History Of Sexuality: The Will To Knowledge

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What is the History of Sexuality: The Will to Knowledge - Volume 1 about? How has it changed or not changed your views on how people living in late 20th century western societies experience themselves as sexual beings? In your opinion, do you think Foucault has got it right? ***go through edit and add quotes Within the History of Sexuality: The Will to Knowledge – Volume 1, Michel Foucault explores the repression and discourse in regards to sex in western societies. Foucault explores how those in late 20th century western societies perceive and experience sex and the discourse that surrounded it. Within History of Sexuality, Foucault studies and comments upon the “repressive hypothesis”, as well as exploring sex in regards to confession and power. He also focuses heavily on the academic discourse that surrounds sex and how it may affect the way that it is perceived. In part two of History of Sexuality: The Will to Knowledge – Volume 1, Foucault explores what he refers to as the “repressive hypothesis.” This hypothesis, he claims, argues that the rise of the middle class created a society in which it is frowned upon to spend time on sexual acts primarily for please, as opposed to procreation. Insert quote here about repressive hypothesis. This has created a situation …show more content…

Within the Christian church, confession became a platform that was an important part of the discourse of sexuality. This was due to the fact that it provided a means for people to confess what they had been led to believe as since, particularly sins of the flesh. These include adultery and homosexuality. However, the confession extended beyond the physical ways that people used their bodies; people were expected to also confess what were perceived to be improper thoughts. Thus, the church controlled sex mentally as well as physically. Add quote about

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