Sexual Politics: Sex Laws, Morality & Religion
Facts & Information on the Age of Consent, Abortion, Marriage, Sodomy & Prostitution Laws. Religious Taboos, Treatment of Women

The negative view of human sexual nature deriving from the Christian tradition needs to be rejected and a positive approach taken to the wholeness of human experience in giving and receiving love. (Vardy, 1997)

Introduction & Philosophical Summary

Hello and welcome to this webpage on sexual politics. As this sexuality section is a part of a larger philosophy website, we also have a very interesting webpage on political philosophy, market economics and utopia.

The central idea is that the best human society (utopia) will be founded on truth and reality. These necessary factors are not significant in the current system, as philosophy / metaphysics has failed to understand what is ultimately true (i.e. to understand physical reality). This failure has caused us to live in a time of relative cultural truths, without foundations, which allows societies to be based on our more primitive emotions (rather than reason / truth). The purpose of our website is to show that we can now deduce what reality is, therefore this 'utopian' ideal can be realised.

So how does this relate to sexual politics?

Politics is derived from the Greek words 'polis' which means community and 'poli' meaning many. Politics can be defined as the laws, methods and practices of group which makes decisions (i.e. a government over a community). The feminist, Kate Millet describes politics as:

"power structured relationships, arrangements whereby one group of persons is controlled by another." (Millet, Sexual Politics, 1971)

Sexual politics then refers to relationships between men, women and society concerning sexuality (gender roles, family, equal rights, child protection etc.) which results in cultural laws. In the past, sexual politics has been heavily influenced by religion and cultural myths. This website offers a new way of thinking about how we are to live and be governed, based upon truth, evolution and physical reality (rather than religious dogma).

We do not support an anarchistic, free society where people can do as they please. As humans we have evolved certain instincts (some of them unpleasant such as violence, rape etc) which need to be guided by truth and morality. Therefore laws of society are very important for humans to live wisely. They should be founded on what is good for humans (and ultimately what is good for nature / the environment which we are necessarily part of).

The impact of religion on sexual politics has contributed to a patriarchal society where men have 'dominion' or power over women. Although our societies have evolved over the past 2,000 years many of these ideas are still relevant today.

A new feminist movement (gather the women) aligns itself with the peace and environmental movement. It focuses on 'feminine principles' such as co-operation, harmony, emotional caring and nurturing to guide society rather than 'masculine principles' of aggression, reason, power and ego. To save the world from environmental disaster, mother nature needs to be loved and honoured rather than ruthlessly exploited. World military spending in 2006 is estimated to be 1.2 trillion dollars. 800 million people are starving, while 1 billion are overweight or obese. Would women run the world in this way?

While we agree this is a nice ideal in principle, ultimately it is knowing the truth about things which will allow us to live wisely. There is both good and bad aspects of male and female. Rather than the creation of a matriarchal society, the goal is to cultivate what is good in both sexes with the gentle guidance of truth so that we can live with greater peace and harmony.

The power relationship between men and women is inherently complex (we both have power in different ways). One way women have power is through their sexuality. It is interesting that Christian religion has traditionally degraded female sexuality - it is sinful and caused the downfall of Adam (man). This can be seen as the subjugation of women and their inherent power. From this new foundation of truth and reality, we hope women can now throw of the shackles of religious guilt and embrace their sexual power in moral and mutually beneficial ways.

Below you will find articles on current laws regarding sexuality, such as age of consent, gay and lesbians rights, pornography, censorship etc. The impact of religion on sexual politics is also explored. I will be adding comments over time to suggest ways our cultural laws regarding sexuality can be improved in the future based upon the truth of physical reality, evolution and the moral behaviour which results from this relationship.

Karene Jade Howie

Age of Consent Law

The age of consent is the age when you can legally have sex. This law is different in various countries, but generally is between 16 - 18. The law may vary if you are female, male or homosexual.

Read More: Table of the Legal Age of Consent in America

Sexual Politics: Gender, Feminism, Homosexuality & Pedophilia

From the essay: 'This article will develop a model of sexual politics by discussing the struggles over feminism and homosexuality, and then use the model to clarify the current political situation of pedophiles. Though the issues have shifted from the new woman, sodomy and masturbation in the early part of the century to current concerns with promiscuity, homosexuality and pedophilia, the general patterns of sexual politics have remained remarkably stable.'

