Public displays of affection (PDA or PDOA) are acts of physical intimacy in the view of others. What are acceptable displays of affection vary between cultures as well as to time and context. Which acts are acceptable have also varied over time. Displays of affection in a public place, such as the street, is more likely to be objected to, than similar practices in a private place with only people from a similar cultural background present. Mild forms of physical intimacy, such as holding hands, hugging or kissing, are regarded as unobjectionable forms of public displays of affection in many cultures and contexts, but objectionable in others. Maintaining eye contact can be regarded socially and psychologically as analogous to touching in some cultures.
In some contexts, such as in bars, nightclubs, and strip clubs, more extreme forms of physical intimacy are sometimes acceptable. In these places, acts such as grinding and french kissing are common, but acts of a sexual nature, such as frotteurism and groping, are normally unacceptable physical contact. Physical contact is common during couple dancing, but acts of physical intimacy are normally avoided. It is traditional at the conclusion of a Western wedding for the couple to kiss.[1]
If the partners enjoy being seen affectionate towards each other in public, it may be considered a mild form of exhibitionism. Alternatively, the partners may be indifferent that others see them, and therefore are not inhibited by it. Finally, the partners may prefer more privacy, but may simply tolerate being seen by others. Some may find it pleasant to view others public displays of affection, which may be considered a form of voyeurism.
In most of the Western world, such as Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States, it is very common to see people holding hands, hugging and kissing in public. In nightclubs, it is also common for people to "grind" (a form of dancing) or dance closely.
In Latin America, the practice of teenagers gathering in public parks to kiss, caress or even have oral sex has caught the attention of United States media, strikingly because of the lack of political content in this "sexual awakening".[2][3]
Particularly, in urban Mexico, it is common for people to show their affection in public, whereas these actions could still be frowned upon in rural areas, small towns or among more traditional Mexican ethnic groups. However, Mexicans are generally tolerant of this behavior and in some milieus it is even encouraged. [4]
In South Africa, it is against the law for anyone under the age of 16 to take part in a public displays of affection. This has led to large protests across the country by teenagers, culminating in kiss-a-thons in public places across the country.[5]
In India, the public display of affection is a criminal offense under Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 with a punishment of imprisonment of up to three months, or a fine, or both. This law has been used by the police and lower courts to harass and prosecute couples engaging in PDAs.[6][7] However in a number of landmark cases the higher courts have dismissed obscenity proceeding against kissing couples.[8][9] Attacks by vigilante groups also are a danger for those displaying affection.[10]
With social media sites such as Facebook forming an important medium of communication in recent times, Public displays of affection have also become commonplace on the Internet via such websites.