Foucauldian Notion and Sexuality

The construction of human sexuality has been and remains an enigma in today’s society. The prominent and well fought debate can be compacted into one simple title: Nature vs. Nurture. There is no clear answer to how our human sexuality is formed.

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.

In Sigmund Freud’s “Sexual Morality and Modern Nervousness”, contained in Sexuality and the Psychology of Love, the writer presents separate roles for men and women as it relates to sexuality, even referring to a “double code of morality” (22) for the genders. In his paper the former often takes the role of the subject while the former becomes the object. In fact, women are described as the “true sexual guardians of the race” glorified, it seems, instead of truly studied. However, in one particular section of the essay, Freud turns his focus onto the female sexuality. In specific he references the various factors that, in his eyes, can influence the female sexual formation. The primary influences being that of the society, primarily the institution of marriage, and that of the family, which would include both a woman’s parents and children. After discussing these elements, Freud then

Sexuality has a huge role in our average everyday life. No matter the individuals age or the gender. Regardless, what of the individuals’ race/ethnicity is; sexuality is the central role of what we do and what we are, as individuals. There has been research done in analyzing sexuality. This paper will explore the topic s of sexuality as a tool for the production and reproduction of inequality. This particular paper will be an interpretation of sexuality with a particular attention to various perspectives within gender inequality, such as: political, religion and economy inequality have controlled gender sexuality inequalities, the role of sexuality difference in the behaving and maintaining gender inequalities, and the perception that ideology plays in determining the associations in gender. These perspectives will be an understandings that sexualities are influenced by political and individuals social interactions within our surroundings.

Contemporary understandings of sexuality in society have been restricted by religious diction and stigma. Markedly, Cranny-Francis establishes that society’s majoritarian view of sexuality has been informed by “patriarchally dominated institutions (Cranny Francis, 2003, p13).” Heteronormativity and its widespread acceptance is a direct product of the prevalence of patriarchal norms. Fausto-sterling further explores this paradox by concluding that “… our beliefs about gender – not science – can define our sex (Fausto-sterling, 2000, p3).” Thus contemporary society has adopted the false truth that both gender and sexuality are naturally occurring states which require the individual to identify as male and masculine or female and feminine and heterosexual. Indeed, sexuality is innate to human nature; however the aforementioned belief gives rises to oppressive structures which undermine the rights of those who do not identify as heterosexual. Cohen highlights that “heterosexuality and heterosexual relationships [are perceived as] fundamental and natural to society (Cohen,1997, p456).” This paper will examine the model of essentialism and social construction for the purpose of defining sexuality.

Sigmund Freud’s emphasis on the role of sexuality in human functioning is one of the most profound and influential theories of his time. Freud was considered to be the founding father of psychoanalysis and he believed that the psych was a complex energy-system. It is important to note the grounds on which Freud was establishing these theories. Freud’s theories were built in the late twentieth

Unlike sex, the history of sexuality is dependant upon society and limited by its language in order to be defined and understood.

Sexuality is a major part of society. It is interesting to see how sexuality is observed and noted, even in ...

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.

Governed under the principles of male supremacy and superiority, it is comprehensible as to why female sexuality has been coined a “dangerous mechanism”