As we human beings have changed and evolved over our thousands of years of recorded history, so have our attitudes and expressions of all things sexual. The only thing that hasn't changed much is society's desire to exercise a certain amount of control over an individual's sexual behavior. Whether it be through church or state, educational institutions or popular media of the time, there have been rules and regulations, views and taboos about what we should do sexually, how we should do it, who we should do it with and even how we should think about doing it.
Body parts
A particular area of interest, naturally, has been the body and specifically those parts that are obviously connected with sex. We've alternately hidden and displayed, worshiped and derided male and female genitalia.
In most non-Christian cultures there were gods and goddesses of power and fertility with exaggerated genitals. Some cultures liked penis gods so much they had several; for instance, the ancient Greeks honored Priapus, Dionysus and Hermes. The Egyptians exalted Osiris, Bacchus was the Roman version, and Shiva reigned in India.
Penis and, less commonly, vulva worship, were practiced and this was reflected in objects connected with daily living. Vases in classical Greece were decorated with phalluses. In the ruins of Pompeii penis symbols were found just about everywhere, on bowls, lamps and figurines. Pitchers with enormous penis spouts were a unique specialty of the Mochica culture of Peru. The exteriors of medieval Irish churches were adorned with sculptures of Shelah-na-Gig, a vulva icon. In Egypt enormous symbols of penis power the obelisk were erected all over the landscape. Smaller penis symbols in the form of amulets and bracelet...
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... modern birth control emerged in Egypt about 300 BC. There they used mechanical and chemical methods that foreshadow modern diaphragms, cervical caps and spermicides. Their versions included lint pads soaked in honey and acacia tips, and crocodile dung compacted with auyt-gum, both to be inserted into the vagina as a barrier to semen.
Some Romans of the 4th century decided that the best way to prevent unwanted pregnancy was to diminish a wife's desire for sexual intercourse. Specific methods included: mouse dung liniment; swallowing pigeon droppings mixed with oil and wine; or rubbing her loins with the blood of ticks off a wild black bull.
Condoms began to come into their own during the 18th century. They were usually made of sheep gut, or sometimes fish skin, and were originally introduced not for prevention of pregnancy but as a protection against syphilis.
The rules on sexuality have been upheld by the American culture for decades. For example, if a man was to have sexual feelings towards another man he was considered to be suffering from mental problems and deserves to be placed in a psychiatric hospital. Other than viewing these individuals as mental patients, they were also considered sinners. The Bible states, " If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them" (Leviticus 20:13 KJV). These words are against homosexuality, and gave consequences of what would happen if one should disobey them. It is this scripture that gave people the idea that any form of sexuality other than heterosexuality was a sin and that those who engage in the lifestyle are unnatural. Foucault believed that homosexuality was nothing but natural, he explains, "Nothing that went into his total composition was unaffected by his sexuality......It was consubstantial with him, less as a habitual sin than a singular nature" (Foucault
Although sex is not a central theme in Slaughter House Five, Kurt Vonnegut does not hesitate to integrate sexual content into his story. He is able to demonstrate his belief of how sex is perceived before and after the World Wars, showing how much the destruction of war has changed the modern world.
For centuries women have tried many means to prevent pregnancy. As far back as the
A story listed in the Arts Section of the New York Times caught my eye most was the one regarding a discussion about three books that paint the big picture of the most commonly complicated thing we have to go through at certain points in our lives called finding true love, disappointment, and heartbreak. This story gave me instant physical and contextual appeal with a valid explanation of it simply being relevant in this point of my life, providing me with passion and thirst to apply myself to it, and expand on it. Beginning with its catchy title, “Date-Onomics,” “The Sex Myth” and “Modern Romance,”with its three unique and authentic book resources, and obviously being a
The first form of birth control came in the form a pill and was approved by the FDA in 1960(qtd in Gladwell ) The pill was said to be the safest form of birth control because it was safe and said to be a natural form of birth control. John Rock was a well know man around the community. Loretta McLaughlin writes, "It was his name and his reputation that gave ultimate validity to the claims that the pill would protect women against unwanted pregnancy.”(qdt in Gladwell) Even back then, with all the research that they set out to do the pill was still know to cause cancer in young women, not only cancer but the miscarrying of children shortly after taking the pill.
