Theories: The Suppression Of Sexuality

Trong Tran
CSCL3456W
Imed Labidi
12/10/2011
The Suppression of Sexuality in Theories There are many theories and arguments that have been discussed and discoursed throughout history about sexuality. Many names and topics have been argued, confirmed, and denied dealing with the norms of hetero/homo sexuality. Ideologies of Michele Foucault, Judith Butler, Alfred Kinsey, and Cornel West have major theories behind different types of sexuality, all in which either agree or disagree with each other, that all of their theories and thoughts of sexuality play a significant role in shaping our cultures of sexuality, today. That, mainly combined, is the struggle to maintain all sexualities in a society and to cure all the abnormal behaviors of
Kinsey brought out the extremely constrictive repressive dimension of the ‘English-American’ tradition (page 213). One form of repression is that homosexuals and masturbators were penalized by the law in case of transgression. Kinsey defied these norms by doing extensive research into sexuality of heterosexuals, homosexuals, and children. Along with Foucault’s repressive hypothesis, Kinsey also believed that a hierarchy is the cause of this repression. The American legislations characterized all pre-marital, extra-marital or post-marital intercourse as abnormal and illicit… such names as rape, fornication, adultery… incest… or public indecency (page 213). Other acts like sexual contact with animals, homosexual acts, or anal sex by a married couple are deemed punishable. Masturbation was held in particular abhorrence. It was used as grounds for dismissal into the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in
Out of the three, you still get a showing for the suppressed sexuality of black women as being Aunt Jemima, the sexless nurturer. For the men there is Bigger Thomas – the mad and mean predatory craver of white women, Jack Johnson – the super performer, and Uncle Tom – the sexless side-kick of whites. You can see again that there is a suppression of sexuality for black men as well in Uncle Tom being sexless and the helper to whites. Cornel states it pretty clearly why black sexuality is being suppressed or feared by whites. The myths offer distorted, dehumanized creatures whose bodies… are already distinguished from the white norm of beauty and whose fearful sexual activities are deemed disgusting, dirty, or funky and considered less acceptable (page 120). The interesting about this topic is that while it is being virtually talked about as taboo in public spaces, it is rather interesting and more sought after behind closed doors. With many Americans suppressing black sexuality by viewing the idea with disgust, they are also seeing their own sexuality with disgust, therefore, suppressing their own sexuality as well. With black bodies being more on equal basis with white bodies, the demythologizing of black sexuality is still not