CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON SEXUALITY CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES Today we will share a few myths as a class. SEXUAL MYTHOLOGY: STORKS AND CABBAGE PATCHES What myths were you told about sex, babies, people, homosexuality, masturbation, etc.? CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES SEXUAL MYTHOLOGY: STORKS AND CABBAGE PATCHES Most cultures have sexual myths: • To explain to young children “where babies come from” • What “daddy and mommy were doing” • When it is too awkward to tell kids the truth • To scare kids away from activities deemed inappropriate or sinful - such as masturbation • Kids come up with their own explanations by piecing together what they have heard and observed. Each person’s current thinking on sexuality is a product of many things: • Family values and upbringing • Religious views • Cultural norms • Peer pressures • Exposure to other thought processes Cross-Cultural Perspectives Islamic Middle East • Based on beliefs of Muhammad • Belief that marital sex should be enjoyed by both sexes • Women viewed as inherently more sexual than men (this power contained by veils, segregation, female circumcision) • Up to 4 wives allowed (polygamy) • Oppression of women and many sexually related restrictions stem from patriarchal cultural traditions and fundamentalist sects, not always from religion and the teaching of the Qur’an Dr. Heba Kotb, the first licensed sexologist in Egypt, is host of a sexual advice show in Egypt, The Very Big Talk. She bases her teachings on the Qur’an, encouraging a strong sexual relationship between husband and wife. She does not discuss topics that are prohibited by Islam, including sex outside of marriage, anal sex, or sex during menstruation. Cross-Cultural Perspectives China • Ancient China – Produced the earliest known sex manuals (2500BCE) – Under Taoism (200BCE – 1000CE) sexual activity was promoted for spiritual growth and harmony – The sexual connection of men and women was believed to join the opposing forces of yin (female) and yang (male) Liu Dalin, sexologist and curator of the China Sex Museum in Shanghai, shows snuff bottles with erotic designs dating back to the late Qing Dynasty (late 19th century). Shanghai is rediscovering its uninhibited past thanks to more than a decade of growth and liberalization. Qing Dynasty (late 19th century, 1850’s – 1890’s) Cross-Cultural Perspectives China • Sexual conservatism with communist rule (1949) under Chairman Mao – Lack of basic information about sexuality – Sex outside of marriage and frequent sex within marriage discouraged – Almost no STDs Cross-Cultural Perspectives China Current trends • Increasing rates of premarital sex • Increasing rates of HIV infection • Increasing rates of prostitution use • Slightly more open to homosexuality • Still lack sexual knowledge and safe-sex skills Younger Chinese in larger cities have embraced Western styles. punk rock guitarist Li Li, age 20, talks with his girlfriend outside the Zai Hui club in west Beijing, China. p9 Cross-Cultural Perspectives India Tantric temples at Khajuraj(h)o, India depict erotic acts, c. 1000 CE Written between 1st - 6th century. 36 chapters, only 10 on sex acts Kama = desire One of the “four main goals of life” in Indian philosophy: Dharma = virtuous living Artha = prosperity Moksha = liberation The colonial era produced a more prudent culture. Modern times are showing a slow return to sexual acceptance. richard gere kissing- shilpa-shetty Gere kiss sparks India protests Some demonstrators called Gere's embrace of Shetty "vulgar" Actor Richard Gere has sparked protests in India after kissing Celebrity Big Brother winner Shilpa Shetty at an Aids awareness rally in New Delhi. 16 April 2007 Demonstrators in Mumbai (Bombay) set light to effigies of the Hollywood star, while protesters in other cities shouted "death to Shilpa Shetty". The protesters said Gere insulted Indian culture by kissing the hand and face of the Bollywood actress. Public displays of affection and sex are still largely taboo in India. MANGAIA Island in the South Pacific Sex for pleasure, as well as procreation Children are taught sex Sexual skill and orgasms Lots of sex No STI’s, Until Cook Modern dancers Environment In Mangaia girls are raised and encouraged to sleep with multiple partners. The usual expectation is for a girl to have 3 or 4 boyfriends from the time she is 13 until she is 20. Every woman is taught at a young age how to achieve an orgasm. Males on the other hand are taught at a young age how to bring a female to an orgasm through oral sex. At 13 when a boy has had his training and been told how to do things he is then given a sexual partner that is an older and experienced woman. This woman teaches the boy various sexual positions and techniques to slow down the arrival of his orgasm until the woman is able to reach her orgasm first Inis Beag, Inisheer, Inis Oirr Island off coast of Ireland Naïve and sexually repressed Little sex 1960’s Modern images Environment Inis Beag had no formal sex education, and