together. But then, one day, you accidentally let one rip in front of your significant other, and you want to crawl into a hole and die.
We understand your embarrassment. Farting can be quite embarrassing, but let’s face it, we’re all humans, and humans need to pass gas.
However, amidst the stinky clouds, there is some good news: farting is actually good for your relationship.
According to a 2016 survey by Mic (resurfaced by Scary Mommy), being comfortable enough to let loose a stinker is a critical step in transitioning from simply liking someone to being in love with them.
The website surveyed more than 125 people in their 20s and 30s to find out when most people “break the fart barrier” and found that “most people wait between two and six months into a relationship, which also happens to be the prime ‘I love you’ time.”
Results showed that just over half of the survey respondents (51 percent) had farted in front of their significant other within six months or less of dating. Additionally, 22.4 percent let one loose after a few weeks, and 29 percent tooted between two to six months.
Furthermore, 25.2 percent of respondents claimed they waited between six to 12 months to fart, stating that they felt really comfortable with their partner.
So, if you feel comfortable enough to cut the cheese in front of your significant other, it means you’re in a really good place in your relationship.
Farting around each other also indicates true intimacy in the relationship, according to Mic.
“Farts are just funny,” one survey respondent said. “Once you understand each other’s sense of humour and can relate on a more personal level, it becomes easier to deal with these funny natural occurrences. Bringing it to light in a relationship is just a small hurdle.”
However, seven percent claimed to have never farted around their partner. Mic’s Kate Hakala noted, “The respondents who claimed that they will never, ever fart in front of their significant other might be better off if they just politely cut one. Most happy couples agree that the moment you get gross with someone is when your relationship can truly begin.”
Indeed, the results are supported by experts as well.
Jamie Hergenrader of Women’s Health mentioned that occasionally letting one loose can strengthen the bond in a relationship. “If you’re building a relationship, it can actually strengthen your bond,” she wrote.
Arnold Brantley of the Daily Plug also stated that farting in a relationship is a “sign of your close and intimate connection.”
It’s completely normal if you feel like you can’t fart around your significant other. However, gender norms around farting may be to blame for this hesitancy.
According to a 2005 study, many heterosexual women are less inclined to fart in front of men because they worry it would make them less attractive.
But next time you fart in front of your significant other, don’t be embarrassed. Just let them know it’s healthy and perfectly normal.
By embracing the humour and naturalness of farting in a relationship, you can strengthen your connection and create a truly intimate bond. So, go ahead and let it out—your relationship will thank you for it!
