Sexuality is a vexed topic for many.  Encompassing a range of issues such as identity, belonging, and sensuality, it is as much about who we are as what we do.

Whether you view sexuality through a religious, moral or evolutionary perspective, it would be difficult to think of any more heavily regulated or socially controlled aspect of humanity.  Sexual expression varies widely in different cultures.  In some cultures, sexual activity and expression is actively encouraged, others define the “terms of engagement” as being within a “committed relationship” (whether this means the same thing to different people is an interesting point to ponder), whilst in other cultures, limited polygamy is accepted as the norm.

Whatever the perspective, human beings are naturally inquisitive, explorers and learners.  In western cultures the pressure to control these aspects of humanity have been intense.  The freedom that younger generations now expect meets with the strongest disapproval of many because the links between sexuality and permanent “pairing off” has been significantly undermined.  One has to ask why this is s

If viewed from a religious or moral perspective the answer is apparent.  These frameworks are based on a clear framework of “right” or “wrong” with arguments that they relate to the greater social good.  However dearly held these beliefs are, they are still a relative view of human experience.  Moralists and theologians either deny or condemn natural human curiosity and experience when it leads to activity (or even thoughts!) outside their particular framework.  They will at times even call on the principles of survival of the species to support their case.  For example,  “It’s unnatural! It undermines the social survival of humanity!”

However, if calling on the principles of survival to justify a position, one needs to take a more holistic view of evolution in both a biological and social sense.  In evolutionary terms, humans have evolved to meet the demands of their environment, including the social environment.  Humans bring with them a range of personal and sexual dispositions, which presumably have some purpose in terms of survival of the species.  It is naïve to think that sexuality is an “optional extra” that can be turned on or off at will.