Sex and Civilization

Human nature has many components but it’s safe to say that the drive to reproduce is easily the strongest.  That, of course, only makes sense.  Without it, the human species would not have survived after the creation of Adam and Eve.

Yet like every trait, it has its negative as well as positive aspects.  Ancient civilizations – to modern have struggled to control its excesses and confine its exercise to positive ends defined usually as serving the needs of children with in a family structure… monogamous in the Western world.

But, historically, civilizing sexual relations has hardly met with unmitigated success.  Still, broad swaths of mankind have followed the restraints imposed by their particular societies; those resisting generally were ostracized (at least publicly).

So now it’s 2017 in America and it seems as though the dam of restraints on sexual misconduct has collapsed as the River of Improprieties carrying Harvey Weinstein, Al Franken, Roy Moore, etc. cascades down a ravine.

What happened?  Has such conduct (ranging from verbal harassment to serious non-consensual sexual contact) simply been present to the same extent as it always has but now is receiving more publicity?  Certainly the prominent allegations concern not recent activities, but go back a decade or more.

Nonetheless, it’s worth noting – perhaps persuasively so – that the weakened civilizing aspects of our society pertaining to sexual mores may bear some, if not the bulk of, responsibility.

Let me be blunt – it is the male – far more than the female – who is inclined to take advantage of the opposite sex.  Thus, it is the male who has felt the societal restraints most keenly. 

Without doubt, restraints have loosened in recent decades.

                   *** Extra marital sex has exploded.

*** Marriage rates, formally the only acceptable setting for sexual relations, have declined dramatically as often temporary co-habitation arrangements are on the increase.

*** Birth control pills have removed concerns over unwanted pregnancies, making many more willing participants in what used to be termed illicit sex.

*** The popular view that women are on the same sexual plane is now making females more vulnerable to men who, by nature, are more aggressive.

And we wonder that men – some, at least – are out of control?

Does the phrase “unintended consequences” come to mind?