Archive for the “Men’s Health-Erectile Dysfunction” Category
SEXUAL NORMS THROUGHOUT HISTORY. INTERRACIAL SEXUAL RELATIONS. VICTORIANS
Thursday, March 12, 2009 | 8:01 amInterracial Sexual Relations
Although common, interracial relationships were taboo during slavery. They still carry a social stigma today. After the Civil War, laws were passed in most states against miscegenation—sex, cohabitation, or marriage between people of different races. People who had interracial sex were punished by imprisonment and fines. If a couple left their state to avoid laws against interracial marriage and returned to that state after marriage, they could be prosecuted.
Laws against interracial sexual relations also reflected the sexual and racial double standards of the times. White men could have sex with African-American, Spanish-American, or Native American women and escape unpunished. If white women had sexual relationships with black men, however, they would experience scorn and social stigma and could be sent to jail. Their partners were the targets of mob violence and lynching. Interracial love relationships were commonly characterized as rape in order to uphold the myth of the pure white woman as victim of the predatory black man.
It wasn’t until 1967 that the U.S. Supreme Court overthrew all miscegenation laws in its decision Loving v. the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Named after the reigning Queen of England, the Victorian period extended from about 1840 to 1900. The economic changes of the Industrial Revolution during this time greatly affected the sexual norms of Europe and America. Factory labor required most men to work away from home. Most women were required to stay at home to provide child care and domestic support for their husbands.
Urban industrial life offered increased sexual opportunities for laborers in the cities. In an effort to protect the family from the effects of this potential promiscuity, extreme social pressures were developed to compel women and men to strictly control their sexuality. Once again, sex and sexuality became regarded as dangerous and dirty, and bizarre myths and practices were fostered.
Leading health authorities suggested that married couples should have sex only once every three years, that men were too frail for sex until they reached the age of 30, that women could take no pleasure in sex, and that masturbation caused insanity. The myth that “good girls” and wives were incapable of sexual excitement led men to the habitual use of prostitutes for sexual pleasure. “Virtuous” Victorian families were headed by men whose secret sex lives included regular visits to brothels. As a result, the sexual double standard grew to enormous proportions and sexually transmitted infections became epidemic.
Torturous methods were sometimes employed to preserve the sexual innocence of children and adolescents. Chastity belts were devised for girls and boys. Parents applied ointments to the genitals of their children to make them painful to touch. Surgeons inserted rings into the foreskin of the penis so boys could urinate without touching themselves. Carbolic acid was used to burn the clitorises of girls who masturbated. Castration was used to cure boys of “excessive” masturbation.
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(posted in Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction)
OUR SEXUAL TRADITIONS, BELIEFS. MORE QUESTIONS
Thursday, March 12, 2009 | 7:59 amChildhood 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?
• 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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(posted in Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction)
OUR SEXUALITY: PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES
Thursday, March 12, 2009 | 7:58 amPeople with Physical Disabilities
The sexuality of people with physical disabilities is often denied, but people with physical disabilities have the same needs and desires as able-bodied people—whether they are paralyzed, disfigured, blind, or deaf, or suffer from a congenital illness like cerebral palsy or cystic fibrosis. Because we know that sexual pleasure is in our minds and emotions and all parts of our bodies, it is very sensible to assume that women and men with physical disabilities are sexual.
Disabled people should be encouraged to explore their sexuality and enjoy physical pleasure however they are able. In some instances, attendants of severely disabled women and men may be very helpful. They may assist positioning partners for sex play. On the other hand, some people with disabilities may have limitations or neediness that exposes them to the risk of sexual abuse from partners or attendants. Similar risks face able-bodied women whenever their relationships are greatly imbalanced in terms of power. All bodies are special and should be respected, including those that are disabled.