Read More: An Essay on Sexual Politics: Gender, Feminism, Homosexuality & Pedophilia

The Obscenity Law, 1857

The Obscene Publications Act was introduced in 1857 by Lord Campbell, the Lord Chief Justice. Before this, the only law against sexually explicit material was King George III's 1787 Royal Proclamation 'For the Encouragement of Piety and Virtue, and for the Preventing and Punishing of Vice, Profaneness and Immorality'.

Major amendments to Act:

1954 - Convictions would not occur if the publication could be proved to be 'in the interests of science, literature, art or learning'.
1964 - The Act now covered wholesalers, or any person having an obscene article for publication for gain.
1977 - Erotic films were now covered as well as written material.
1994 - The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 carried an amendment to the Act that covered computer images.

Read More: The Obscene Publications Act, 1857

British Sexual Offences Bill: Indecent Exposure, Voyeurism, Consent

From the website: 'The British government introduced a new Sexual Offences Bill, in 2003. It has come up with a brand new set of sex rules that are destined to overturn many of the old laws. The bill proposes tougher laws on rape and child sex abuse. It also repeals offences such as buggery and gross indecency. And tightens up on non-consensual sex of all kinds.'

Read More: British Sexual Offences Bill: Indecent Exposure, Voyeurism, Consent

WomensLaw.org - Legal Information, Resources

From the website: 'WomensLaw.org provides easy to understand legal information to women living with or escaping domestic violence. The information on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. By reaching out through the Internet, we empower women and girls to lead independent lives, free from abuse.'

Read More: WomensLaw.org - Domestic Violence Legal Information, Support & Resources

Sexual Morality & Catholic Religion: The Sixth Commandment 'You shall not commit adultery'

An essay based upon the Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd edition) on sexual morality, the Sixth Commandment, chastity and offenses against chastity (masturbation, homosexuality, prostitution, pornography, fornication, rape, lust).

You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. What God has joined together, let not man put asunder. (Jesus, Sermon on the Mount)

Read More: Sexual Morality & Catholic Religion: The Sixth Commandment 'You shall not commit adultery'

Islamic Religion & Sexuality

Learn about the Islamic perspective of sex. An interesting read, even if you are not Muslim, to understand the impact of religion upon sexuality. Topics include sexual relations between husband and wife, sex education, oral, anal & vaginal sex, masturbation, circumcision, abortion, condoms, rape, flirtation, homosexuality, pornography etc.

Read More: Islamic Religion & Sexuality

Kandahar & Homosexuality: Religious Restrictions with Women, Greater Prevalence of Sodomy

From the website: 'Though rarely acknowledged, the prevalence of sodomy between Afghan men is an open secret. It might seem odd to a Westerner that such a sexually repressive society is marked by heightened homosexual activity. Professor Justin Richardson, says it is precisely the extreme restrictions on sexual relations with women that lead to greater prevalence of the behavior.

Read More: Kandahar & Homosexuality: Religious Restrictions with Women, Greater Prevalence of Sodomy

Female Infanticide in India

Every year, thousands of baby girls in India are murdered by their own parents. Sociologists blame such killings on a widely held Indian belief that girls are an economic drain because families still have to pay expensive dowries at the time of their marriage.

Read More: Female Infanticide in India

First Amendment Protects Online Porn

From the essay: "Business was booming for the online adult industry in 1996 when President Bill Clinton signed a bill threatening the future of the cybercenterfold phenomena.

Called the Communications Decency Act (CDA), the law made it a felony offense to use the Internet for display or transmission of indecent material that could be seen by a minor. It was Congress' first attempt to regulate online pornographers, and the outcome foreshadowed a second attempt two years later.

Clinton had barely affixed his signature before the American Civil Liberties Union and American Library Association sued to block the CDA. A three-judge federal panel in Philadelphia said the law undermined free speech rights and ruled it unconstitutional. In 1997 the Supreme Court upheld that decision.

Undaunted, Congress tried again in 1998 to limit Web porn with the Child Online Protection Act (COPA), a law that prevented minors from accessing pornographic Web sites by requiring commercial site operators to impose electronic proof-of-age barriers. Violators would face up to six months in prison and a $50,000 fine.

Again the ACLU, this time accompanied by 17 other plaintiffs, challenged the law and in June of this year the 3rd U.S. Court of Appeals in Philadelphia upheld a lower court ruling that COPA violated the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech.

But Congress still isn't through trying to regulate the purveyors of porn. The next target is legislating restrictions on spam, a method some pornographers use to market their sites. A bill placing restrictions on spamming without providing a method of opting out of e-mail mailing lists was approved by the House in June and has yet to be considered by the Senate."

