Why Is Everyone Afraid of Sex Abstract
Anonymous
Discussion #1G
16 November 2013
“Why is Everyone Afraid of Sex?” Abstract Despite living in a society that is saturated with sexual media and conscious of the wide prevalence of premarital sex, there is still an unspoken insecurity that comes with addressing human sexuality. This is demonstrated by national policies that fund abstinence education instead of comprehensive sex education, laws that specifically outlaw sexual pleasure such as a ban on vibrators in 6 states, and continued queasiness about the topics of homosexuality and sexual identities beyond the established “norm”. There are 5 sources of where this fear comes from. The first is religious indoctrination and tradition in which religion paints sexuality in a negative view and creates inhibitions through guilt and shame. The second is a double standard and patriarchal norms, in which the changing nature of women sexuality into an identity more equal to men’s is a foreign and frightening idea. The third is the fear of sexual transmission of disease, in which people blame the consequences of STDs on sex instead of focusing on the actual contagion itself. The fourth is cultural expectations about appearance and sexual competence. It is difficult for the average person to live up to the media standard of sexual attractiveness, and they act out their fear of inadequacy by condemning others or retreating from sexuality. The fifth is ostracism for not being masculine enough. Failure for men to act heterosexual enough often results in ostracism, which creates fears in males about their sexual identity. Society’s mixed signals about sexuality are troublesome, and it is becoming increasingly important that we stop making sex a taboo and instead view it as a natural part of our mental and social health curriculum through the development of our young lives.
Discussion #1G
16 November 2013
“Why is Everyone Afraid of Sex?” Abstract Despite living in a society that is saturated with sexual media and conscious of the wide prevalence of premarital sex, there is still an unspoken insecurity that comes with addressing human sexuality. This is demonstrated by national policies that fund abstinence education instead of comprehensive sex education, laws that specifically outlaw sexual pleasure such as a ban on vibrators in 6 states, and continued queasiness about the topics of homosexuality and sexual identities beyond the established “norm”. There are 5 sources of where this fear comes from. The first is religious indoctrination and tradition in which religion paints sexuality in a negative view and creates inhibitions through guilt and shame. The second is a double standard and patriarchal norms, in which the changing nature of women sexuality into an identity more equal to men’s is a foreign and frightening idea. The third is the fear of sexual transmission of disease, in which people blame the consequences of STDs on sex instead of focusing on the actual contagion itself. The fourth is cultural expectations about appearance and sexual competence. It is difficult for the average person to live up to the media standard of sexual attractiveness, and they act out their fear of inadequacy by condemning others or retreating from sexuality. The fifth is ostracism for not being masculine enough. Failure for men to act heterosexual enough often results in ostracism, which creates fears in males about their sexual identity. Society’s mixed signals about sexuality are troublesome, and it is becoming increasingly important that we stop making sex a taboo and instead view it as a natural part of our mental and social health curriculum through the development of our young lives.