People with Emotional or Developmental Disabilities
People with emotional or developmental disabilities also have an especially difficult time in enjoying their right to be sexual. Far too often, their families and friends mistakenly think that they are not competent enough to make decisions for themselves regarding how, when, and with whom they may enjoy sex play Paid caregivers, both within the home and in residential facilities, are sometimes under strict orders to stop anyone from engaging in sexual behavior—even masturbation!
Caregivers often fear the consequences of unintended pregnancy in the belief-—founded or unfounded—that emotionally or develop-mentally disabled people in their care may be incapable of caring for children. This fear has often led to forced sterilization. It is often difficult to balance what may be in the best interest of the disabled person with what may be in the best interest of the caregiver, institution, or family. The question of sterilization in such cases should be discussed with a trusted health care advisor.
We all have a right to express our sexuality however we want, just as long as our behavior is consensual. Nobody has the right to hurt anyone else, either physically or emotionally—or by depriving him or her of responsible sexual pleasure.
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(posted in Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction)
OUR SEXUALITY: WHAT PLANNED PARENTHOOD BELIEVES
Thursday, March 12, 2009 | 7:57 amHere is a brief set of statements that describe the Planned Parenthood point of view. We believe that:
• Sexuality is a natural, healthy, lifelong part of being human.
• Every individual has a right to pursue sexual health information and services without fear, shame, or exploitation. That right involves access to adequate, accurate, and age-appropriate information about sexuality, including the advantages and disadvantages of sexual expression.
• All people, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, have rights that need to be respected, and responsibilities that need to be exercised.
• It is unacceptable to pressure, force, or exploit another person sexually.
• In a pluralistic society, we must respect diverse sexual attitudes and behaviors, as long as they are based on ethics, responsibility, justice, equality, and nonviolence.
• Information about becoming pregnant and about postponing, preventing, continuing, or terminating pregnancy should be easily available; the choice of whether or not to parent should be free and informed.
• Every child deserves to be wanted, loved, and cared for.
• Abstaining from sexual intercourse is the most effective method of preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
• Young people explore their sexuality as part of a process of achieving sexual maturity; adolescents are capable of expressing their sexuality in healthy, responsible ways.
• There are many healthy ways to express sexual feelings, alone or with a partner; sexual intercourse is only one form of sexual expression.
• Uninformed or irresponsible sexual behavior poses risks.
• Women, men, girls, and boys benefit from fairness and flexibility in gender roles.
• Individuals and society benefit when children are able to discuss sexuality with their parents and/or other trusted adults.
• Individuals and society benefit when childbearing is postponed until maturity.
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(posted in Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction)
ALL ABOUT SEX: HUMAN SEXUALITY IS DIVERSE AND COMPLEX
Thursday, March 12, 2009 | 7:56 amWe go through a lot of changes while we grow up. Between the ages of eight and 20, we grow from being girls or boys into being women or men. During this process, our bodies change, and our feelings change, too—our feelings about ourselves, our family, and other people.
We go through all of these changes whether or not we are ready, whether or not we want to, and whether or not we know what is going on. Sometimes it seems the changes happen too fast. Sometimes we feel they don’t happen fast enough. It is often very confusing.
Through all of this personal development, almost everyone has profound fears about being “different” from everyone else. What people want most is to be “normal.”
But what most people don’t understand as these changes are happening, and what many adults still don’t realize, is that being different is normal. This is especially true when it comes to our sexuality. No two people are exactly alike in the way they look, think, or feel. Nor should they be. Imagine living in a world where everyone was the same. Think how boring it would be.
Far too often, people fear difference simply out of ignorance. We fear what we don’t understand. But once we realize that it is our differences that give our society its excitement, we see that our diversity should be celebrated!
Sexuality is inherently diverse and complex. In other words, there is no one right way for women, men, or children to be sexual. Instead, human sexuality varies tremendously. Below is a brief explanation of how people differ in their sexuality in four very important ways: gender identity, sexual orientation, sexual tastes, and relationship characteristics. Many of these differences are common, and many of them are less common.
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(posted in Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction)