Many people think that sexual scandals can be used to rehabilitate society morally. Some argue that after a powerful person has been caught in bed with someone else's wife/husband, they are shamed publicly, which serves as an example for others to follow. When a celebrity is found having an affair, many believe it helps people realize their own mistakes and reminds them to keep their affairs private.
This theory is flawed because it assumes everyone will learn from another person's misstep. In reality, most people don't care about what happens to other individuals unless they know them personally. They might even take pleasure in seeing celebrities humiliated for cheating, which proves the opposite point - that there is no collective moral realignment taking place.
Some claim that when prominent figures get exposed for unethical behavior such as rape or harassment, society reacts strongly against them and demands justice, thus establishing rules against bad conduct. This argument seems valid since public outrage forces changes in legislation and public attitudes towards certain behaviors. Still, the effectiveness of these measures depends on how far-reaching they are and whether they have long-term effects. People can become desensitized to repeated exposure of wrongdoers who continue making headlines despite numerous accusations. Also, legal punishments do not always fix underlying issues like power imbalances or gender discrimination in professional settings where predators operate freely.
The idea that sexual scandals function as ritualistic social correctives may also be questioned by those who view sex itself as shameful rather than something natural and normal. These people often condemn any form of intimacy outside marriage, so they would never allow themselves to be influenced by others' sins anyway. Moreover, if a powerful man has several mistresses while married but doesn't break any laws, then their actions don't seem immoral until you consider his family's feelings. Therefore, it's difficult to say whether sexual scandal provides genuine moral guidance because everyone interprets things differently based on personal beliefs and values.
Although many believe sexual scandals help redefine acceptable behavior, this idea is too simplistic and fails to take into account multiple factors affecting societal norms over time.
Can sexual scandal function as a ritualized social corrective, providing collective moral realignment?
In recent years, there has been much debate over the role of sex scandals in society. Some argue that they serve as a form of public catharsis, allowing individuals to express their frustration and anger at perceived moral failures by powerful figures. Others contend that they can function as a way for individuals to gain social status and power by exposing others' transgressions.