The document summarizes 6 concepts that inhibit the development of a radical theory of sex: 1) Sex essentialism views sex as determined by biology alone rather than being social/historical. 2) Sex negativity views sex as inherently dangerous/negative. 3) The fallacy of misplaced scale treats small sexual differences as major threats. 4) Acts are hierarchically valued with reproductive heterosexuality at top. 5) The domino theory fears permitting any non-standard sex will destroy barriers. 6) There is a lack of concept of benign sexual variation and insistence on a single sexual standard. These concepts rationalize privileging some groups while oppressing others.

1. Referred to Gayle Rubin “Thinking Sex”
Presented by Yi Xu
SWMS210

2. Sex ideological formations that inhit the
development of our radical theory of sex:
→ Sex essentialism
→ Sex negativity
→ The fallacy of misplaced scale
→ The hierarchical valuation of sex acts
→ Domino theory if sexual peril
→ The lack of concept of benign sexual variation
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3. Sex essentialism:
•definition: the idea that sex is a natural force based on
our biology.
•disadvantage: human sexuality is not comprehensible in
purely biological terms, but is constituted in society and
history.
•how this concept influences our lives: Psychological
differences and quantitative/qualitative differences
(strength, communication skills)between male and
female are often regarded as genetic difference. we are
always trying to explain these kinds of problems by
inherit variances.
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4. Sex negativity:
•definition: Western cultures generally consider sex to be a
dangerous, destructive, negative force.
•disadvantage: This culture always treats sex with
suspicion. Virtually all erotic behavior is considered bad
unless a specific reason to exempt it has been established,
for example, marriage, reproduction, and love.
•How this concept influences our lives: some teens hide
their sexual histories from their doctors should be
recognized for what it is: an unacceptable consequence of
the fear and stigma surround teen sexuality. And it should
be tackled at its roots in our sex-phobic culture, instead of
simply side-stepped through more testing.
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5. The fallacy of misplaced scale:
•definition: Everything pertaining to sex has been a
‘special case’ in western culture.
•disadvantage: Small differences in value or behavior are
often experienced as cosmic threats. Sexual acts are
burdened with an excess of significance.
•how this concept influences our lives: we put an over-
emphasis on sex, but specifically heterosexual sex. we
wouldn’t want to shake the heterosexual matrix or
reproduction. so those who are late to class, break an
appointment, or not show up for work with an exuse
related to their lovers, are easily to be forgiven, although
these behaviors are never excusable.
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6. The hierarchical valuation of sex acts:
•definition: Modern Western societies appraise sex acts according
to hierarchial system of sexual value.
•order: Marital, reproductive heterosexuals are at the top of the
erotic pyramid. Below are unmarried monogamous heterosexuals
in couples, followed by most other heterosexuals. Masturbation is
an inferior while transsexuals, transvestites, fetishists, sex
workers are in the lowest level of all.
•disadvantage: Popular sexual ideology is a noxious stew made
up of ideas of sexual sin, concepts of psychological inferiority,
anti-communism, mob hysteria, accusations of witchcraft, and
xenophobia. These hierarchies of sexual value rationalize the
well-being of the sexually privileged and the adversity of the
sexual rabble.
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7. Domino theory of sexual peril:
•definition: It expressed the fear that if anything is permitted
to cross this erotic DMZ, the barrier against scary sex will
crumble and something unspeakable will skitter across.
•disadvantage: Most systems of sexual judgment-religious,
psychological, feminist, on socialist-attempt to determine on
which side of the like a particular act falls. The further from
the line a sex act is, the more it is depicted as a uniformly
bad experience, but some behavior near the border, like
masturbation, unmarried couples living together, and some
forms of homosexuality, is moving in the direction of
respectability. This kind of sexual morality grants virtue to
the dominant groups, and relegates vice to the
underprivileged.
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8. The lack of concept of benign sexual variation:
•definition: sexuality now is supposed to conform to a
single standard.
•disadvantage: For religion, the ideal is procreative
marriage. For psychology, it is mature heterosexuality. It is
just as objectionable to insist that everyone should be
lesbian, none-monogamous, or kinky, as to believe that
everyone should be heterosexual, married, or vanilla. We
have to learn to cherish different cultures as unique
expressions of human inventiveness rather than as the
inferior or disgusting habits of savages.
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9. My personal idea on the sex ideology:
Although many of the sex ideologies were
inherited from the sex thoughts of nineteen’s
century. It does not mean that they are right and
they can not be regarded as traditions. . Instead,
we should get rid of the influence of improper
concepts. Oftentimes, these banal ideas only
lead us to form stereotypes of certain groups of
people, to afraid of different sex cultures, and to
be ashamed of talking about sex. These
behaviors obviously not good for us to build
healthy attitudes towards sex.
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