The Role Of Sex In Today's Society

Superior Essays
There has been a dramatic shift in the understanding of sex and its place in society in modern times. This shift involves the meaning and role of sex in today’s changing world. To say that we live in an era where the understanding of sex is skewed in favor of a utilitarian and individualized concept, is simply to state the obvious (Woodhead 1997, 98-99). The axiom, “sex is fun” has become the popular slogan that drives sexual activities among the young, as well as the old. And so, whenever the fun disappears, the relationship is brought to an abrupt end and the individuals move on to the next person they think can provide the needed fun. In the mist of all the distorted interpretations of the role and place of sex in today’s society, the …show more content…
For example, when couples divorce due to infidelity, other people suffer from their action. People divorce for different reason, but I am focussing on adultery because it falls within the purview of sexual immorality. The emotional consequences of divorce, resulting from infidelity, affects children, who are mostly the one who pick up the “tab” of their parents adulterous action. According to David Novak, it is unfortunate that “the public recognition of rights [which] enables us to pursue our desires—minimally with legal impunity, maximally with social entitlement” (2010, 716) does not extend to children when it comes to divorce. He argues that there is “an overwhelming number of children [who] desire to be raised by their own mother and father, parenting in tandem as a married couple.” Whenever there is a divorce, the “natural right” of children to be raised by both parents is violated. Sad as it may, these children, whose natural right are violated has no legal recourse to “sue their divorced parents for home-wrecking.” Apart from children who are truly the immediate victim of any divorce, others who are affected are “grandparents, aunts and uncles, nephews and nieces, godparents and friends. A whole new realignment of relationships has to be negotiated on the breakdown of a sexual relationship—often at a great cost to all concerned” (Woodhead 1997, …show more content…
I discuss the reason(s) why Christian ethics advocate chastity for the unmarried, and fidelity for the married. Premarital sex could lead to unwanted pregnancy resulting in abortion. I highlighted the impact of divorce on children and their lack of legal means to hold their parents accountable for the pain and suffering they cause them. I also discuss why the utilitarian and the privatization notion of sex which promote individual interest—pleasure, above that of family, and community is unhealthy for the good of society. Prostitution is difficult to condemn on the utilitarian ground (Woodhead 1997,

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