Rawdogging Reality

Every generation discovers its own way of discussing courage. For Gen Z, one of the more unexpected expressions of bravery is “rawdogging.”

The term originated in African American Vernacular English in the 1990s, meaning to have sex without a condom. 'Raw' meant unprotected; 'dog' evoked roughness or instinct. Over time, the phrase transitioned from hip-hop lyrics into ironic digital slang. 

On TikTok and Reddit, 'rawdogging' now means doing anything without protection, this time not physically, but psychologically: without music, screens, caffeine, or distraction.

You might hear someone mention in relation to rawdogging: ‘I experienced the train journey without distractions, no headphones, no scrolling’.

It’s absurd, yet strangely profound. What counts as courage in the digital age is simply being undistracted. Sitting with one’s own mind has become a new test of endurance.