Sex Education

Polanco, Yohandra

K. Johnson
ENC 2135
22 March 2016

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Sex is a carnal desire that has been around for thousands and thousands of years. It is the
cause of human reproduction and enjoyment since the beginning of time. According to Heather
Whipps of Live Science, humans have been anatomically the same for about 100,000 years. This
suggests that if sex is enjoyed now then it was enjoyed just as much back then by our ancestors.
Humans are a form of species, which means that along with other species of animals we all have
sex as well. We do not know for sure if animals have sex to show love, instead of just for plain
reproduction. However, we do know that humans have sex to reproduce and show affection to
one another. It is even known to be a physical human need, just like sleeping, breathing and
eating. It is a normal thing that needs to occur to populate the earth, so why it is frowned upon in
certain circumstances is a good point to ponder upon. It has not always been frowned upon so
heavily by members of society. Sex is viewed as a taboo subject in modern day society which
limits the education of people and oppresses their self expression.
Slavery was and still is lightly touched upon by many teachers in the education system in
America, however, one thing is clearly purposely left out. No one mentions the brute sexual
exploitation of slaves by slave-owners. Sex Farms is the quite honest description of what a
plantation was truly like back then. According to Richard Macks, an enslaved man from
Maryland interviewd in 1937, slave-owners would purchase strong young men and developed
young girls with an attractive physique to breed more slaves on their plantations. One of a
slaves function was to give their master sexual pleasure whenever told to. Female slaves were
often assaulted and used by masters for their own bestial sexual desires. Many of them had no
choice but to accept their fate for fear of being killed or separated from their families. From these
forced sexual relationships many children were procreated by slaves and their masters. Not only
did these women suffer, but the children suffered as well in the hands of angry white wives.

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Besides the sexual abuse, slaves also endured the invasion of physical privacy. Male slaves were
bodily inspected and if they were underdeveloped they were castrated or resold. The average
male slave was expected to impregnate at least twelve women per year. There is history of a
slave who had more than 200 children as a result of this exploitation. Female slaves were forced
to begin having children at the age of thirteen and were often promised freedom if they had
fifteen children. This can probably be perceived as the root reason for why black women are
often fetishized in the media. The fact that this raw history of slaves, sex and rape culture is not
taught shows something about America and their education systems.
Women have been the ones most impacted by the concept of sex. Oppression of a human
being because of sex mostly started with the female gender. They are slut-shamed or shunned by
their families for losing their purity before marriage or at a young age. Patriarchal society also
plays a huge role. Since the beginning of time, it has pretty much been embedded in society that
men are the dominant ones. In movies and pornography, men are usually seen treating a woman
harsher or using her as a form of releasing frustration, therefore reinforcing the everlasting
oppression of women. Women are always being chastised for their sexual expression or strong
characters. Unlike men, who often proudly boast about their sexual conquests, women are
unfairly viewed as promiscuous bitches. This all also contributes to the rape culture that
currently exists. Men blame women for their provocative clothing and actions, thinking that
rape is then justifiable which is completely incorrect. They also get offended when women show
no interest in them, therefore creating the friend-zone concept. This is a weak attempt at
reassembling the pieces of their crushed egos and making women feel bad for their choices. This
same rape culture is supported by the creation of ignorance stemming from the lack of sex
education that we receive at school and at home.

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Most of societys judgment comes from their own insecurities and thoughts about sex.
Not many people are willing to share about their sex life and some even hide their secret desires
and fetishes while shaming others for their own sexual desires. However, in reality women and
men both have the absolute freedom to choose however many sexual partners or encounters they
want to have. No one needs to be judged for their free will and choices, instead they should be
taught about protection during sex and sexual safety. According to Dr. Marty Klein, the meaning
of sex is reinvented each time we do it anyways. Sex only gains meaning as we have it, meaning
that it can have a different meaning depending on who we experience it with.
According to Edward Shorter, a University of Toronto psychologist, cultural restraints
have had the biggest effect on sexual history throughout the world. Societys norms play a major
role in whether an individual decides to explore sex. They may fear judgment or exclusion
because of their sexual explorations and decisions. Religion and culture play major roles in why
sex is a taboo subject as well. The mention of sex is like a fine line that one is forbidden to cross.
Religion already acts as an oppressor but is even worse with the idea of sex. Throughout history,
virginity and marriage before sex has been a crucial determining factor in the way one is viewed.
One may be viewed as having no morals or respect for themselves. On the other hand, others
may just be afraid of sinning and the repercussions associated with it. People fear sin and people
fear God.
According to Jonathan Leeman, sex from a Christian point of view is between a married
man and woman. However, that perspective is pretty outdated because our current and future
generations are evolving and opening up their minds to marriage equality and sexual freedom for
all. This heteronormative view that most of society has affects millions of people. Not every one
fits the norm of a white heterosexual Christian man, but that does not mean they are not fit to live

