Normal Sexual Behavior Essay

725 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Representation of gender in media

Normal sexual behavior can be defined as sexual acts that society deems acceptable. This includes heterosexual sex and the absence of foreign objects. Our society’s views and perceptions of what normal sexual behavior includes continues to evolve. Additionally, there is an understanding that abnormal sexual acts should remain private to void judgement and ridicule. It appears that normal sex is sex that is acceptable. But, what is acceptable? The more I consider answering this question, I understand that defining normal sexual behavior is relative. For me, normal sexual behavior is sex that is safe and happens between people of consenting ages. Over time, the introduction of objects, elements of pain, and role playing are becoming more …show more content…

However, I decided to truly consider defining normal sexual behavior from my personal perspective. As stated earlier, normal sexual behavior ultimately can be defined as what society says is appropriate. However, I accepted the challenge to arrive at the definition based on my opinion and perspective of what normal sexual behavior means. This assignment requires one to truly consider how they view sexual behaviors and where those views began. However, as a student, it is also important for me to understand how my views differ from respected professionals in the field who generate definitions. Yarber & Sayad (2010) states that normal sexual behavior is sexual behavior that falls within societal norms (pg. 21). My sexual attitudes, values, and behaviors are continuing to evolve. Over the past two years, I have desired to increase my sexual maturity. Previously, I held that individuals who were open to exploring sexual behaviors were freaky. Currently, I have a strong willingness to become comfortable with exploring various avenues of sex. When seeking to understand if my sexual attitudes, and behaviors are linear to the norm, I believe they are consistent with each other. The evolution of society’s norms regarding sexual behavior are similar to my changing …show more content…

However, they may be uncomfortable with being open and honest about their desires and experiences. For example, if a woman wants a simultaneous experience with a woman and a man, she may be embarrassed to disclose her desire. The fear comes from judgment and ridicule of desiring an experience that society may deem abnormal. Moreover, women engaging in personal stimulation like masturbation, is viewed as abnormal. However, many women find pleasure in engaging in sexual behaviors in an individualistic

Show More
Related

  • Doing it: The Social Construction of S-E-X

    1812 Words  | 4 Pages

    Since the dawn of man, sex has played a crucial role in society. Before they learned to read or write humans were engaging in sex and without it none of us would be here. In today’s society, sex has grown to become much more complicated. If I were to ask a group of people on the street what they believed sex was? I bet they would have a hard time answering. The question puzzling society today is how do we define sex? Can we define sex? These are questions raised in Tracy Steele’s article “Doing it: The Social Construction of S-E-X”. This article is about the current questions and issues that have been raised about sex within today’s society. In this paper I will summarize the key points of the article, while sharing my own thoughts and opinions of Steele’s findings.

    Read More

  • Critical Analysis Of An Anthropological Look At Human Sexuality

    1241 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the article “An Anthropological Look at Human Sexuality” the authors, Patrick Gray and Linda Wolfe speak about how societies look at human sexuality. The core concept of anthology is the idea of culture, the systems of attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors people acquire as a member of society. The authors give an in depth analysis on how human sexuality is looked at in all different situations.

    Read More

  • Symbolic Interaction Theory On Abortion

    1010 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Symbolic-Interaction Theory explains how everyone in a society views sexual behavior differently than others. Some cultures are more relaxed than others about sexuality and time also plays a factor in a societies viewpoint. Over a century ago, it was not acceptable to marry a woman who was not considered a virgin, but this did not always apply to males. This slowly changed due to birth control which changed how people viewed sex. Society is more tolerant of sexual activity, but some still consider sex before marriage

    Read More

  • The Victorian Sexual Movement In The Victorian Era

    1783 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...am Victorian society, sexual liberalism transformed the ways in which people arranged their private lives. Shifting from a Victorian environment of production, separate sexual spheres, and the relegation of any illicit extramarital sex to an underworld of vice, the modern era found itself in a new landscape of consumerism, modernism and inverted sexual stereotypes. Sexuality was now being discussed, systemized, controlled, and made an object of scientific study and popular discourse. Late nineteenth-century views on "natural" gender and sexuality, with their attendant stereotypes about proper gender roles and proper desires, lingered long into the twentieth century and continue, somewhat fitfully, to inform the world in which we live. It is against this cultural and political horizon that an understanding of sexuality in the modern era needs to be contextualized.

    Read More

  • The Myth Of The Black Rapist Essay

    1174 Words  | 3 Pages

    Over the past couple centuries that the United States has existed, society has always had a judgement to make on one’s sexuality. At the head of society has consistently been white, Christian, hetereosexual males; therefore, they had the power to define sexual and societal norms. As a result, judgements on one’s sexuality have always intersected with one’s race, class or gender, groups of people that are not dominating society.

