The question of how cultural narratives about romance shape expectations about the role of sex in relationships has been a subject of study for many researchers in sociology, psychology, anthropology, philosophy, literature, history, art, music, and other fields. Different cultures have different beliefs about love, romantic relationships, marriage, parenting, monogamy, promiscuity, family life, sexual orientation, gender roles, etc. These beliefs are transmitted through stories, myths, folktales, legends, fairy tales, songs, poems, plays, movies, books, TV shows, social media posts, etc. People learn what is normal or abnormal, acceptable or unacceptable, desirable or undesirable, right or wrong, based on their culture's dominant values and ideals related to romance, intimacy, sexuality, eroticism, and relationships.
The notion of romance implies emotional attraction between individuals that can manifest as friendship, platonic love, brotherhood, sisterhood, courtship, dating, engagement, marriage, and so forth. In some cultures, love and marriage are considered the natural progression from friendship to committed relationship status. In others, it is more common for people to date casually without any intention of getting married. Some cultures value long-term monogamous partnerships while others encourage serial monogamy, polygamy, polyandry, polygyny, open relationships, swinging, and other forms of nonmonogamy. Some cultures forbid homosexuality, bisexuality, transgenderism, queerness, nonbinary genders, etc., while others accept them. Some cultures emphasize female virginity until marriage, while others consider it irrelevant, allowing premarital sex and adultery. Some cultures encourage women to be housewives and mothers while others allow them to pursue careers outside the home. Some cultures believe in arranged marriages while others promote free choice. The list goes on and on.
Each cultural narrative about romance shapes its followers' expectations about what role sex should play in a romantic relationship.
If one believes that true love leads to marriage and family life, they may see sex as an essential part of the process and not want to give up on it after marriage or parenthood. If another believes that true love has nothing to do with physical intimacy, they might prefer to stay single all their lives or have multiple sexual partners. They may even choose celibacy if they think that no amount of physical pleasure can replace spiritual fulfillment.
How do cultural narratives about romance shape expectations about the role of sex in relationships?
It is widely acknowledged that cultural narratives play an important role in shaping our understanding of romantic love and sexual relationships. These narratives can be found in various forms such as literature, film, media, religion, and even social norms and values. They often portray certain expectations about how men and women should behave when it comes to dating, courtship, and intimacy. While some cultures emphasize physical attraction, others highlight emotional connection.