FREE ESSAY ON SEXUALITY IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

SEXUALITY IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

James A. Dobbs
11/24/00
5. Sexuality in the Twentieth Century
Humanity is a long drawn out historical process. Somebody once said only that which is
without history can be defined. Sexuality is a substantial example of this. In his
lecture, Professor Simon argued that sexuality in the twentieth century has been
changeable. He draws many points about the variable of sexuality, and how it changes with
through the years. The Professor also lectures about how generations mend, and explains
how one generation can have great influence and impact on one another. Meaning that the
beliefs of a prior generation can give way to expansion and growth of even more different
ways of thinking. Complex and unchangeable sexuality draws from many different sources
such as tradition, culture, and fantasy.
One of the first points the Professor states is explaining how the body compares to
sexuality. Simons states that there have been many changes in sexual behavior. He claims
that the body is the constant. This is one thing that basically has remained the same
over throughout history only with minor changes. Noting that the variable is the behavior
of sexuality. Beliefs and attitudes have changed over the years, even more dramatically
recently. Sexuality needs to be examined in how it fits in everyday life, and how it is
shaped by everyday life. 
Different eras have proved to produce different beliefs on sexuality. The Professor tells
of many examples in his lecture. Lets focus on the twentieth century. Simons states that
a study was conducted in the twenties that proved that premariadal sex had almost doubled
from the years before. He then went into the explaining that this was due to society and
the industrial boom that was going on at this time. This in his opinion started to show a
change in attitude of a nation. People started to become more open of who they were and
their sexuality. Then he went to the 1950's and talks about the television shows that
were on at this time, and stated that the innocents that they displayed were the
expectation of the nation. He then moved into the 60's were two major things happened.
People were starting to come of age, and the sexual revolution broke out. Peace and free
love was everywhere. Professor Simons then moves into the 70's by telling a story of a
woman who wrote a letter to Ann Landers, and ask should she let her son who is coming
home with his girlfriend sleep in the same room. Landers replied to the lady by saying it
is your house you should do what makes you feel comfortable. Then in the 80's Ann Landers
was asked the same question, but this time gave more of a liberal answer. As shown, this
rarely ever happened in the past, and shows the changing of the times. Today, if you look
around you, people are more confident than ever. Women strive and often parallel men in
many categories today. Some people are even willing to accept homosexuality. This leads
to the future, which no one can predict. Although one could presume that nothing is
impossible and one day, maybe gays will even be accepted by everyone in their beliefs 
Sexual behavior is vastly different from the past, yet the act it self has not changed.
Sex is prevalent everywhere. On TV, in movies, ads, magazines, the extent to which sex is
discussed these days is never ending. I believe even the straightest of beliefs on
sexuality will be broken and broadened. One day, sex will be as common as the word food.
We all need it to survive.