Cultural norms are the rules and expectations that societies establish about how their members should behave, and they vary greatly across different cultures and eras, influencing people’s sexuality. For example, in many Western cultures, there is greater openness towards the expression of sexuality and diverse sexual orientations. This contrasts with cultures where sexuality is a taboo, and traditional norms dictate very specific and restrictive behaviors: sexuality is framed either as a context for procreation and marriage or as self-expression and the pursuit of pleasure, depending on where you are reading from.Within the framework of globalization and the cultural exchange that creates ongoing dialogue about sexual norms worldwide, access to information and interaction between cultures can challenge and enrich traditional perspectives. This can promote greater intercultural understanding and, in some cases, lead to a gradual change in norms and attitudes towards sexuality. It is important to recognize that cultural norms are not static; they evolve over time in response to social, political, and technological changes. Thus, when considering how cultural norms affect sexuality, it is essential to adopt a perspective that allows understanding and respecting different cultural realities without imposing a single model of behavior.The scholar Michel Foucault, in his work "The History of Sexuality," argues that sexuality is deeply intertwined with power and knowledge in societies. Sexual norms are not universal but are socially constructed and evolve over time in response to changes in power structures. Hence, it is pertinent to ask myself and you, who holds the power? Social and individual power.
Visit Kaith Ferrer's Chat Room
About the author