The term "erotic policing" refers to the practice of governments using sexuality to control individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors for political ends. In authoritarian regimes, this can take several forms, including censorship, surveillance, punishment, and propaganda. This article will explore how these tactics are used to maintain power and social order.
Censorship
One common way authoritarian states employ erotic policing is through censorship. By banning books, movies, music, art, and other media that depict non-normative sexuality or challenges traditional gender roles, they limit access to information and ideas that may encourage dissent or independence from state ideology.
In North Korea, citizens are prohibited from accessing foreign media outlets and must follow strict guidelines regarding dress code and physical contact between men and women. In Iran, films are screened for excessive skin exposure and themes of homosexuality. These tactics are meant to create a culture of fear and conformity where citizens know better than to question authority.
Surveillance
Authoritarian states often use surveillance technology to monitor citizens' private lives and enforce their rules around sex and relationships. In China, the government has developed an extensive system of monitoring tools, including facial recognition software and social credit scores, which track people's behavior both online and offline. This allows officials to identify potential threats to stability and crack down on any perceived transgressions quickly. The same technology is also used to target LGBTQ+ communities and shut down queer spaces.
Punishment
Punishments can be severe in authoritarian regimes for those who violate sexual norms, even if only symbolically.
In Saudi Arabia, women who have been deemed "too attractive" by authorities can be arrested and imprisoned for not wearing headscarves or tight clothing. Other punishments include public shaming, flogging, or even execution. These methods send a clear message to all citizens: adhere to the state's vision of morality, or face consequences.
Propaganda
Authoritarian governments rely heavily on propaganda to promote traditional gender roles and heteronormative ideals. Media outlets and educational institutions are controlled to spread these messages, while dissenters may be censored or jailed. This creates a false reality that normalizes oppression and reinforces the idea that obedience is necessary for survival. Propaganda campaigns can also be used to demonize certain groups, such as gay men in Russia or women in Afghanistan, in order to scapegoat them for societal problems.
How do authoritarian states employ erotic policing to enforce compliance, moral conformity, and obedience?
Authoritarian states often employ sexual repression as a tool of political control by promoting a conservative morality that criminalizes same-sex relationships, outlaw abortion, and discourage gender equality in public institutions (Ferguson, 2019). This approach is commonly known as "erotic policing," and it relies on coercion and surveillance to impose strict social norms and maintain power structures (Lemma et al.