Repressive Hypothesis Essay

2023 Words5 Pages

The Repressive hypothesis states how we currently live in a sexual repressed society. The repressive hypothesis also states that sexuality needs to be liberated, or that it does not have to be repressed. Identifying with ones sexuality is the key to unlocking ones identity and one’s happiness. The repressive hypothesis initially implies three edicts; that derive from our repressed society. According to the repressive hypothesis, specifically in the repressive culture we live in, the first edict explains how all sexuality must be silenced in all occasions, for the mention of sexuality is taboo. In modern times, specifically within the 17th century, it was also important to keep sexuality “hush-hush”, only those who belong to the lower class …show more content…

He believes that the way in which sexuality is expressed, by different philosophers, is the wrong way to think of sexuality. Through his philosophy his main goal is to question sexuality itself and for society to question the idea of the sexuality options given. Foucault has participated in many revolution such as women and gay revolutions and in the movements pertaining to the solitary prisoners faced in the 70’s. Foucault believed in observing and participating in social movements. He believed that in order to understand the present ies, history needed to be explained and observed. Being able to see historical movements, in a linear matter, gives us the ability to see the problems in the present day. When describing his books, Foucault often referred to them as the history of the present. Foucault ultimately believed that in order to understand the present time one must look at past events. The example of expressing the past in order to understand the future can be further explained in his book, History of sexuality. History of Sexuality is also used by Foucault to further explain sexuality and his critique of the repressive hypothesis. In Foucault’s book he speaks on many historical events, as well as the politics of truth, the origination of confession and lastly the explosion of sexuality in a form of

Show More
Related

  • Eros Live in New York

    2904 Words  | 6 Pages

    At the beginning of the 1900s, there was a “sexual revolution” in New York City. During this time, sexual acts and desires were not hidden, but instead they were openl...

    Read More

  • Essay On The Discourse Of Sex By Foucault

    739 Words  | 2 Pages

    Foucault capitalizes that power and knowledge contribute to the discourse of sex; he discusses how people in power controlled this discourse to repress sex entirely. Foucault talks about the repressive hypothesis in his book. The repressive hypothesis states that whoever holds the power, also controls the discourse on sexuality. Specifically, those in power, according to the repressive hypothesis, exercise to repress the discussion of sex. In addition, Foucault comments that knowledge represents power. Whoever has the power can dictate the language of the population, thus this causes powerful people to also regulate the knowledge of the population. Although Foucault does not agree with every aspect that the repressive hypothesis exclaims, he agrees about the timing of when people started to repress sex. With rise of the bourgeoisie in the 17th century, a rise in tighter control about sex also took place. Foucault stated that the discourse of sex remained

    Read More

  • Black Female Sexuality in Passing by Deborah E. McDowell

    1191 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Deborah E. McDowell’s essay Black Female Sexuality in Passing she writes about the sexual repression of women seen in Nella Larsen‘s writings during the Harlem Renaissance, where black women had difficulty expressing their sexuality. In her essay, she writes about topics affecting the sexuality of women such as, religion, marriage, and male dominated societies. In Toni Morrison’s short story, “Recitatif” there are examples of women who struggle to express their sexuality. The people in society judge women based off their appearance, and society holds back women from expressing themselves due to society wanting them to dress/act a certain way.

    Read More

  • The Breakthrough of Sexual Morality

    751 Words  | 2 Pages

    Sexuality is often looked down upon by mainstream society. Embedded into culture and tradition, sex itself has been made to be seen as a taboo of sorts. Prostitution was made illegal; pornography was made evil. Rooted deep within the teachings of the most common religious morality systems, sex and sexuality is often paired with punishments. Those who explore their sexuality is often shamed, and labeled with words that can ostracize such persons from society. Kant’s view of sexuality almost destroys his credibility as a philosopher by providing unclear and unreasonable points of sexuality and objectification, yet he remains keen on trying to prove that sex, outside of marriage, is the worst possible sin. However, there are those who believe that expressing sexuality is power, and is exercising autonomy. Many existentialists see sexuality as a means of self-expression, and to not be comfortable with sexuality shows that the person inhabits the morality of the sheep.

    Read More

  • Cultural theory in the works of Tarantino

    1226 Words  | 3 Pages

    "Sexual identity is fundamentally elitist," says Sartre. Cultural theory states that the collective is impossible. It

    Read More

  • Social Order (Foucault and Goffman)

    1450 Words  | 3 Pages

    Foucault, M. (1978). The History of Sexuality, Vol. 1: An Introduction. New York: Vintage Books.

    Read More

  • A History of Sexuality

    1957 Words  | 4 Pages

    Halperin, David. "Is There a History of Sexuality?." The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader. Ed. Henry

    Read More

  • Religion and Sexual Censorship in America

    643 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Those of us who trust sexuality must not allow ourselves to be controlled by those who fear it (Marty Klein).” In America censorship has affected various mediums: print, art, television, and internet, as it pertain to sexuality. However the first amendment “protects” the right to free speak, and press. Congress has tried to pass bills to outlaw pornography, (but have failed) ban books for sexual content, and dictate what can be said on TV and radio. If the government is allowed to censor these ways of communication then we, as citizens of a democracy, will be treated as citizens under a dictatorship. “Censorship may even suppress new and different ideas, keeping them from being made public. It may also set limitations, which stifle the creativity of authors and prevent them from thoroughly expressing their ideas (anonymous)”. The religious groups, parent groups and feminist, are the factor in pressuring governments to implement stricter moral codes. The problem is that these groups view sex as a means of procreation. Yes we are mammals, but we do not have sex just to mate like hors...

    Read More

  • Critical Analysis Of An Anthropological Look At Human Sexuality

    1241 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the article “An Anthropological Look at Human Sexuality” the authors, Patrick Gray and Linda Wolfe speak about how societies look at human sexuality. The core concept of anthology is the idea of culture, the systems of attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors people acquire as a member of society. The authors give an in depth analysis on how human sexuality is looked at in all different situations.

    Read More

  • Legalizing Prostitution

    2503 Words  | 6 Pages

    Milstein, Susan A. Taking Sides Clashing Views in Human Sexuality. Ed. William J. Taverner and Ryan W. McKee. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009. Print.

    Read More

  • The Return Of The Repressed Essay

    1229 Words  | 3 Pages

    Two famous movies “The others” and “The Descent” are perfect examples of the return of the repressed. The term repressed came from Sigmund Freud’s ideas. As philosopher and doctor at the same time, Freud “was interested in looking at the relationship between mental functioning and certain basic structures of civilization, such as religious beliefs” (Klages). Looking at civilization he sees two fundamental principles: "pleasure principle" and the "reality principle." “The pleasure principle tells us to do whatever feels good; the reality principle tells us to subordinate pleasure to what needs to be done, to work” (Klages). According to Freud, the desire for sexual pleasure is one of the most basic urges that all humans feel. However, people cannot have sex all the time. So we have to sublimate most of our desires for sexual pleasure, and turn that energy into something else. Freud claims that without the sublimation of our sexual desires our civilization would not exist. The principle of pleasure makes us want something that feel good. On the contrary, the reality principle tells us to direct our energy into something else. However, the desire for pleasure doesn't disappear, even when it's sublimated to another unwonted action. The desires that can't be realized are repressed in the mind, which Freud names the unconscious. So, everyone’s mind contains repressed desires inaccessible to the conscious mind. In another words, “the contents of the unconscious consist primarily of sexual desires which have been repressed” (Klages).

    Read More

  • Sexual Politics In The Story Of An Hour By Jamaica Kincaid

    1972 Words  | 4 Pages

    It has been said that “Society has always defined for us what it means to be a man and what it means to be a woman, what a man should be like and what a woman should be like, and these traditional definitions of gender roles have limited and even harmed individuals”. The theme of sexual politics comes to mind for this quote. One can define sexual politics as the relationship of the sexes, male and female regarding power. Society’s definition of this can limit an individual in their gender role and restrain a person to not be themselves.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Michel Foucault's 'The Use Of Pleasure'

    1709 Words  | 4 Pages

    This essay will analyze and critique Michel Foucault’s (1984) essay The Use of Pleasure in order to reveal certain internal weaknesses it contains and propose modifications that would strengthen his reading of sexuality as a domain of moral self-formation. In order to do so, it will present a threefold critique of his work. Firstly, it will argue that that his focus on solely the metric of pleasure divorced from its political manifestations underemphasizes state power as a structuring principle of sexuality. Secondly, it will posit that his attention to classical morality privileges written works by male elites and fails to account for the subtexts that would demonstrate other forms of morality. Finally, it will argue that the nature of actors’ resistance to moral codes, explicated through Butler’s concept of iterability and signification, is an important factor that should also be considered. As a result of this critique, this essay

    Read More

  • Analysis of The Transformation of Intimacy by Anthony Giddens

    792 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... decades ago. This book is one that will allow the reader to view many aspects of sexuality from a social standpoint, and apply it to certain social attitudes in our society today, these attitudes can range from the acceptance of lesbian and gays, and the common sight of sex before marriage and women equality. The new era of sexuality has taken a definite "transformation" as Giddens puts it, and as a society we are living in the world of change in which we must adapt, by accepting our society as a changing society, and not be naive and think all the rules of sexuality from our parents time our still in existence now.

    Read More

  • What Are Sigmund Freud's Contributions To Society

    855 Words  | 2 Pages

    The ideals that shape the world today are largely based on the theory that individuals have dangerous repressed sexual desires. Along with that, the individual represses these emotions in order to function in society and fit in. Freud was one to distance

    Read More

More about Repressive Hypothesis Essay

Open Document