Now that I’ve written a good amount on capitalism and our free market economy I thought I’d shift gears and talk on an entirely different topic. I have started a basic outline for a book on male sexuality, and I’ll write a bit on some of the topics the book plans to cover.
In many ways these posts will be as much about gender differences as male sexuality. Yet, in the long run I feel a practical discussion regarding male sexuality is really needed in our society. The dialogue regarding human sexuality has been dominated by feminist literature which rightfully has focused on feminine rather masculine sexuality.
The women’s movement has done much to enlighten and inform woman about their sexual life cycle, and its many stages. Feminists have dispelled many myths regarding female sexuality while bringing to light many issues which were previously ignored or hidden.
Male sexuality, however, has remained rather bound in myth and hidden. While most modern woman now openly discuss everything from their menstrual cycle to their g-spot and clitoris, men have remained fairly mute on their sex drive and sexuality.
In many families a young woman’s first menstrual cycle is recognized and cherished as a right of passage. Often times the budding of womanhood is celebrated with gift giving and hugs, or at least with supportive conversation. There are many families in which this celebration is held along gender lines leaving the men uncomfortable and out of the loop. Yes, and there are many families who do not recognize puberty and react to the first menstrual cycle with shame and secretiveness.
While many societies have ceremonies recognizing a boy’s right of passage into manhood our society does little to mark the passage. Most rights of passage have little to due with the biology of puberty but instead challenge a boy to be a man in a very task and role oriented manner. Initiates often have to prove themselves as a hunter or warrior, or endure some excruciating pain in order to be considered a man.
I’m not aware of any society that celebrates a young man’s first wet dream or his ability to have an ejaculation. In our society wet dreams and ejaculations are something seldom talked about in any other way than informational/biological. Men aren’t made to feel good about their sexuality and instead are quickly instructed to curb their sex drive.
In general a man’s sexuality is something he is supposed to curb and overcome. Most men aren’t taught to celebrate their sexual desires, but rather to view it as a temptation at best and a weakness in general.
In the next post I plan on discussing some of the ramifications of how our society deals with and denies a boy’s blossoming sexuality.
Jim