Robert Gray's Sex And Sexual Perversion

Robert Gray in “Sex and Sexual Perversion” makes an argument that “Which activities are and are not perverted will depend on what we ultimately discover the natural adaptive function of sexual activity to be, and this is a question whose answer must be given by the scientist who business it is to study such things.” (197). In this argument, Gray says that the perverted aspects of sexual activities are dependent upon the natural adaptive function of sexual activity, which Gray states are pleasure being derived from the activity or the act of easing sexual feeling. He goes on to discuss how an activity is sexual if there is sexual pleasure consequent. Thus, if an activity brings about sexual pleasure or relieves a sexual feeling, then it is an
Gray claims that sexual pleasure or relieving a sexual feeling can make an act a sexual act. Gray claims that rape is not a sexual act because it is not pleasure on both ends or not relieving of a sexual feeling for both individuals involved. I disagree and think that rape is a sexual act still. I agree that the victim of rape would not consider the act as pleasurable or a release of a sexual feeling; yet, the act is still a sexual act. Gray claims that the act could be considered sexual for one and not another on the basis of pleasure derived. How can copulation only be considered a sexual act for one of the partners involved. Intercourse is sexual, even if it is not pleasurable or releasing a sexual drive for all
Also, he states that “to uphold the claim that such practices are sexually perverted, it will be necessary to show that societies that encourage divergent sexual behaviors are, for that reason, substantially less viable than our own…, or that our own society, with its peculiar institutions, would be made substantially less viable, and not merely different, if it permitted or encouraged other sexual practices.” (Gray 198). I find fault in his argument do to the fact that a sexual act being perverted is focused on the effects to the society. I believe that the focus should be the effects on the individual, their relationships, their faith, etc. An act like having sexual intercourse with a person out of wedlock would have effects on the individual and their view on the importance of sex. If it is not being not a perverted sexual act to have sex with whomever and whenever, the meaning that God gave to sex is lost. When it comes to sexual activities in a relationship, it is a perverted sexual activity for one to sleep with other person than their spouse or to have an addiction to masturbation that takes away from their focus on their spouse or family. The perverted aspect of sexual activities should also focus on if the act if glorifying God or is it distracting the person from their relationship with God. Gray fails to consider the different spheres affected outside of society as