Chapter 1 Perspectives on Sexuality
Studying Sexuality Psychosocial orientation psychological factors social conditioning factors biological factors - sociobiology
Our Cultural Legacy Sex for Procreation Penile-vaginal intercourse primarym SIGMUND FREUD – “real orgasm” Male and Female Gender Roles
Social Norms & Sexual Diversity Islamic Middle East based on beliefs of Muhammad sex enjoyed by both sexes women inherently more sexual than men; this power contained by veils, segregation, female circumcision marriages are arranged; male heir is primary goal female adulterers & male homosexuals severely punished
Social Norms & Sexual Diversity (cont.) China highly restrictive prior to the 1990s lack of basic information few report premarital intercourse; of these only 50% used contraception current trends: more sexual content in media; increasing divorce rates; increasing STDs & non-marital sex
Our Cultural Legacy (cont.) Fig1.1b Pfizer Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors: How important is sex in your overall life? The study surveyed more than 26,000 people in 28 countries. The percentage of people in each country who said that sex was very/extremely/moderately important to them.
Our Cultural Legacy (cont.) Fig1.1a Pfizer Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors: How important is sex in your overall life? The study surveyed more than 26,000 people in 28 countries. The percentage of men compared to women who said that sex was very/extremely/moderately important in their lives.
Our Cultural Legacy (cont.) Ancient Hebrews: highly specialized gender roles but sex seen as profound experience Christianity spirituality equated with celibacy Sex as sinful Middle Ages: contradictory images of women Virgin Mary (the Madonna): compassionate, pure and unattainable vs. Eve: temptress
Our Cultural Legacy (cont.) Sex Positive Shift Protestant Reformation Enlightenment; scientific rationalism temporary increase in respect for women
Our Cultural Legacy (cont.) Victorian era women restrained & constrained women "… not troubled with sexual feelings of any kind" emotional & physical distance between husband & wife prostitution flourished
Our Cultural Legacy (cont.) 20th century suffrage movement; women's right to vote; temperance movement; abolition of slavery right to own property & attend university World War II: roles were expanded & more flexible postwar return to stricter roles 1960s movement for gender equality 1980s and AIDS
Our Cultural Legacy (cont.) Hery Havelck Ellis Psychology of sex 1896-1910 sexual inclinations determined by social and cultural influences gender orientation by degrees women & man similar sexual desires masturbation common sexual difficulties psychologically based Theodoor van deValde – book Ideal Marriage 1926 Robert Latou Dickinson –A thousand Marriages 1932 Helena Wright – The sex factor in marriage 1930
Our Cultural Legacy (cont.) Diversity within the USA Cultural – bicultural – influences of original culture acculturation – assimilation Socioeconomic educational
The Media and Sexuality Television; News, advice and education programs, increased access to sexual material, cable and music videos Advertising Magazines The Internet
The Media and Sexuality Fig1.2 The Evolution of Broken Taboos on TV.