Global Sexual Politics - Essay Example

Global Sexual Politics Abstract: The present paper aims to explore the globalization of norms and values associated with the sexual orientation of the people. The main objective behind carrying out the study on the above-stated topic includes the fast alterations appeared in the world in the wake of the upsurge of human rights movements, which led to allowing the individuals to select the persons of their choice as spouse or partner and develop relation with him or her without having any restrictions with regard to caste, class, ethnicity, race, region, religion, age and gender. As a result, not only this that it has helped the individuals belonging to both the genders to obtain equal position and status at social scale, but has also resulted into eliminating the prejudice while selecting the partner. The paper will attempt to examine the impact of such freedom of thought and action on the popularity of norms observed by the individuals with reference of sexuality politics, which has been discussed in the following passages: The Paper: Globalization of sexuality simply refers to the changes witnessed by the world populations in the wake of tremendous alterations in all fields of life, leading towards the amalgamation of the sexual patterns adopted by various cultures and civilizations. In other terms, globalization of sexuality mirrors the acceptance of the sexual behaviour and activities associated with the occidental cultures, which were considered to be sexual taboo and perversion in the oriental societies of the world (Binnie, 2004, p.3-4). Consequently, identical with the globalization of corporate, economic, political, scientific and literary activities, sexuality has also experienced globalization partly due to the universality of sexuality. It is therefore, globalization of sexuality is viewed to be one of the most noticeable features attributed to the contemporary era political, cultural and social life of the individuals belonging to different parts and regions of the world at large (Kollman, 2004, p.4). Consequently, the homosexuals, once used to be looked down upon, had obtained profound liberty of getting involved into sexual activities without having any fears of persecutions at the hands of the dogmatists, moralists and other like-minded groups and communities, which used to condemn homosexuality by declaring it to be strictly contradictory to the religious values and moral principles (Foucault, 2008, p.112). On the one side, the homosexual orientation is mistakenly stated to be against the prevailing social norms and cultural values; and on the other side, the torch-bearers of sexual freedom have determined the norms to be adopted by the individuals while observing the same activities (Macionis, 2008, p.428). In other words, the homosexuals have also introduced and implemented some particular rules and regulations emulating of which serves to be mandatory one for the people claiming to be belonging to such communities. Consequently, the theorists and intellectuals advocating the sexual orientation of one’s personal choice have not allowed the individuals to violate the decorum to be witnessed while entering into interaction with other members of society in any sense or for any purpose. Although generally considered to be one’s preference in respect of selecting spouse by entering into the marital-knot, sexuality could not be declared to be tantamount to one’s desire of entering into the matrimonial relationship with the person of same or opposite gender. On the contrary, sexuality refers to one’s sexual attitude, preference or behaviour to satisfy one’s lustful desires with the person of one’s selection actually. However, since human sexuality also serves to be an essential part of the individual and collective human life, and hence it seeks its direct association with human rights, protection of which is mandatory for the political authorities and members of society as well. Consequently, no one could be allowed to sexually harass the other by forcing him to perform the act against his free will and consent altogether. By this, it simply means that it is against the norms that a homosexual should compel reluctant heterosexual to develop sexual relationships with him in any manner and vice versa. Similarly, the sexual molestation or forceful seduction of any kind is taken as identical with the violation of basic human rights the contemporary era freedom of thought and action offers to man (Miller, 2009, p.57). The norms determined by the theorists and authorities with regard to sexual freedom maintain that since sexuality concentrates upon the taste and preference of the individuals, and defines the innate as well as ascribed and learnt characteristics, no one should be forced to observe alterations in his sexual orientation out of threats or fears of persecutions at the hands of the state or society (Kollman, 2004, p.11). The government or political authorities should devise the laws that could provide complete shelter to the individuals in respect of leading the life of their choice provided their activities are not having any interference into the life of other members of society (Mill, 1873). Sometimes, we as human beings may not enjoy the luxury of dictating our own sexuality, since from the going, it is majorly shaped by external factors; the environment, our culture, religious beliefs among others. Byne (1997) is of the view that several factors interact in aligning an individual to a particular sexual orientation. Sometimes, being a society of laws, constitutions, and of course leaders (political and religious), we charge these higher bodies with providing us with directions and line if action. Most of our decisions are majorly if not entirely guided by these forces, unless we want to labelled criminals. In this regard, it is advisable to urge the governments to draft laws for the protection of all human rights, including sexual activities as well. This of course should be drafted in the best of the interest of the citizens. Even though we should contribute directly and influence the formulation of these laws that will in the end govern us. In the same spirit, government’s shou8ld strive to come up with laws that depict consideration and those that define the constitutional responsibility that they have towards their citizens. In this light, they should strive to come up with modest laws whose intentions are not to fight back their political enemies. Laws should not be made to victimize groups because of their beliefs or orientations just because the majority holds different opinions or believe or even practice otherwise. On the contrary, governments should realize that these minorities exist and need to be protected from a society so cruel not to mind their needs and rights. In this regard, it will be dehumanizing for the same institution of government charged with that responsibility not to adhere to their basic responsibility. Bibliography Binnie, Jon. 2004. The Globalisation of Sexuality. London: Sage Publications Ltd. Pp. 1-174 Retrieved from http://infothread.org/Pick%20Up%20Artist/Sexual/The%20Globalization%20of%20Sexuality.pdf Byne W. 1997. Why we cannot conclude that sexual orientation is primarily a biological phenomenon. Journal of Homosexuality, 34. California: Cengage learning. Foucault, Michael. 1978. The History of sexuality, vol. 1. Trans. Robert Hurley. London: Penguin. Kollman, Kelly. 2004. Same-sex Unions: The Globalization of an Idea. Sixth International Conference of the International Society for Third-Sector Research, Toronto, Canada, 11-14 July. Pp. 1-38. Retrieved from http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.istr.org/resource/resmgr/working_papers_toronto/kollman.kelly.pdf Macionis, John J. 2008. Sociology. Eleventh Edition New York: Pearson Prentice Hall Inc. Mill, John Stuart. Utilitarianism. Edition 4 New York: Longmans, Green, Reader, and Dyer, 1871. Miller M. 2009. Sexuality and Human rights: discussion Paper. International Council for Human Rights Policy. Read More