Make Love to the Real World with Cindy Gallop: Sex, Honesty, and the Future of Intimacy

Make Love to the Real World with Cindy Gallop: Sex, Honesty, and the Future of Intimacy

What if the way we talk about sex in public was as normal as talking about the weather? Cindy Gallop doesn’t just ask that question-she lives it. In a world where dating apps feel like job interviews and intimacy is often reduced to swipe-left transactions, Gallop’s message is radical: make love to the real world. Not the curated version. Not the fantasy version. The messy, awkward, beautiful, human version.

She’s the woman who stood on stage at TED and told the world to stop pretending sex is something to be hidden. To stop letting pornography shape our expectations. To stop treating intimacy like a performance. And yes, if you’re looking for something more physical in Dubai, you might come across escord dubai listings-but Gallop’s point is this: real connection doesn’t come from paid encounters or hidden ads. It comes from courage.

Why We’re All Bad at Talking About Sex

We’ve been taught that sex is either sacred or shameful. There’s no middle ground. You’re either a saint or a sinner. A virgin or a pornstar. A good girl or a slut. No one gets to be just… human.

Gallop noticed this early. She worked in advertising for decades, selling everything from cars to condoms. And she saw how brands used sex to sell products-while pretending sex itself was too dirty to discuss honestly. So she started talking. Not in euphemisms. Not in metaphors. In plain, unflinching language.

She called out the lie that women don’t want sex. She called out the lie that men don’t want emotional connection. She called out the lie that consent is a legal checkbox, not a living, breathing conversation.

Real Sex Isn’t on Instagram

Scroll through any social feed and you’ll see perfectly lit bodies, flawless skin, and smiles that say, ‘I’m having the best sex of my life.’ But here’s the truth: most of that is staged. Even the ‘real’ influencers are using filters, angles, and lighting tricks that would make a Hollywood director jealous.

Gallop doesn’t hate porn. She hates what porn has done to our expectations. A 19-year-old boy thinks real sex should look like a 10-minute porn clip with no awkward pauses, no miscommunication, no laughter at the wrong moment. A 25-year-old woman thinks she needs to be flawless, always turned on, always ready. Neither is true.

Real sex is fumbling for condoms. Real sex is laughing when you knock over a lamp. Real sex is saying, ‘I’m not in the mood’-and being heard. Real sex is asking, ‘What do you like?’ and actually listening to the answer.

Split-screen showing staged social media intimacy versus real, messy human connection in bed.

The International Sex Guide Dubai Doesn’t Exist-And That’s Good

People search for an ‘international sex guide Dubai’ like it’s a tourist brochure. ‘What’s the etiquette? Can I flirt here? Is it safe?’ But Gallop’s answer is simple: you don’t need a guide. You need awareness.

Sex isn’t a set of rules you follow based on geography. It’s a set of values you carry with you. Respect. Honesty. Consent. Curiosity. Those don’t change whether you’re in Dubai, Toronto, or Tokyo. What changes is the cultural noise around it. In some places, the silence is louder. In others, the judgment is sharper.

That’s why you’ll find people searching for ‘girls for sex in Dubai’-not because they want connection, but because they want convenience. They want to bypass the discomfort of real interaction. Gallop would say: you’re not avoiding awkwardness. You’re avoiding humanity.

How to Start Making Love to the Real World

It doesn’t require a TED Talk. It doesn’t require a new app. It starts with one small, uncomfortable habit: talk.

  • Ask your partner what they like-not just in bed, but in life. What makes them feel seen?
  • Speak up when something feels off. Not with blame. With curiosity. ‘I felt a little confused when you did X. Can we talk about it?’
  • Stop apologizing for wanting pleasure. You’re not being selfish. You’re being human.
  • Call out the lies. When someone says ‘real men don’t cry,’ or ‘real women are always ready,’ say, ‘That’s not true.’

Gallop’s movement isn’t about sex. It’s about communication. It’s about dismantling the idea that intimacy is something you buy, perform, or hide. It’s something you build-slowly, messily, honestly.

A diverse group of people sharing personal stories in a circle under string lights in a garden.

Why This Matters Now More Than Ever

We’re living in the most connected era in human history. And yet, we’re more isolated than ever. People have hundreds of online friends but struggle to say ‘I’m scared’ to the person in bed next to them.

Technology didn’t kill intimacy. Our fear of vulnerability did. We replaced real touch with notifications. Real conversation with DMs. Real presence with performance.

Gallop’s work is a lifeline. Not because she has all the answers. But because she’s willing to ask the hard questions out loud. She reminds us that sex isn’t a problem to be solved. It’s a relationship to be nurtured. With yourself. With others. With the messy, imperfect reality of being alive.

What Comes Next?

Gallop’s next project? A global platform called ‘MakeLoveNotPorn’-not a dating app, not a porn site, but a space for real people to share real stories about their sexual lives. No filters. No paywalls. Just honesty.

She’s not trying to change how people have sex. She’s trying to change how we talk about it. Because once we stop lying, we stop hurting.

And maybe, just maybe, we start loving-really loving-again.

What does Cindy Gallop mean by 'make love to the real world'?

She means stopping the performance of sex-whether through porn, apps, or social media-and starting real, honest, vulnerable conversations with yourself and others. It’s about embracing the messy, awkward, beautiful truth of human connection instead of chasing idealized fantasies.

Is Cindy Gallop against pornography?

No, she’s not against porn itself. She’s against the idea that porn represents real sex. She argues that when young people use porn as their primary source of sexual education, it distorts their expectations of intimacy, consent, and bodies.

Can you really change how society talks about sex?

Yes-by starting small. One honest conversation. One time saying, ‘I don’t know how to ask for what I want.’ One time calling out a lie. Change doesn’t come from legislation or viral videos. It comes from people refusing to stay silent.

Does her message apply to people in conservative cultures?

Absolutely. Her message isn’t about breaking laws-it’s about reclaiming your inner truth. Even in restrictive environments, people still feel desire, confusion, loneliness. The courage to ask, ‘Is this normal?’ or ‘Can I say what I feel?’ is universal.

What’s the biggest mistake people make about sex today?

Believing sex is something you do, instead of something you share. It’s not a task. It’s a dialogue. The biggest mistake isn’t bad technique-it’s silence. Not asking. Not listening. Not being honest about what you need.

Dawson McAllister
Dawson McAllister

Hi, I'm Dawson McAllister, an automobile expert with a passion for rally racing. I've spent years studying and working with various types of vehicles, focusing primarily on high-performance rally cars. In my spare time, I love writing about the exhilarating world of rally, sharing my insights and experiences with fellow enthusiasts. My goal is to help others learn more about this thrilling motorsport and encourage them to join the rally community.