HDFS202 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Human Sexual Activity, Self-Actualization, Sexual Intercourse

• School: University of Delaware
• Department: Human Development and Family Studies
• Course: HDFS202
• Professor: Bahira Sherif Trask

Document Summary

Socially approved: sexual intercourse within marriage, in moderation, and mainly to have children. Socially disapproved: all other activities including acts between persons of the same sex, masturbation, oral sex, etc. Any of the latter was sinful but did not identify the person. People"s sense of self not tied into sex acts. Had been taboo / became highly controversial. Early in marriage men more interested in sex than their wives. Later - women more interested in sex than their husbands. Individuals participate in a wide spectrum of sexual behaviors. 1970s - birth control pill, women in labor force, legalization of abortion. 1980s - aids - decrease in sexual activity. 17% men and 3% women have had sex with more than 21 partners (highest number 1,016 man / 1,009 women) Increase in sexual activity outside the context of long-term relationships. Public display of sexually oriented goods, services, and advertisements.