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With the recent conviction of sex killer Robert McCarry,[edited] isn’t it time we asked ourselves how such people ended up on trial for such horrific crimes. Infidelity, casual sex, abortion and teenage pregnancy are also rife in Britain, not just in modern times but in the past where much more was “hushed up”. Is there something wrong with how we as a society approach the issue of sex?
Many of the taboos surrounding this issue are brought about by religious “traditionalists”, who view sex as an “animalistic” function purely for the procreation of offspring. This is closely linked to the economic system, as a “legitimate heir” is needed for the passing on of earthly wealth. In fact, a better way to view sex is a “spiritual union” between two lovers. On the other side of the coin is the multi-billion-dollar pornography industry, which again brings sex down to a low level of cheap thrills and ***. When combined, these two forces produce a moral maze that is almost impossible to navigate.
So how could we remedy these problems? Sex education tends to be “too little, too late”. It is a myth that pre-pubescent children have no sexuality. Most often, they experience feelings that they are unable to describe. It is somewhat ironic, that in order to preserve a concept of “innocence”, we force children to harbour feelings of guilt and shame.
The issue of homosexuality also needs to be discussed early. Humans have a mixture of male and female hormones, so it follows that very few people are entirely straight or gay. To have some attraction to the same sex does not necessarily mean that one is a homosexual. Society tends to force people into masculine and feminine roles, ignoring the other part of the personality- again, this can lead to pent-up emotions and confusion.
The “age of consent” law is inflexible as it criminalises natural sexual experimentation amongst teenagers- threat of prosecution can deter people from seeking proper advice on issues such as contraception. It also fails to give proper protection to immature older teenagers. A sensible move would be to reduce the age of consent to thirteen in cases where there is little difference between the physical and emotional maturity of the partners, and increase it to eighteen in cases where there is.
Finally, the whole concept of prostitution needs to change. It is perfectly legitimate for people, especially the disabled, to want to improve their sexual confidence and technique in a safe environment without emotional ties. This service needs to be carried out by professionally qualified personnel who work with their client towards the goal of forming their own sexual relationships.
What I am suggesting is not anti-marriage or anti-family. A more open and informed attitude to sex would surely improve monogamous relationships by equipping partners with more “tools” to make their marriage work. more on 21st century politics at www.positiveparty.blogspot.com
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