Historical Perspectives
Prehistory
- As far back of our records, show interest in sexuality
- Valued a 'fertile woman' - emphasized parts
- Females considered 'life force'
- Occured same time as agriculture, that men were switched over as being worshipped,
beginning of felon worship - mating of animals observed.
- Insest has always been disapporved up except in Egypt and Hawaii
Ancient Greece
-Men were able to circulate freely in society, women were not - stay at home as housewife.
- Did not spend time with husbands commonly, or go out publicly with them
- Prostitutes could mingle, socialize and interact with males and have some authority.
- Men had 'affairs commonly'
-Believed people were bisexual, had both male and female parts by gods.
-Male intercourse was common
- Adolescence boy would find an adult male who would 'mentor' him sexually and intellectually.
- It was NOT okay to have sex with boys before puberty
- Fine for man to have wife and family and have relationships with men, but just homosexuality was not approved of - EXCEPT for soldiers
- Aristotile criticized homosexuality
-Earthly love - sexual desire, acting no different then common animal - degrading to act in this form of love. Distracted people from looking for a higher spirituality
- Heavenly love - True source of happiness,
Ancient Rome
- Attitudes about sex were decitant
-Orgies, sex was excessive
- Men, Women, Slave - Heirarchy
- Women were able to socialize with husbands, more partnership; though still property of husbands
- It was okay for men to have sex with men, the one in the heirarchy would have to be the highest level who penetrated. Always the one who had the higher social status would be the one 'giving' then 'recieving'
-God of Baptist, god of wine - god who could contribute to all the sexual access.
- Drunken orgies were becoming an actual issues, and then they were driven underground
Early Christianity
- Catholic church governed morality
- Saint Augustine took a hold of view of sexual exposure
- Augastine, unattractive man who couldn't get any. Declared that sex was bad.
- Said sex was an interference in spiritual growth - hence why priests and such cant have sex
- Sex for procreation only.
- Sex in missionary position only, woman on bottom.
- Eroticism did happen 'secretly'
- Prostitution was common in larger centres was approved of
Islamic Society
- Sex was viewed as something to be enjoyed between married couples
- Not having sex was frowned upon
- Treasured marriage and sexual fulfillment in marriage - encouraged bonding
- Premarital sex not approved of unless its anal - anal doesn't classify as sex
- Tradition that encouraged a double standard, men could have up to 4 wives, though women were only allowed one husband. Polygamy was NOT frowned upon
The Ancient Hindus of India
- Saw sexual pleasure as a spiritual ideal. was a religious duty
- Sexual fulfillment was a way to be reincarnated on a higher level of spiritual existant
- Kama Sutra - manual of sex guides, aphrodisiacs etc. NOT first sex manual, china and roman created one prior to.
- Society of being sexually liberated
The Protistant Reformation
-Attitudes changed about sexuality
-Luther believed virginity was very undesirable, absence was abnormal
- Within marriage sex should not be seen as sinful, believed everyone should be entitled to marry
- Calvin believed sex strengthened marriage bond, and relieved stresses.
- Luther and Calvin believed sex was only acceptable in marriage, prostitution was disapproved of.
-Catholics believed prostitution kept people pure
- Unhappiness in a marriage was a big problem, catholics did not permit divorce
Victorian Period
- Very sexually repressive period
- Arms and legs had to be covered, even legs of pianos
- Women were shown in forms of purity
- Women were supposed to be prudish, to keep husband at bay,
- Prostitution was rapid.
- Doctors would masturbate a woman to orgasim, then they were cured ;)
- Any woman who showed interest in sex was not a pure woman
- Physicians
- Ended in 1901
- Degeneracy theory - Physicians and informers, sexual indulgence depletion bodies essential
resources ex. masturbation causes blindness
- Manufactured a diet to decrease sexual desire ex. Kellogs cereal
- 'Signs' of Masturbation according to Mr. Kellogg - Illness, changes in disposition, insomnia, shyness, boldness, confusion, homosexuality, promiscuity, small breasts, acne, shifty eyes, bed wetting, nail biting, seizure, solitude.
- Excessive masturbation will make you crazy
The 20th Century
- Electricity, allowed people to go out and night and socialize
- Social Change - The Depression, people were out of jobs, teenagers not needed - continued high school. Teenage influences each other, socialization. New courtship patterns,
- Cars allow you got get away, transportation - get away with other people. Back seat of cars, symbolism of sexual desire and freedom.
- Vietnam War many youth were sent to fight in the way, education took a leap, teachers were required to become substitute parents. Had an influence and restriction of how genders interact and keeping them separated.
- Reproductive Technologies - Birth control developed, sex without fear of being pregnant. Sexual freedom.
-VCRs made porn avalible, over 5 million x rated films rented each year
- Internet
- developing relationships, dating sites,
- most searched topic is sex
- Used to access porn
- Accessibility, Anonymous, Affordable
- Current relationships, people can live apart, though still seem close, with skype etc.
- Sexual Compulsions, needs they have to act on, can lead to addiction
- Commercial aspects, sexual items able to order anonymously. Media makes women look more like objects, then people. Antisocial tendency are also happening.
- Criminal aspect, prey on children or engage in cyber sex with children.
