Sex and Sexuality: From Repression to Expression

Looking at sexuality openly and in the general social context of our culture and viewing the intra-societal influences on the individual’s perception of himself makes us aware of the pain individuals encounter because of sexual repression, as well as the pain caused by overindulgence and obsessive concern. This book is an attempt to establish this awareness by combining theory, research results and analyses which permits us to look at the newer codes in relationship to non-marital, premarital, extra-marital, and marital sexuality. Although half the adult population (no matter what their personal practice may be) believes that sexual intercourse should take place only in the marriage relationship, such statistics give us only a partial picture. The issues which emerge are complex and dependent on individual circumstances, differences found in the norms of varied groups, and the vast array of changes present in society. Theory, research and issues in the area of sexuality are discussed within three conceptual frameworks, the family, society, and the individual as independent systems.