    Read More

  • The Five Sexes Revisited Summary

    698 Words  | 2 Pages

    I believe that the reasoning behind our society’s strong need to maintain sexual dichotomy is the fact that if it changed it would contradict a long- established belief of what is considered normal. She cites Anne Fausto- Sterling saying “are genuinely humanitarian, reflecting the wish that people be able to ‘fit in’ both physically and psychologically” (183) as she stresses this it revels that doctors are making a decision to try and help children fit in to what is considered ordinary or usual as talked about in “The Five Sexes, Revisited” and now

    Read More

  • Legalizing Prostitution

    2503 Words  | 6 Pages

    Milstein, Susan A. Taking Sides Clashing Views in Human Sexuality. Ed. William J. Taverner and Ryan W. McKee. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009. Print.

    Read More

  • Sexuality Is Gendered Essay

    1580 Words  | 4 Pages

    Sexuality is a fundamental part of our self-discovery, involving much more than just being genetically or anatomically male and female and it is not defined solely by one 's sexual acts (Ministry of Education 1989, p.79 cited in Gourlay, P 1995). The notion that sexuality is fixed and innate disregards the social aspects that impact ones’ sexualities. Gagnon and Simon (1973) further commented that sexuality is a feature of social

    Read More

  • How Sexuality is Socially Constructed

    2048 Words  | 5 Pages

    From birth, one's sexuality is shaped by society. Cultures institute behaviors that are to be seen as the societal norms, which work to constantly reinforce societal expectations of how genders should act in relation to one another. Although some may argue that one's sexuality is an innate characteristic resulting from genetic makeup, there is a large amount of evidence pointing to its social construction instead. Through the power differences between males and females, established gender roles, and drastic economic shifts, society establishes sexuality and reinforces the behaviors that are expected of its citizens.

    Read More

  • Analysis of The Transformation of Intimacy by Anthony Giddens

    792 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... decades ago. This book is one that will allow the reader to view many aspects of sexuality from a social standpoint, and apply it to certain social attitudes in our society today, these attitudes can range from the acceptance of lesbian and gays, and the common sight of sex before marriage and women equality. The new era of sexuality has taken a definite "transformation" as Giddens puts it, and as a society we are living in the world of change in which we must adapt, by accepting our society as a changing society, and not be naive and think all the rules of sexuality from our parents time our still in existence now.

    Read More

  • Erectile Dysfunction

    2690 Words  | 6 Pages

    Today’s society is a sexual playing field. Celebrities on television and movies, models on the covers of magazines, and even politicians have become sexual legends in the map of American society. The issue of sex is publicly discussed, on media and otherwise, and as such, it has become, to a great degree, a measure of self-worth. Issues such as breast size, penis size, and sexual stamina have flooded the American public with the idea that one is defined by how sexually appealing s/he is.

    Read More

  • Sex Research Proposal

    746 Words  | 2 Pages

    We expect the results of this study to agree with our hypothesis. After comparing the scores for all three measures for both men and women, we expect to see a decrease in the desire for sexual variety for men in all three measures and no change in sexual variety for women after close relationships. According to the research presented at the beginning of this proposal, we have found that men and women do differ in their desire for sexual variety, but because they share similarities in their relationship values, men are affected by close relationships.

    Read More

  • Friends with Benefits Relationships

    1785 Words  | 4 Pages

    Sprecher, S. (1989). Premarital sexual standards for different categories of individuals. Journal of Sex Research, 26, 232-248.

    Read More

  • Asexuality Essay

    1739 Words  | 4 Pages

    One of the earliest proposed definitions of asexuality came from the famed Alfred Kinsey in 1948, who called it “a lack of sexual behavior associated with a lack of sexual response to erotic stimuli” (Houdenhove, “Asexuality” 1). Later re-definitions include “a lack of sexual behavior associated with a lack of sexual desire” in 1977, “a lack of sexual orientation” in 1980, “a lack of sexual behavior” in 1993, and “a lack of sexual desire or excitement” in 2007 (Houdenhove, “Asexuality” 1; Yule 1). It was not until 2016 that researchers recommending using the definition that asexuals had been using to define themselves (which had also undergone some modifications), describing asexuality as “a lack of sexual attraction” (Houdenhove, “Asexuality” 1). It is interesting to note that all of these definitions define asexuality as “a lack of ______”, as it implies that there is something that asexuals are missing and that they are not complete, but the currently used definition at least describes the phenomenon in a way that is satisfactory to almost all who discuss asexuality.

    Read More

  • The Sexual Person I Am Today

    1823 Words  | 4 Pages

    How did I become the sexual person I am today? This is a question I have never asked myself before. It was not until writing this essay that I realized how I have been influenced, how I have grown and have become the sexual person that I am today. I came to realize that I was influenced by a variety of factors throughout my lifetime. Some of these factors include family values and expectations, social media, friends and personal experiences. These are all important to me because they shaped my way of thinking and how I felt about sex and its meaning.

    Read More

More about Normal Sexual Behavior Essay

Open Document