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SEXUAL NORMS THROUGHOUT HISTORY. INTERRACIAL SEXUAL RELATIONS. VICTORIANS »

Thursday, March 12, 2009 | 7:59 am

Childhood Sexuality

We can tell a great deal about how a culture feels about sexuality by looking at how it deals with childhood sexuality. The answers to these and other questions about childhood sexuality will reflect a culture’s sexual norms:

• Is children’s sexual curiosity about their bodies accepted?

• Are children allowed to express their sexuality?

• Are children allowed, forbidden, or encouraged to have sex play with other children?

• Are children allowed to observe adult sexual activity?

Sex Laws and the Punishment of Unapproved Sexual Behavior

Every culture regulates sexuality on some level. The answers to these and other questions about sexual law will reflect a culture’s sexual norms:

• Are there laws restricting prostitution, homosexuality, abortion, and sexual abuse?

• What sexual behaviors are considered “normal”?

• What sexual behaviors are considered “deviant”?

• Are the laws in keeping with the ideals, values, and practices of the culture?

• What sexual behaviors does the culture punish?

Prostitution

Prostitution exists in nearly every culture. The answers to these and other questions about prostitution will reflect a culture’s sexual norms:

• Is prostitution an acceptable sexual practice, or is it taboo?

• Are prostitutes required to undergo health checks to guard against the transmission of sexually transmitted infections?

• Do laws force prostitutes to work “underground,” making their work more dangerous and less healthy?

• Are prostitutes treated like others who work to support themselves?

• Are prostitutes penalized more than their customers?

Homosexuality

Homosexuality occurs in every culture and throughout the animal kingdom. The answers to these and other questions about homosexuality will reflect a culture’s sexual norms:

• Is homosexuality respected as a natural way of life for some people?

• Does the culture condemn homosexuality and discriminate against people perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender?

• Are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people able to live openly in heterosexual communities?

Birth Control

People have used birth control since the dawn of time. The answers to these and other questions about birth control and abortion will reflect a culture’s sexual norms:

• Is birth control legal, illegal, or taboo?

• Is abortion legal, illegal, or taboo?

• Are birth control and abortion easy to obtain?

• Do women have contraceptive choices to find the method best suited for them?

• Are women forced to use contraception, have abortions, or bear children against their will?

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