RobJockLondon
Admired Member
I have only just come back to this thread, after my last comments back in May. Very interesting indeed, I think the thread has shown its relevance and stayed alive. If I could only add a couple of comments, however, with regards to comments I have seen:
- Male-to-male sexuality, being uncomplicated and just like a "release";
- Female sexuality, at the opposite, being inextricably linked to the realm of feelings.
From my perspective, yes and no on both accounts.
Yes, because, even though it's impossible to generalise, both can be seen as a fair reflection of how we approach matters such as gender, biological differences, sexual choices and so on.
No, because I don't think it fully reflects the fact that we now live in a post-patriarchal society. During the 20th century two factors have significantly reduced gender disparity : 1) physical strengh (where male had been advantaged) is no longer a decisive factor in order to be able to protect and provide for one's family; 2) the contraceptive pill, has allowed women to separate sexuality from reproduction and freed them from the implications of yearly pregnancies. Obviously the biological differences remain - we can't deny, for example, that pregnancy and menopause still influence women in society. However, even if our culture is still permeated by patriarchal notions, gender equality is now tangible.
So if it is true that the need for gender role differentiation in society has reduced, it is only to be expected that this impacts the traditional notions of masculinity and femininity. Those same traits that, from an evolutionary perspective, favoured a physically strong male so that he could feed and protect his family; or a consistent and empathic female, tasked with the practical and emotional stability of the family and the survival of the offsprings - well, they may no longer be that significant or relevant.
We are already seeing younger men in society starting to converse a lot better with love and feelings - they may well decide that the traditional "transactional" approach to their sexuality is no longer adequate. Maybe there is something more interesting than just getting off. On the other hand women for decades now have managed their fertility and found a new dimension to their sexuality that goes beyond reproduction or ensuring the family unity.
With gender role differentiation in society reducing and perceptions of masculinity and femininity changing - what will happen to sexual choices ? I guess the straight, homo, bi tags will become less and less relevant because we will progressively realise that those classifications are just facets of what is present in each of us. Hopefully we will learn become conversant and accepting of the human sexuality spectrum; bearing in mind that this is a dynamic process, which canes with us as we mature and come in contact with new stimuli. Ideally we would learn to focus on the person we are attracted to, allow ourselves to experience emotional connection or even sexual attraction independently from their gender or their sexuality.
- Male-to-male sexuality, being uncomplicated and just like a "release";
- Female sexuality, at the opposite, being inextricably linked to the realm of feelings.
From my perspective, yes and no on both accounts.
Yes, because, even though it's impossible to generalise, both can be seen as a fair reflection of how we approach matters such as gender, biological differences, sexual choices and so on.
No, because I don't think it fully reflects the fact that we now live in a post-patriarchal society. During the 20th century two factors have significantly reduced gender disparity : 1) physical strengh (where male had been advantaged) is no longer a decisive factor in order to be able to protect and provide for one's family; 2) the contraceptive pill, has allowed women to separate sexuality from reproduction and freed them from the implications of yearly pregnancies. Obviously the biological differences remain - we can't deny, for example, that pregnancy and menopause still influence women in society. However, even if our culture is still permeated by patriarchal notions, gender equality is now tangible.
So if it is true that the need for gender role differentiation in society has reduced, it is only to be expected that this impacts the traditional notions of masculinity and femininity. Those same traits that, from an evolutionary perspective, favoured a physically strong male so that he could feed and protect his family; or a consistent and empathic female, tasked with the practical and emotional stability of the family and the survival of the offsprings - well, they may no longer be that significant or relevant.
We are already seeing younger men in society starting to converse a lot better with love and feelings - they may well decide that the traditional "transactional" approach to their sexuality is no longer adequate. Maybe there is something more interesting than just getting off. On the other hand women for decades now have managed their fertility and found a new dimension to their sexuality that goes beyond reproduction or ensuring the family unity.
With gender role differentiation in society reducing and perceptions of masculinity and femininity changing - what will happen to sexual choices ? I guess the straight, homo, bi tags will become less and less relevant because we will progressively realise that those classifications are just facets of what is present in each of us. Hopefully we will learn become conversant and accepting of the human sexuality spectrum; bearing in mind that this is a dynamic process, which canes with us as we mature and come in contact with new stimuli. Ideally we would learn to focus on the person we are attracted to, allow ourselves to experience emotional connection or even sexual attraction independently from their gender or their sexuality.
