Sexuality is a fundamental part of human nature that has been around since the beginning of time. It is an instinctive drive that allows individuals to reproduce and procreate, but it also encompasses much more than just biological functions. Sexuality can be expressed through various forms such as physical contact, intimacy, and emotional bonds between partners.
Throughout history, society's perception of sexuality has evolved significantly, leading to its moralization. Moralization refers to the process whereby something becomes associated with morality and ethics. This evolution has led to the creation of strict rules and regulations regarding sexual conduct, which have created numerous problems for individuals who do not adhere to them. In this article, I will explore how moralizing sexuality hinders the development of ethical compassion and leads to social issues such as sexism, homophobia, and transphobia. The main argument presented is that when society moralizes sexuality, it creates a culture of shame, fear, and guilt that prevents people from exploring their sexual desires openly, resulting in limited opportunities for empathy, understanding, and tolerance.
Let's understand what sexuality is. Sexuality refers to a person's feelings, attractions, and behaviors related to their sexual identity, gender roles, and relationships. It includes heterosexuality, bisexuality, homosexuality, pansexuality, polyamory, and asexuality. These terms describe a person's desire towards another individual based on their characteristics such as gender, race, age, or body type. In addition, sexuality involves consensual and non-consensual acts such as rape and abuse, which are harmful and illegal. The moralization of sexuality focuses on the negative aspects of sexuality, such as promiscuity, infidelity, pornography, prostitution, and other activities considered immoral by society. The moralization of sexuality can be traced back to religious beliefs, where sex outside marriage is seen as sinful. Thus, societies place restrictions on sexual behavior based on cultural norms and expectations.
In some cultures, women must cover themselves entirely, while men should not touch them without permission. This has led to many cases of sexual assault and violence against women. Similarly, in the LGBTQ+ community, sexual orientation was once considered taboo until recently, leading to discrimination, hate crimes, and social ostracism.
When society moralizes sexuality, it creates shame, fear, and guilt around this aspect of life, hindering individuals from exploring their sexual desires.
Children who experience any form of sexuality at an early age are often labeled as perverts or molesters, leading to stigma, isolation, and bullying. As a result, they might feel ashamed of their natural urges, developing low self-esteem and depression. Likewise, adults face similar challenges if they explore their sexual fantasies outside of the confines of monogamy and heterosexual relationships. They may feel guilty for having unconventional desires, leading to anxiety, stress, and depression. This leads to limited opportunities for empathy, understanding, and tolerance. People learn to hide their true selves rather than expressing their emotions openly, resulting in limited communication with others and decreased compassion towards them.
Society's emphasis on sexual purity has created a culture of judgment and intolerance towards those who violate these standards.
The recent MeToo movement exposed sexual abuse and harassment that had been silenced for years due to societal pressure. Victims were shamed and blamed for their actions instead of receiving justice. Moreover, society views sex workers negatively, despite providing essential services such as companionship and pleasure. The criminalization of prostitution exposes them to exploitation and violence, creating further harm. Similarly, homophobia is rampant in many countries where same-sex relationships are illegal, leading to discrimination, hate crimes, and social ostracism. Transphobia also prevails, preventing transgender people from accessing healthcare, employment, housing, and education. Society's moralizing of sexuality prevents individuals from forming meaningful connections based on mutual respect and empathy, limiting their ability to understand and accept each other.
When society moralizes sexuality, it hinders the development of ethical compassion by creating a culture of shame, fear, and guilt around this aspect of life. It prevents individuals from exploring their desires freely, which limits their ability to communicate effectively and develop empathy for others. Therefore, we need to create an environment where sexuality is not morally judged but seen as part of our human experience, allowing us to express ourselves openly without stigma or prejudice. By doing so, we can foster a culture of understanding, tolerance, and love, enhancing our capacity for ethical behavior.
How does the moralization of sexuality hinder the evolution of ethical compassion?
The moralization of sexuality has been linked with the suppression of feelings related to sex, such as shame, guilt, fear, disgust, or self-loathing. This can lead to people suppressing their natural instincts for intimacy and closeness with others and prevent them from developing healthy relationships based on mutual respect and affection.