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life just like everyone else. Not many people can even fit into that norm so why is it still held up
on such a high pedestal is beyond anyones imagination. This outdated view of sex not only
limits peoples education but oppresses many minority communities. For example, the LGBTQ+
community suffer from not only judgment but hate violence as well. According to Equality
Michigan, the rates of violence against this community has been consistent since 2013 and there
have been approximately 2,001 violent incidents reported all over the United States. The
National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs documents and reports these hate violence crimes
and incidents annually. The LGBTQ+ communitys voice is often diminished, causing it to be
hard for change and livelihood success to come to this group of people. It has been reported that
transgender women, people of color, and gay men face the highest risk of homicide. This means
a lot people not is it hard to be part of this community but it is also hard to be an African
American gay male or female. There is no way for this community to continue to safely express
their views if they are being murdered for who they are. They cannot change who they are nor
should they to accommodate to societys ignorant views. The only change that needs to occur is
the underrepresentation of the LGBTQ+ community in the media and the lack of acceptance in
this world.
In 1981, the first AIDS epidemic occur with the health deterioration of five previously
healthy young men. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention published a Morbidity
and Mortality Weekly Report in June of 1981 that described the rare infections these men had.
Soon doctors from all over the U.S reported similar cases. These symptoms of an extreme cancer
was being seen as a pattern in young gay males in New York and California and by 1982 the first
AIDS clinic opened up in California. Congressional hearings were being held to inform the
public about the outbreak and millions of dollars to the CDC. Soon enough the CDC began to

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report about females who had contracted AIDS as well. Later on, research was done which
supported the fact that the disease was sexually transmitted or contracted through exposure to
infected blood. Many debates occurred about how to deal with this epidemic and how to keep the
public safe from AIDS. By July of 1990, the government took a step forward towards equality
and fair treatment of those living with AIDS and other disabilities. Congress enacted the
Americans with Disabilities Act to prohibit discrimination against these people and since then
much research has been done to help them. This is just one horrible thing that humans endure
because of the lack of sex education and simple mother nature.
Jonathan Leeman believes that there are four existential observations of sexual
intercourse. Sex empowers an individual wholly: physically, spiritually, and emotionally. It can
be apart of ones identity and sharing a sexual experience with someone can leave someone
feeling like a piece of them is being given away. Sex is socially powerful and is used to attract
people through media, literature, art and more. The female body is highly sexualized but also
highly favored. It has become a sort of exploitation instead of beauty. Billions of dollars are
spent on advertising attractive people as a means for companies to sell their products. Sex is so
profoundly deep, that it can emotionally and physically devastate a person. Rape is a huge issue
in modern society and the victims are not to blame at all. They are left with all types of scars, but
the deepest ones are psychological. Lastly, sex divides at times, instead of uniting. Infidelity can
come in all shapes and sizes, but the most common form is through sexual intercourse with
someone else. Sex itself can divide not only partners, but whole families as well.

Sex during the 1800s began to be viewed more liberally because of the dense populations
of people living in close proximity indulging in it. By the late 1900s, birth control was
introduced and sexual intercourse took a new route for women. More women began to have sex

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for pleasure instead of procreation. There is a big difference between how a man experiences sex
physically, compared to a woman. A mans sex drive has much to do with their sexual clock,
the build up of testosterone, and sexual release. They are easily more aroused because of the
fluctuation of sperm production and the frequency of ejaculation. However, women do not have
the same physiological drive as men. According to Julianna Slattery of Focus on the Family,
hormonal fluctuation drives the female sex drive. A womans sexual desire is more connected to
her emotions, compared to some men who can have sex without emotional attachments.

Conclusively, sex is a scared or not so scared connection between two people, depending
on who you are. Some people take sex more seriously than others and that is okay, as long as
people have the liberty to express their feelings about it and are continuously educated. The lack
of sex education at educational institutions, in the household and in the media have caused much
oppression between different people. The LGBTQ+ community does not deserve to be
oppressed, and neither do women or anyone else. According to Dr. Klein, sex has no actual
meaning, but the idea that it does is understandable and creates an appreciation for it. Everyone
should have the freedom to have sex and openly discuss it as well. It is not a vulgar subject; it is
a basic human right that everyone is entitled to. It is not taboo, it is art and the purest form at
that. It is written about by authors and playwrights, which is complete freedom of press and
expression. Society should strive to educate people about sex to reduce disease, violence, rape,
and unwanted pregnancies instead of judging them for their sexual liberties.

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Works Cited
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Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and HIV-Affected Communities Released Today | Equality
Michigan." Equality Michigan. Equality Michigan, 2014. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.
Bunn, Curtis. "6 Startling Things About Sex Farms During Slavery That You May Not Know."
Atlanta Black Star. Atlanta Black Star, 26 Nov. 2014. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.
Gobry, Pascal-Emmanuel. "The Sexual Reaction." Patheos Inebriate Me. Patheos, 11 Feb. 2015.
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Heflick, Nathan A., Ph.D. "Why Is Sex so Taboo?" Psychology Today. Sussex Publishers, LLC,
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"Is Sex a Taboo Subject in Your House?" Child Rescue Network. Child Rescue Network, 2016.
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Klein, Marty, Dr. "The Meaning of Sex." Dr Marty Klein. 2016. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.
Leeman, Jonathan. "The Meaning of Sex." Canon and Culture. 29 Apr. 2015. Web. 17 Mar.
2016.
National Humanities Center. "On Slaveholders Sexual Abuse of Slaves." National Humanities
Center Resource Toolbox. National Humanities Center, 2007. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. "A Timeline of HIV/AIDS." A Timeline of
HIV/AIDS. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2011. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.
Whipps Heather. "A Brief History of Human Sex." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 27 July
2006. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.