Sunday, September 14, 2008

Collective Definition of Sexuality

Sexuality is the societal discourse and utilization, subject to a normalization process, linked to the act of sex, this act being any action by one or more individuals, acting alone or together, leading toward a specific type of arousal. That is to say, sexuality is both an ongoing discussion and a tool used to produce a result. The human sex drive may be natural in terms of an evolutionary drive to procreate (although this categorization is suspect since it excludes homosexual sex and cyber sex), but it can also be argued that the human sex drive is regulated and sustained by societal norms. Sexuality is contained within the individual, yet is also affected by society. Sexual orientation (whom one is attracted to) may not be a choice, but the expression or repression of sexuality is a choice; in the same vein, the outward manifestation of sexuality (Madonna’s music videos, wearing particular clothing, etc) are personal choices that are influenced by social norms. While sexuality is everywhere in modern society, and permeates many aspects of our lives, it is also a taboo subject; sexuality is both expressed and repressed. Society places expressions of sexuality and sexual acts into a spectrum ranging from good sex to bad sex; however, since this spectrum is a complete social construction, it is open to being altered. Sexuality has more to do with the perception of a sexual act than with the act itself; what matters most is how we understand a particular manifestation of sexuality, and how our understanding affects the person at whom our opinions are aimed. Language, as a tool used to describe these perceptions, becomes a vehicle of empowerment or disempowerment, depending on where the expression of sexuality falls on the good/bad spectrum.

1 comments :

  1. Ally said...

    Hopefully it will work this time...

    Sexuality is the societal discourse and utilization, subject to a normalization process, linked to the act of sex, this act being any action by one or more individuals, acting alone or together, leading toward a specific type of arousal. That is to say, sexuality is both an ongoing discussion and a tool used to produce a result. The human sex drive may be natural in terms of an evolutionary drive to procreate (although this categorization is suspect since it excludes homosexual sex and cyber sex), but it can also be argued that the human sex drive is regulated and sustained by societal norms. Sexuality is contained within the individual, yet is also affected by society. Sexual orientation (whom one is attracted to) may not be a choice, but the expression or repression of sexuality is a choice; in the same vein, the outward manifestation of sexuality (Madonna’s music videos, wearing particular clothing, etc) are personal choices that are influenced by social norms. While sexuality is everywhere in modern society, and permeates many aspects of our lives, it is also a taboo subject; sexuality is both expressed and repressed. Society places expressions of sexuality and sexual acts into a spectrum ranging from good sex to bad sex; however, since this spectrum is a complete social construction, it is open to being altered. Sexuality has more to do with the perception of a sexual act than with the act itself; what matters most is how we understand a particular manifestation of sexuality, and how our understanding affects the person at whom our opinions are aimed. Language, as a tool used to describe these perceptions, becomes a vehicle of empowerment or disempowerment, depending on where the expression of sexuality falls on the good/bad spectrum.