THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2007
SCEN on the Hill
9A
Society complicates our sexuality
One aspect of our society that has the potential to greatly affect our sexual desires is the media. Advertisements are saturated with pretty faces or bodies.
It seems as if our society, our friends, our significant others, the media, and our own bodies demand sex. Understanding these demands and influences is a complicated process. Although biologically we may encounter some of the same emotions, drives and desires pertaining to sex, we all come from different backgrounds. Everyone is influenced differently by society.
BY JOE GARVEY editor@kansan.com
It doesn't matter how many years you have stayed a virgin. It doesn't matter that you've been shown a million slides in high school of people with STDs causing their genitals to puff up like red cauliflower. Promises to your family, your friends and even to your God may not be enough. In college, the occasion or opportunity for sex is going to present itself if you are in any way a social person.
Omri Gillath is an assistant professor of psychology who
teaches classes about close relationships and sexuality at the University of Kansas. Gillath said that this sexual exposure was a product of natural human sexuality.
"When people have very strong religious beliefs, they are often willing to pressure their representatives to pass laws based on those religious beliefs," said Carolyn Johnson, an adjunct lecturer in constitutional law. "In general, people are allowed to have laws as long as there is a majority supporting them, even if the law has some moral or religious basis."
"Sex sells."
said. "Gaining information from sexual programming is a good first step. Obviously when we're surfing the Net we're not thinking evolution or survival. But the fact that it's implicit doesn't mean it's not there. Plus, there is nothing wrong with some virtual practice to improve the chance of success when encountering the real thing."
But is it our biological drive that influences media producers and advertisers to put so much stock in sexual programs? Or is it the media that affects us? Gillath said it was both.
Religion can also play a huge role in sexuality.
"If you have been raised thinking that sex is dirty or wrong, you might develop a negative scheme and try to avoid sex, although deep down you have the same drives and desires," Gillath said.
Religion has also been known to influence some lawmakers in policy making decisions regarding sexuality.
"We are motivated to succeed in the love game, and we'll do whatever we can to win."
Gillath said. "Using the heavy traffic on pornography sites as evidence, people look for sex in order to explore or enjoy it. Evolutionary biology suggests that our curiosity stems from our reproduction motivation."
Although it may be easy for some to protest governmental and religious regulation in the bedroom, there are situations when religious morality can outweigh personal sexual
"There are definitely some people who feel that sexuality is not an appropriate topic for governmental regulation, at least between two consenting adults in their own home," Johnson said. "Beyond that, however, there is broad agreement that regulation is appropriate. For example if someone likes to have sex with children, I think a lot of people would agree that government should be in the business of regulating that."
"We are motivated to succeed in the love game, and we'll do whatever we can to win," he
OMRI GILLATH Assistant professor of psychology
was written. A few of these views stressed that sex preferably took place in heterosexual marriages.
preferences.
The college life can put additional stress and pressure on our sexuality. If
"If you have been raised thinking that sex is dirty or wrong, you might develop a negative scheme and try to avoid sex."
"It's a fact that religion is still very influential," said Timothy Miller, who teaches "Religion in American Society" at the University. "Many people think that the Bible is the key source of knowledge of information and moral guidance in the world."
Miller said that some of the Bible's views of sexuality stemmed from the cultural norm of the time period in which it
"We all want to find a partner. We want to be a part of this 'mating game'," Gillath said. "The reason why close relationships in general and sexuality specifically can be so stressful is because there is a lot at stake. College provides the opportunity to find our other half, and it is highly stressful to think that we might miss the opportunity and end up alone, as many people do these days. In 2006, married people were the minority in the U.S. for the first time."
The Bible also plays a part in sexual prudence.
Government, religion dictate beliefs，actions in bedroom
toward sex than men because there is more to risk. Rape and abuse are more serious concerns for women, and pregnancy is a serious situation that women must deal with.
OMRI GILLATH Assistant professor of psychology
Gillath explained that the levels and types of stress differ from male to female. Women might show a more negative attitude
you think you are alone in worrying about finding a partner, you are mistaken.
"They are the ones who will have to invest nine months in pregnancy and even more time in child care, whereas men can theoretically spend 10 minutes and walk away. With a different
set of concerns, their behavior is very different."
Given this knowledge, Gillath said, it was no wonder that women generally felt more pressure to find the right partner
and therefore are more cautious in choosing.
These are but a few of the societal aspects that make human sexuality such a complicated topic. One's sexual preferences can be altered by a religious background, the choices of his or her friends, or the current laws of the land. Some might also be acting strictly on what their biology and psychology demands of them. What is accepted in our society differs greatly from others. What we know is that we are a product of our surroundings, and we are destined to conform in accordance to our influences.
- Edited by Jeff Briscoe
BY RACHEL BURTON editor@kansan.com
One country's sex is another's taboo
Sex sells in America, but views on sex vary widely around the world. What is taboo in one culture is considered normal in another, and cultural and religious traditions often dictate what is socially acceptable.
Today India's sexual culture is an embodiment of Victorian sensibilities that originated from conservative Muslim attitudes. India is going through a Western-influenced sexual revolution of its own, especially in cosmopolitan areas. Until recently even kissing scenes in movies were frowned upon and considered taboo.
Sex in general is social taboo in conservative Islamic countries. Unmarried couples must hide their sexual relationships from society or they will be ostracized by the community. Books and other media that cover sex are promptly banned.
In 2000 the Brazilian government began a program that allowed low-income Brazilian
In Germany the teen magazine Bravo contains nude photos of teenage boys and girls along with a column that answers teen's questions about sex, sexuality and their personal lives. These photographs are not intended to be pornographic. The goal of the magazine is to help teens feel more comfortable with their bodies.
During ancient times the tantric school of Indian/Hindu philosophy held the idea that sex, a basic and powerful desire experienced by all humans, could be utilized as a way of achieving enlightenment. Sex played a large part in tantra's philosophical system.
During the 1960s and 1970s, many people in the West discovered tantra, the ancient Indian culture of sexual liberalism. It was a source of the Western free love movements and neotantic philosophy.
Doujinshi, or amateur anime publications, are commonly sold in Japan. They often feature characters from popular anime shows but shown nude and in various sexual situations.
Some of the sexual ideas in other cultures seem strange to us, but that is only because it's not what we're used to.
In Japan anyone can buy lingerie and magazines featuring nude and semi-nude women on the cover from vending machines in many public places. There are many "love hotels" in Japan. The hotels have rooms furnished to suit various kinky themes and can be rented for a few hours at a time. In Japan, the floorplans of many houses make it difficult to have sex without being heard. Parents can use the love hotels to avoid being heard by their kids.
Sex education has been taught in Swedish secondary schools since the 1950s. During that same time, contraception was first added to American medical school curricula. Contraception was illegal to obtain throughout most of the U.S., and sex education wasn't taught in secondary schools for many years to come.
families to get free plastic surgery. A recent Avon-sponsored survey of 21,000 women in 24 countries showed that Brazilian women focus more on improving their looks than women in other countries. They also consider beauty products essential items rather than luxury items. The study says 50 percent of Brazilian women would undergo plastic surgery to keep their good looks. This obsession with beauty has allowed Brazil to boast a national aesthetic of beautiful women.
Sweden's age of sexual consent is 15 years, and since 1975 abortion has been free. Condoms and oral contraception are less expensive there than in America.
Edited by Luke Morris
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