The History of Sexuality – Michel Foucault. The current place that sex holds in society differs from that of prior human generations. Attitudes on, and the appropriate performance of sexual activity are actively influenced by not only societal opinion on the matter, but additionally by historical and power-related aspects. Since the nineteenth century, there has been a repression of sex among Western society as shown by imposed Victorian norms, an existing relationship with capitalism, and a lean towards sexual liberation existing in current society. Previously, sex was an entity that was publically accepted with a more liberal mindset. What caused a difference in this commonly held mindset was the emergence of Victorian bourgeois morals. As society began to adapt these morals, sex was moved from the public to privacy of homes. A notion of silence was attached to sex in the name of protection. This attribute took particular prevalence in relation to children; since no children are having sex, they should not speak or hear of sex. The intent behind the shield put between children and the discussion of sex is of sex not existing, suggesting that there is no merit in learning about what sex consists of and what implications it has. Effectively, silencing sex is the action of a society driven by Victorian morals privatizing and profaining sex. This notion is reflected by the emergence of brothels in order to direct recreational sex towards a method of profit. The emergence of brothels allows for sex to be further viewed by the population as being for the sole purpose of reproduction. This holds implications within the capitalistic economy who’s emergence coincided with the repression of sex. The troubling aspect of the potential ridding of sexual repression from society, is the interrelated nature of sexuality and society. As society has progressed post the conception of a capitalistic system, it has been moulded by sexual attributes while attributes of sexuality were additionally being affected by society. This is reflected by methods of capitalism leading to the impression that sex is of the purpose of reproduction, as it results in more available labour for the economy. In this sense, sexuality additional holds implications within power and politics. Reproduction, being the sole cause of sex, is required to the degree that an economy requires future labour, as such, just as politics is, sex is involved with the development of the future of society. What is additionally proving of an existence of a sexual repression in western society, is the current lean towards sexual liberation. After feeling uncomfortable discussing sex within the past 200 years, as a result of the silence imposed on it, a power is currently being found in sexual discussion. The driving force of this power lies within the liberating minor revolution that an individual is taking part in in countering the continuation of Victorian morals. A contrast or criticism of this theory of sexual repression could be that if viewing sex as not solely being limited to reproduction was existent during this period of “repression” (i.e brothels) then clearly sex was being spoke of and not silenced within society. The author of this piece may respond to this criticism stating that in a way sex was silenced within brothels as recreational sex was forced to be tethered to profits rather than pleasure. Sex has shown its implications on the human population throughout the past 200 years through a the population slowly recognizing the cause and effect relationship between sexuality and repression. It is through the attributes of Victorian norms, a tethering with capitalism and a current lean towards sexual liberation among society that a repression on sex can be recognized. about:blankabout:blank