The next natural way of avoiding the use of contraceptives is called the Basal body temperature method.
The Symbolic-Interaction Theory explains how everyone in a society views sexual behavior differently than others. Some cultures are more relaxed than others about sexuality and time also plays a factor in a societies viewpoint. Over a century ago, it was not acceptable to marry a woman who was not considered a virgin, but this did not always apply to males. This slowly changed due to birth control which changed how people viewed sex. Society is more tolerant of sexual activity, but some still consider sex before marriage
Unlike sex, the history of sexuality is dependant upon society and limited by its language in order to be defined and understood.
The only guaranteed option of birth control is abstinence. Abstaining from having sexual intercourse will ensure that pregnancy does not occur and also prevents sexually transmitted infections. People may find it difficult to abstain for long periods of time and tend to end their abstinence without being prepared to protect themselves against pregnancy or venereal diseases. Many choose outer course which is sex play without vaginal intercourse. For others, it is sex play with no penetration at all. It is a 100% effective against pregnancy unless pre-ejaculate or sperm gets onto the vulva or into the vagina. Outer course however, frequently leads to intercourse, therefore another form of birth control and protection from infection has to be used.
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.
The controversy of sex has lead to it being thought of as dangerous. In society there is the controversy of people having sex or having any sexual activity they are considered perverted and lecherous. Then there is the other side of the spectrum where someone who does not have sex at all is considered a prude. Both being lecherous or a prude is unacceptable in society. People feel that they must lie whether they have sex or not because of the word of what opinions will formulate against them. The reason people lie about their sexual experiences is so that that are not harshly judged, criticized, or labelled by society. People can be labelled as a slut, whore, prostitute, or a prude, but it does not mean that it is entirely true because some people do not fully understand some of the meanings behind these words and just use it as hurtful slang. Therefore, sex is more secretive than it should be. Either lie or truth a person will say, other people will make a strong, rude
The idea of sexuality as constructed by Ancient Romans is wholly complex as was most of Roman society. An interesting way to look at Roman sexuality is through the lens of Roman society. Ancient Roman sexuality was not uniform throughout society and different societal classes created different types of sexualities. Three authors examine sexuality from three different social realms, the realm of the prostitute, the realm of Roman patricians in terms of contraception, and the realm of Vestal Virgins. Prostitutes in Rebecca Flemming's article, "Quae Corpore Quaestum Facit: The Sexual Economy of Female Prostitution in the Roman Empire" are a representation of lower class sexuality. Mary Beard's article, "The Sexual Status of Vestal Virgins" examines a form of deviant sexuality based around religious values. Lastly, Keith Hopkins' article," Contraception in the Roman Empire" examines the sexual practices of upper class Romans using contraception and abortifacents, vital conclusions about Ancient Roman society and sexuality can be determined.
Female contraception was first defined in the late 1800’s as the deliberate prevention of conception or impregnation by various techniques, drugs, or devices. The access of female contraception for women has been a subject of debate for thousands of years. Women should have access to contraception because of the health benefits it provides not only physically, but mentally. The use of female contraception supports gender equality, and lastly, the use of contraception provides new arguments against an aging Catholic church.
Throughout the age's people have tried to find ways of preventing conception and venereal diseases. Obvious methods, such as withdrawal, the rhythm method, douches, and sponges were used, as were various predecessors of today's condom. In ancient Egypt, a linen sheath was used as protection against troublesome insects and tropical diseases. The Chinese tried to prevent infection by wrapping oiled silk paper around the penis, and the Japanese had leather and tortoiseshell sheaths. The Romans used tampons that had been dipped in herbs and condoms made of goats' bladders.
... 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.