Societies and cultures have always had norms that regulate behavior. These include guidelines for how people are supposed to act, what they are allowed to say, and even what they are permitted to think. Some behaviors are considered more acceptable than others, depending on their context, intent, and consequences.
Some types of speech might be considered offensive if spoken outside certain company but not when said within a particular group.
These same speech acts can also be used to elicit laughter, which may signal acceptance among members of a group. As human beings, we tend to live together in communities and groups. We need to follow rules to ensure social cohesion and avoid conflict.
The same applies to sexual expression, desire, and moral evaluation. Each society has its own way of perceiving these topics, and each culture has developed its values regarding them. This means that, although individuals may feel free to express themselves sexually as they wish, they must do so within societal limits. Otherwise, there could be serious consequences such as censure or even punishment. It is important to understand why this is so because it influences everyone's lives - regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, etc.
This paper will explore the impact of societal and cultural norms on sexual expression, desire, and moral evaluation. To achieve this, it will consider different aspects related to the matter, including historical perspectives, current research findings, examples from popular media, personal experiences, and potential implications. The information presented here is intended to help readers reflect on their own beliefs and attitudes toward sex and intimacy and how they relate to societal/cultural factors.
Historical Perspectives:
From ancient times until today, most cultures have regulated sexual behavior through laws, customs, or mores. These norms were often dictated by religious authorities, political powers, economic interests, or both.
In Ancient Greece, women were expected to remain virgins until marriage while men had no restrictions on sexual activity (Farrar 2019). During the Middle Ages in Europe, monogamy was considered a virtue for men but not necessarily for women (Cohen 2018). In Islamic societies, polygamy was common among men who could marry up to four wives (Ramadan 2012).
In modern societies, these rules are still present but not always obvious. People might believe that what is accepted in their communities is natural or normal, even if some behaviors are actually quite taboo elsewhere. This can lead to misunderstandings and even conflict between groups with different values.
Current Research Findings:
Several studies have investigated how societal and cultural norms influence sexual expression, desire, and moral evaluation. One of them is an article published by Mukherjee et al. (2017) in which researchers surveyed over 35000 people from six countries - Australia, India, Iran, Japan, Russia, Spain, and the United States - about their attitudes towards sex and intimacy. The results showed that participants' views varied significantly depending on where they lived.
People in Russia tended to view sex as more casual than those in Spain, while individuals in India reported greater importance for marital satisfaction than Australians.
Another study conducted by Smith and Knight (2016) involved interviews with 48 young adults from various ethnic backgrounds in the US. It found that they viewed sex differently according to age and gender, with older men being less likely to discuss it openly than younger ones and Black women being more likely to engage in "friends-with-benefits" relationships than White ones.
Examples from Popular Media:
Popular media often portrays sex as something that should be experienced freely without restrictions or consequences.
This message may misrepresent reality because it ignores societal/cultural contexts.
A movie such as 'Fifty Shades of Grey' promotes kinky behavior but does not address potential risks or repercussions. Another example is television shows like 'Sex Education' or 'Big Little Lies,' which depict characters having sex out of wedlock or extramaritally but do not explore how these choices impact their lives.
Personal Experiences:
Many people have had experiences that illustrate how sexual expression can differ between cultures and societies.
One man who moved from an Islamic country to Europe noticed a significant change in attitudes toward premarital sex. In his home country, he was expected to wait until marriage to have intimate relations, whereas here, many people engaged in them before tying the knot. Similarly, someone who
How do societal and cultural norms impact sexual expression, desire, and moral evaluation?
Societal and cultural norms influence individual's sexual expression, desire, and ethical assessment in various ways. These variables are shaped by social influences such as gender roles, family values, religion, and media. The most common of them is gender stereotypes that are portrayed through advertising, television shows, movies, and other forms of mass media.