To think Channel 4’s ‘Virgin Island’ is beyond cringe?

[Chasingfairies]

Has anyone watched this? I think the people who go on it are amazingly brave. It must take a huge amount of courage to literally bare all like that, physically and emotionally. My heart breaks for that Katie girl, what she’s been through would destroy anyone’s self-esteem. But I just can’t get my head around the idea of these ‘sex therapists’, in some cases, having full sex with the participants. There’s obviously a huge power imbalance and it feels very transactional. What happens if the participants develop feelings for them (which would be pretty natural for someone’s first time having sex)? It’s hard to watch sometimes it makes me cringe so much. I also wonder what led the sex therapists into their jobs and why they do it, I wonder if it stems from some kind of personal trauma. Wondering what people think of it all?

I think its another channel 4 show in a long line of their shows feigning education and helping people. (Embarassing bodies, naked attraction, big brother)

Its mainly for titilation and showing nudity.
Just seems to be another show that is taking advantage of young people. And what i can garner from the ads is that its weird to be a virgin in your 20s? They seem to be putting them under pressure to have sex and be 'open' and 'sensual'.

Not sure why they want to promote that.

I find it a bit toe curling but for young people who are trying to find out about sex and don’t want to navigate a world of porn or dodgy websites, it’s probably really enlightening and informative. I do think it’s grounded in therapeutic rhetoric of no shame no judgement and in the bits I’ve watched some of participants are really benefiting from it.

I think it’s a force for good compared to the wash of inhuman degradation and misogyny that people could be watching elsewhere if they just want to be titillated.

Is Richard Branson involved in any capacity?

It’s certainly typical channel 4 let’s push the boundaries as far as we can by pretending it’s somehow educational tv, but we should know by know what to expect from these sort of channel 4 programmes

Its beyond cringe in every way.

A genuine therapist having sex with a client would be totally unethical and abusive. But of course there's no regulation for therapy.

I am the first to admit I love reality tv and watch the biggest lot of shite but I tried to watch the first season of this but honestly it was so wrong and awkward that I just couldn’t watch it.

I don't think it's cringe I think it's exploitative.

The sex therapy is one thing but yeah the "therapists" actually having sex with them is insane to me. It affirms sex as a physical and transactional act rather than something emotional and romantic. Not saying that's every experience I've ever had of sex, but the best sex is always with someone you deeply love and trust. I'm not an expert but it feels to me that they would be better supporting these people emotionally into forming committed relationships with supportive and understanding partners and who can support them through sex?

Surely you kill your sex life before its begun as people will know they’ve used the services of a sex worker.

I don’t understand why any of the ‘virgins’ would put themselves on it.

As for C4 - I agree with PPs that they’re being exploitative and, IMO, the ‘therapists’ they’re employing aren’t sticking to the ethical boundaries that professionals would/should. I agree with PPs that it’s likely to cause long term harm and establish (albeit different) hang ups around sex and relationships.

It's so weird.

Too awkward to have sex in real life but not too awkward to go on TV about and openly talk about it. I find the whole thing weird.

Also their suggestions for how to behave on a first date were just odd.

I’ve lived a life but what I watched of it in my opinion was toe curling vile exploitation.

Dreadful programme. Yawn!

Have they dine a second setries?
I warched the first sges ago
I think only one went on to have full sex
I agree it was very cringey.

The therapists they employ are genuine “surrogate partner therapists” and all work IRL doing the same thing (having sex with sexually inexperienced people who employ them to help them get more comfortable with sex). I went down a rabbit hole on Google after watching it the other night lol

“surrogate partner therapist” isn’t a protected job title. It’s not a regulated profession and it’s a (very, IMO) thin veneer away from the world’s oldest profession.

Well indeed they can dress it up however theu want but essentially they are being paid to have sex

I wonder how many weird pervy men they get pretending to be virgins in order to have sex with them. Bet they can spot em a mile off though.. I wonder if they refuse to see them or they just take the money anyway