Introduction to Sociology Lecture 14 – Sexuality (2)

1. Introduction to Sociology Lecture 14 – Sexuality (2) Phua Kai Lit, PhD ADTP Sunway University

2. Lecture Objectives • Sexuality in comparative perspective • Ancient Greece and homosexuality • Changing sexual norms, sexual double standards • Pre-marital sex • Extra-marital sex • Homosexuality • Paraphilia (“sexual perversion”) • Sexual violence

3. Sexuality in comparative perspective • What is considered socially acceptable or deviant sexual behavior can differ in different societies (or change greatly in one society over time) e.g. pre-marital sex in Malaysia, homosexuality in USA • “Incest taboo” appears to be universal though • Practice/sexual partners/“purpose” of having sex with another person • Pornography – aids to increase excitement • Sex education in schools?

4. Ancient Greece and homosexuality • Completely acceptable for adult men to have sexual relations with young boys! • Homosexuality, pedophilia

5. Changing sexual norms and double standards • Sexual norm – what is considered “acceptable” and “unacceptable” in terms of sexual behavior in a particular society e.g. OK for men to visit prostitutes in Thai society • Homosexuality increasingly acceptable in the West e.g. gay marriage • Double standard – what applies to males do not apply to females e.g. OK for men to sleep around, but women who do so are heavily stigmatized

6. Pre-marital sex • Sex before marriage • Acceptable in some societies, unacceptable in others (virginity at the marriage altar – especially for females, until recently) • Age of sexual consent • Legal age at marriage – can be as low as 12 for girls in some societies !

7. Extra-marital sex • Generally considered unacceptable in most societies – betrayal of husband or wife • Prostitution (“sex work”) – in Victorian England, it was common for married men to visit prostitutes • In slave-holding US states, it was common for white male slave-owners to have sex with black female slaves e.g. Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. 7

8. Homosexuality Homophobia – prejudice and discrimination against homosexuals Homosexual behavior is actually quite common, even among those who consider themselves to be “heterosexuals” e.g. customers of male prostitutes in Thailand are mostly other males Becoming more acceptable – gay marriage is legal in some states in the USA, and in countries such as the Netherlands Openly-gay political leaders – former female President of Iceland, Prime Minister of Ireland 8

9. Sexual violence • Sexual harassment – unwelcome attention of a sexual nature • Sexual assault e.g. molest, rape (a male can be raped too) • Date rape • Marital rape • Psychological effects can be severe and long lasting

10. Paraphilias (“sexual perversions”) • These may surprise you: • Fetishes e.g. objects used to raise sexual excitement, schoolgirl fetish in Japan • These may shock you: • Sex with animals - bestiality • Hitler • Sex with dead bodies (!) - necrophilia 10

11. The future – sex with robots? • Today – sex dolls • The future – sex, even marriage with robots? 11

12. Thank You