Why is sex so taboo?

Question

What makes it such a touchy subject? It seems like nowadays everybody’s involved and Evolved.

MrOracle · Accepted Answer

Organized religion.

Sex was once openly celebrated, even religiously (temple prostitutes were a very real thing, but there were also religious sex festivals and orgy parties and so on), but there are always going to be people who seek power and who abuse it once they get it. I'm sure there was religious corruption in ancient times, but with the rise of the Catholic church and its Popes, you absolutely had popes who created rules and shifted interpretations to give themselves and the church power over people, and sex was one of the prime ways they did that. Knowing that virtually everyone desires and HAS sex, if you can control that, you can control people.

Originally, the church put controls on sex that were in the best interests of the people: pushing the idea of marriage, to help eliminate illegitimate children and to make sure there were usually going to be 2 parents to care for the children. But extending those laws further meant they could create "sin", which they could then create guilt about, and by being the gatekeepers of forgiveness, they had great power over believers, and given that kings across Europe were believers, they had great power over many societies.

Religions and religious off-shoots that followed all capitalized on this same model and used sex as one of a number of means to control their followers.

And the US was originally settled by what we'd today call religious fundamentalists - people who practiced extreme forms of religion, like the Quakers, Barkers, Amish, Huguenots, and so on. These extreme forms of religion were not very tolerated in Europe, which had Kings and Queens that were either Catholic or one of a couple of forms of Protestants, but less extreme versions of Protestants, and so those fringe groups left Europe and settled in "the new world" and effectively started the colonies that would become the USA. Yes, there were waves of moderate Europeans that followed, and diluted the extremism of those early settlers for the most part, but America has always had a more extreme and taboo view of sex than, say, Europe, as a result of those early settlers, and the effects are still felt today.

European movies, for example, have no problem showing nudity and sex in abundance, but they are less accepting of violence, while in the US, it's virtually the opposite, with movies far more likely to get restrictive ratings due to sex and far less from extreme violence - more fallout of those extremist early settlers.

TremorJay · Accepted Answer

I'm not sure what you mean? It couldn't be more taboo than American politics

Emii_69 · Accepted Answer

I have a unique perspective on this. I spend time each year in the USA, as well as in Japan. Western cultures are very prudish and close minded in general, especially when it comes to sex. I have some family in Atlanta, Georgia and I found out that there is still an old law on the books that makes it a crime for a man to recieve a blow job... even from his own wife! That law might not be enforced any longer, but it could be. This all comes from an outdated Puritan mindset. In Japan, very little is Taboo when it comes to sex... As long as it is consentual by all people involved. My sexual history would probably give the average American a heart attack if I told them. The average Japanese person would hardly raise an eyebrow. The so called "taboos" are mostly western prudishness.

AmandaYVR · Accepted Answer

It's really not taboo anymore. Some cultures, countries, societies are still trying to keep a tight lid on it. And mostly failing. People are people. Pleasure is pleasure.

Changiis07 · Answer

What do you mean exactly?

hahahmm · Answer

I wouldn’t say it’s taboo but it has consequences
1. As a man if you make your life all about chasing women you have an addiction. Men are judged for what they have built/achieved & putting too much energy into sex can detract from that. I heard the theory that in the old days men worked hard & did great things because (most of them) ultimately wanted the best women and that was how they got there. But now that you can get easy sex from women with zero energy or little energy the motivation is gone. Why work hard to get top grade women when you’re getting fat on fast food women? This is a side effect of feminism (sexual freedom for women). Yes, there were some women sleeping around in past times but nothing like today for the vast majority. Now women have body counts that look like used car odometers
2. Women (almost) never judge a guy negatively for having lots of partners. In fact it’s considered a plus usually. Otoh guys who are considered by women to be the best catches for serious do look at her body count - assuming he’s out of his 20s. This is why the woman who created Sex in the City renounced it when she got older & realized she wasn’t going to avoid the consequences of her sexual freedom now that she wanted a traditional dude.

boggboss · Answer

Its not lol

Kaneki05 · Answer

Sex isn't taboo? if it was taboo we wouldn't have a increase in population or it be very very low. And even then that's just for procreation nevermind for fun.

Reaperbot666 · Answer

due to religion sex was viewed as something only a married couple would preform. in order to reproduce and build a deeper bond together because the more sexual partners you have over the years. the harder time you end up having to bond with someone long term happens to both sides. was also long before DNA testing so if a female got pregnant. while not married she was often viewed as damaged goods. because her child would be viewed as a bastard who had no claim to early families fortunes.

AlexanderAnttila · Answer

Taboo, seriously? Rarely has society been so promiscuous.

DavidFox · Answer

I don’t think it’s taboo for most mature people. But as with most things when you get to the fringe or there is a hidden agenda it may seem taboo

pigoat · Answer

Even on porn webcam sites if you talk to the camgirl ab koi ut sex without having any money she will kick you out of the chatroom even though she is wearing sexy lingerie and is half naked  Lmao

RandomLoser · Answer

Women make it that way because women find sex disgusting. They hate the penis and fear its existence. That's why they're always screaming about how terrible rape is.

MysticDevice · Answer

I think it's because of how much influence religion and the church used to have on society. Now that religion is becoming less popular among the new generations, people are calling bullshit on the "save yourself for marriage" and "pleasure is a sin, its not YOUR body it belongs to JEEZUHS. You'll go to hell if y'all fornicate outside wed-lock." Think about it, there is WAY more sex on TV than there used to be.

oncpl · Answer

Yes it is taboo in theory only. If you are referring to sex talk, it is not appreciated i conservative societies, though practiced everywhere.

COMMODOREII · Answer

You still find those prudes who try to control or judge the rest of us who have chosen to live our lives our way and be ourselves. They do bit like it.

jasco · Answer

Religion, and the fact that most people had the mindset that sex is only used to make children and to make a bond instead of pleasure

InferiorElegy · Answer

Is it? Never thought it was.

bklynbadboy1 · Answer

Its not taboo with everyone I'm honest and open about it. I love sex and I'm not ashamed to say it

In_Trance · Answer

It's not taboo. It's everywhere

Valnac · Answer

Ever since Masters & Johnson announced that women can touch themselves without causing physical damage. The annual sales of sex toys has doubled and tripled and continues through today. There is nothing taboo concerning sex, except the antiquated laws on the books!