First Amendment Protects Online Porn
http://www.ldolphin.org/cyberporn.html - By Heather Stringer

Child Modelling & Photography Websites

A new bill in U.S. Congress designed to outlaw child sex websites would instead ban nearly all commercial photography of minors. Republican Mark Foley announced the proposal would ban websites featuring controversial images of nude preteen children.

Read More: Child Exploitation & the Internet: Too Broad a Ban on Child Models?

Virtual Child Pornography & the U.S. Supreme Court

From the essay: 'Child pornography is an exception to First Amendment freedoms because it exploits and abuses our nation's youth. The latest trend in that industry is 'virtual child' pornography which does not use real children or images of real identifiable children. When the object of desire is not a child, but merely a combination of millions of computer pixels crafted by a skilled artist, can the government ban this allegedly victimless creation?'

Read More: A Study of Virtual Child Pornography on the Internet & the U.S. Supreme Court

Computer Generated Child Pornography and the Law

From the website: 'Some countries, including Canada and Germany, prohibit 'virtual' child pornography in addition to the 'actual' variety. Virtual pornography comes in two forms: depictions in which adult models are made up to look like children, and artistic or computer simulations of children involved in sexual activity. Laws against virtual child pornography are controversial because they can cover a broad range of material, thus raising concerns about their impact on freedom of expression. In addition, the harm caused by virtual child pornography is less direct and obvious than that caused by actual child pornography.'

Read More: Computer Generated Child Pornography and the Law

Definition of Child Pornography and the U.S. Law

From the website: 'Displaying child pornography on the Internet is illegal in the United States. .. Title 18 of the United States Code governs child pornography. It defines child pornography as:

'any visual depiction, including any photograph, film, video, picture, or computer or computer-generated image or picture, whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means, of sexually explicit conduct, where -

(A) the production of such visual depiction involves the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct;
(B) such visual depiction is, or appears to be, of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct;
(C) such visual depiction has been created, adapted, or modified to appear that an identifiable minor is engaging in sexually explicit conduct; or
(D) such visual depiction is advertised, promoted, presented, described, or distributed in such a manner that conveys the impression that the material is or contains a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct ... '

Read More: Definition of Child Pornography, Adult Websites and the Law

Sexual Offenders & Pornography: A Causal Connection?

The question of whether a connection exists between the availability of pornography and the prevalence of sex crime is an emotive one, canvassing as it does the issue of freedom of speech. As a result there has been, perhaps, a tendency to shoot the messenger, ignore the research or express concern while at the same time opposing censorship and not being particularly helpful in suggesting alternative remedies.

'Pornography has been so thickly glossed over with the patina of chic these days in the name of verbal freedom and sophistication that important distinctions between freedom of political expression (a democratic necessity), honest sex education for children (a societal good) and ugly smut (the deliberate devolution of the role of women through obscene, distorted depictions) have been hopelessly confused.' (Brownmiller, 1975)

Read More: Sexual Offenders and Pornography: A Causal Connection?

The main sexuality pages on the evolution of our diverse sexual behaviors have good content and are well worth browsing (see links at top of page). And the list of related sexuality terms that people actually search is informative (to say the least!).
Want to be Involved? Join us in this research, which provides an excellent opportunity to present to the world the latest knowledge about the thing we all find most interesting - sex! The work will not just benefit humanity, it will profoundly enhance your own sexuality as you learn more about our complex and diverse sexual evolution.
We seek help in finding the latest scientific (evolutionary) research on our biological and cultural sexual evolution and distributing content (overviews / summaries) to relevant pages.
This site is well respected. We are listed as the Top Philosophy Website on the Internet with around 500,000 page views each week. So your contributions will be seen and read, and will be providing humanity with a great source of wisdom about a very important subject (that currently suffers due to cultural / religious myths).

If you would like to be involved (or have comments about this website) please write to us using the form lower on this page. Many thanks! Karene

Analyse any human emotion, no matter how far it may be removed from the sphere of sex, and you are sure to discover somewhere the primal impulse, to which life owes its perpetuation. ... The primitive stages can always be re-established; the primitive mind is, in the fullest meaning of the word, imperishable. ... Mans most disagreeable habits and idiosyncrasies, his deceit, his cowardice, his lack of reverence, are engendered by his incomplete adjustment to a complicated civilisation. It is the result of the conflict between our instincts and our culture. (Sigmund Freud)

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Politics, Laws, Religion, Sexual, Morality, Age of Consent, Marriage, Abortion, Chastity Belt, Prostitution, Sodomy, Taboos