America is something of an anomaly in the world. As a culture, we continually bombard ourselves with sexual imagery, yet we find it difficult to have national conversations about anything of a sexual nature (see the
#metoo movement). Today, Americans are more sexually open than ever before, but stigmas persist about everything from premarital sex to masturbation to promiscuity. Many view these as the vestiges of our country's Puritanical roots. Considered overly radical and pious,
the Puritans fled England, settling in North America in the 1600s. They brought with them their particularly stringent style of Christianity. The Puritan view of sex was complicated
—while they were decidedly pro-sex, so long as it happened within the
confines of a marriage, sex outside of marriage was harshly punished, especially for women. Many of the Puritans' stern views of adultery, homosexuality, and promiscuity linger today, particularly among Evangelicals. Just consider their influence in national matters, such as same-sex marriage, contraception, sexual education, transgenderism, and abortion. For better or worse, the Puritans shaped the modern American sexual psyche. So today, Americans consume more pornography than anyone in the world, yet proposals for a national, comprehensive sex education program are met with fierce opposition. Few countries can encourage females to embrace their sexuality only to "slut shame" them when they do so, but we do. With such dichotomous views of sex, how is America to reconcile its 21st century sexuality with its 17th century upbringing?
Include at least two of the following in your discussion:
Required:
- MLA Style
- 250 words (one page)
- Works cited
Due: Tue 4.29 (Note the Monday due date)
