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Assignment 05

Gayle Rubin’s essay, “Thinking Sex: Notes for a Radical Theory of the Politics of Sexuality” presents her argument that several persistent features of thought about sex inhibit the development of a radical theory of sex (Bullock). She observes many assumptions in the western culture to prove her point further and to show how they end up limiting political discourse on sexuality in the United States. During the late nineteenth century, the United States and England had a period where sexuality, in some ways, was renegotiated. Powerful social movements were against prostitution and masturbation, especially amongst the young, and encouraged chastity. On top of that, morality crusaders targeted public dancing, music halls, birth control information, abortion, nude paintings,  etc. Unfortunately, the consequences of these “moral paroxysms” still profoundly influence society, such as leaving deep imprints on people’s thoughts on sex, sex law, medical practice, child-bearing, etc (143-144). In result of all of this, masturbation is still seen as an unhealthy practice with myths that it could affect the health and maturation of a child, lead to insanity, or be a hindrance to growth. Although the horrific techniques to keep young ones from masturbation have been left behind, there are still social and legal structures which do not allow for minors to gain sexual knowledge or experience (144). Not only was prostitution and masturbation being targeted during this era [especially just before and after World War II], with laws being passed against such things, but soon the focus started to shift to “homosexual menace” or the code ‘sex offenders’ [but also including rapists and child molesters]. Once the public began to “worry”, an epidemic of sexual psychopath laws were passed through state legislatures, giving more police powers to psychological professions over homosexuals and other sexual deviants (145). Homosexuals and other erotic communities were persecuted and became objects of witch hunts and purges, with the help of executive orders, congressional investigations, and media exposures supported by the government. More than thousands had lost their jobs due to this, and till this day there are still restrictions on federal employment of homosexuals (145). Such anti-homosexual movements are the most documented examples of sexual suppression and erotic repression from the late nineteenth century which sadly still affects how society thinks today.