sexual intercourse was treated by both sexes as a necessary evil which must be endured for the sake of reproduction. Phenomena such as menstruation and menopause were regarded with fear and disgust. Breast-feeding was avoided. Not only was premarital sex almost non- existent, but kissing, caressing, and any affection was seen as too sexual and was therefore prohibited. Nudity was extremely private, to the extent that even a married couple conducted intercourse in the dark and fully clothed, except for genitals. Sex was also practiced only in the missionary position. Any variation of sex was seen as deviant and sinful. CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES Similarities and differences: All societies regulate sexual behavior, and have gender roles, but the rules and the roles vary. Peru America India New Guinea Women as caregivers and men as warriors is a common theme. ETHNOCENTRISM The power of words… and cultural prejudices ETHNOCENTRISM: “My way is the only natural or right way.” The General U.S. Cultural Legacy Two Themes • Sex only for procreation, if then… • Rigid male and female gender roles Cultural Legacy • Sex for procreation – Non-procreative sex as sinful • Birth control • Masturbation • Oral/anal sex (illegal in 10 states until ’03) • Same sex partners “Birth control leads to a state of mind that treats sexual activity as if it has nothing to do with procreation. Sexual activity becomes a recreational activity, birth control become a recreational drug and babies become ’accidents’ or burdens to be eliminated” (American Life League, 2011a, p. 1) – Definition of sex and intercourse used synonymously Cultural Legacy • Sex for procreation – Definition of sex and intercourse used synonymously • “80% of college students did not think that they ‘had sex’ if they experienced only oral sex” (Hans et al., 2010) • Bill Clinton http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBe_guezGGc • Limits “sex” to penis/vagina Cultural Legacy Two Themes • Sex for procreation • Rigid male and female gender roles Rigid gender-role conditioning can limit each person’s potential and can harm their sexuality. – Due to: • Biology – Men and women are different • Sociology – Society can shape and exaggerate differences – Ie. “men initiate sex” – Women are more sexually limited » An “experienced” man = “Stud” » An “experienced” woman = “Slut” SLUT MUFFIN The first “SlutWalk” in April 2011 in Toronto, Canada, a protest against a police officer’s comment that women should avoid dressing like sluts to avoid rape, became a worldwide movement of rallies. As social gender equality increases so does sexual equality, women’s sexuality becomes less stigmatized. Cultural Legacy Two Themes What importance do the historical themes of sex for procreation and male/female gender roles have today? Sexuality in the Western World • Ancient Hebrews Judeo-Christian Perspective – Gender roles highly specialized • Proverbs: Duties of a good wife: instruct servants, care for family, keep household accounts, obey spouse. • Women as property “livestock, wife, dwellings” – Sex within marriage a necessity…. And a pleasure….. • Genesis 1:28: be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth Song of Songs (Song of Solomon), The groom states: How fair is thy love …. my bride! How much better is thy love than wine! And the smell of thine ointments than all manner of spices! Thy lips, of my bride, drop honey- honey and milk are under thy tongue Sexuality in the Western World Judeo-Christian Perspective • Ancient Hebrews – Sex within marriage a necessity…. And a pleasure….. Song of Songs (Song of Solomon), The bride states: I am my beloved’s and his desire is toward me. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; Let us lodge in the villages… There will I give thee my love. This was all pre-Roman Empire Sexuality in the Western World This was all pre-Roman Empire, late Roman empire saw Greek and Persian sexual entertainment influences. Sexuality in the Western World Lots of rapes, pregnancies and STI’s Prior to ~18 BCE rape was not a criminal offense in Rome, just a civil matter enforced by the family. Early Christians separated from this by associating sex with sin. Sexuality in the Western World Judeo-Christian Perspective, Paul of Tarsus circa 50-60 CE “Apostle Paul” • Christianity – Spirituality through celibacy • Paul of Tarsus, (Saul) died 66 CE, New Testament, • “Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:4-5 • Tangent, “For the desire of money is the root of all evils; which some coveting have erred from the faith, and have entangled themselves in many sorrows” 1 Timothy 6:10 • Now, there remain faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthian Judeo-Christian Perspective, St. Augustine circa 400 CE • Christianity – Sex outside of marriage as sinful • “Marriages have this good also, that carnal or youthful incontinence, although it be faulty, is brought unto an honest use in the begetting of children, in order that out of the evil of lust the marriage union may bring to pass some good.