Sexual Morality and Gender Roles play an important role in the way individual’s debate in today’s world. Many believe their actions are based on religion, while others develop their actions due to the social normality present in the world. Children are raised to only believe that gender encounters only two types: males and females. But the truth is, there are many more gender characteristics that describe these two that people don’t find out until their later years. Back in the day, people around the world did not believe in other genders but today that time has officially revised to the opposite. The differentiating change in culture has also created a lasting impact on the minds of the masses. Sexual Morality should in fact not be enforced either before marriage or after because in the time today individuality plays an important role in the processes. Pre-marital sex is in fact a moral choice, and should be decided on the respective individual at hand.
When discussing the idea of pre-marital sex, an individual should personally hold the key to conduct any action they wish in their lives. All discussions in my mind were revolving around the significant idea of individuality. The main notion of identity is noticed as being very important to human beings today coming form all walks of life. The definition of identity is closed related to the qualities, beliefs, agendas that make up an individual/certain group. By having an identity you are automatically differentiated by others around you who don’t follow the same “path” sort of speak as your or your group might. Our identity is generally noticed as a “part of human life” where it distinguishes one individual form the others based on basic principles. Our identity today is noted as being a “simple illusion” where our actions in the future make up generally how we are to be perceived in the world. If our identity somehow vanishes, this can result in severe depression targeting an individual/group, which can only be maintained with medications and therapy. Identity is necessary to determine where we actually belong in the world, and that we aren’t complete strangers to each other. We need an identity to make sure that we aren’t lost, but we are positioned in the right place, at the right time to ensure our positive safety and well being. By having an identity, one can actually practice pre-marital sex in his or her own confines, without being subjected to any harsh rule or punishment.
The concept of gender has been differentiated throughout the history of the human-race ever since the era of thinking. Many say that gender is “socially-constructed” because of where we live in today. We as humans create “gender” from our daily actions/interactions with others. Philosophers and Sociologists who believe in this theory argue that gender roles are constantly being created by our society and the culture we follow. These roles are believed to be appropriate for each gender to follow in their lives daily routines. Many sociologists today have argued that the term gender is a social performance done by humans instead of stating it is as a biological fact. To clarify the term of gender being socially constructed is how society groups people. For example, society tells you if you are a man or woman regardless of what you “choose to be” in the future. Our society has established cultural laws long ago for men and women, and what they should do. To perform gender we follow the laws of the culture presented to us such as men are considered “manly” and have to do all the handy-work. But since the 1960’s the role men usually have, has slowly shifted toward women to become the sole providers for the family. Today there are many men who are “stay-at-home dads” while their wives work 9-5 jobs and provide all the necessities for the family. As this argument is further explored by Heidi Hartmann, “the family” itself is differentiated by gender, class, and its political struggle. Through history, the social stance of women has been in a derogatory setting, where men are constantly oppressing women. As the author dives into the rise off female authority in the world, Hartmann creates a sense that if this idea continues to successfully thrive, then there would be no oppression because everything would be based on equality and production. As more women are trusted with higher responsibilities, the thought of oppression is still there according to economic pay wages, but positions are diverged throughout various billion-dollar industries. By understanding the idea of gender especially for women, many look at individuals who conduct pre-marital sex before marriage is considered lower and less of human. I will relate this idea on the ethical and religious perspective as it corresponds to the idea portrayed in today’s world normality.
If you locate the religious morals and ethics, then individuals aren’t allowed to practice their own preferred gender, but the one that they were specifically born with. This ethical and moral discussion would be perfectly correlated to the ideas behind libertarianism. These aspects or conceptions are known to be maximizing welfare, respecting freedom, and promoting virtue. Libertarianism is the philosophy where there is little involvement of Government towards the people residing in that respective area. If an individual has no effect on the world with their preferred gender and actions, then they should be allowed to practice and follow whatever they want. If someone wants to conduct pre-marital sex before marriage, then by law they’re allowed to do just that. In today’s society the ethics of gender and sexuality aren’t merely followed, but only on the individual basis. If someone wants to follow their religion for actions then they would, but on the other hand they would do whatever is surely attributing to their positive personal interests.
Relating this idea to my personal knowledge of morality and sexual ethics, I will correspond the ideas that we had respectively learned in class. The virtuosity of sexuality plays an important role in the lives of many individuals. Religion in the public role for example individuals such as monks and priests explain the idea of chastity and abstaining from pre-marital sex until marriage. If you are morally dependent on religion, then it’s surely incorrect to conduct pre-marital sex before marriage. If you believe in the sense of individuality and choice, then you can personally either abstain from sex or commit any actions you want as long as they correspond to the respective laws in the area. Religion believes that children should understand the rationality by being abstinent, and that is important to God that the child should use his/her body after a marriage has commenced.
In conclusion, I have explained the ethical and moral dilemma regarding sexual morality and gender roles. This topic does in fact play an important role today, since individuals are relinquishing their religious beliefs to personal beliefs. Today’s society promotes individuality in which the person can act and be whoever they want. You can become a woman if you’re a man, and vice-versa. The ethical dilemma is only subjected to religion, but outside that realm, you are free to make any choices that you feel are right. I agree that in today’s world you can be whatever you feel comfortable, and I will stand by that decision. These are your natural rights, be comfortable in your own respective skin.