How Sexuality and Sexualization Differ in Various Cultures

William Ortiz

Ant 210

Response Paper

        The following articles that I chose to write about summarize how sexuality and sexualization differ in various cultures. One article talks about the difference between two races and how sex guilt plays a role in the relationship between culture and women’s sexual desire. On the other hand, the second article will talk about the importance of decision making, power within a relationship and sexual relations within a specific group of people. These articles show the difference in cultures from the West and East and how each perceive sexuality.

The article “The Role of Sex Guilt in the Relationship Between Culture and Women’s Sexual Desire” demonstrates a study of sexual desire, sexual conservatism and sex guilt between East Asian women and Caucasian women. The purpose of this study was to examine if certain factors (sexual desire, conservatism) play a role in high sex guilt. The study conducted by Jane S. T. Woo, Lori A. Brotto concluded that sex guilt may be a mechanism by which ethnic groups differ in sexual desire. In order for their study to be done, they were to able obtain 242 female participants (105 Caucasians, 137 East Asians). There was no differences in age or in years of education. They also used various measures to get their conclusion. Methods such as VIA (Vancouver Index of Acculturation), FSFI (Female Sexual Function Index), questionnaire and SPSS. Their results were as followed: Caucasian women were more likely to engage in sexual activities, sexual desire in a four week period before participating; East Asian demonstrated high numbers of sex guilt, sexual conservatism which made a difference in their sexual desire. These results proved their hypothesis to be correct, Caucasian women have greater sexual desire and East Asian women have a higher sex guilt.

I agree with the study that was conducted by Woo and Brotto. East Asian women tend to be more conservative when it comes to sexual activity. From what I have seen, they only tend to associate themselves with their own race thus saving themselves for marriage. This could be seen with hereditary East Asian women. Mainstream East Asian women tend to be more open like Caucasian women. It is seen especially in social media where Asian American women are not as conservative and are more open.

The second article “Relationship Power, Decision Making, and Sexual Relations: An Exploratory Study with Couples of Mexican Origin” is a study conducted by Marie Harvey and Linda J. Beckman. This study explores how couples of Mexican Origin living East Los Angeles define power in a relationship, who makes the decisions, who feels powerful (male or female) and who makes the decision when it comes to sexual and reproductive matters. They conducted their study by interviewing 78 participants (39 males and 39 females). They were primarily in their mid 20’s, were born in Mexico and lived in the US for more than six years. These interviews were held at the couple's home, the male and female were interviewed separately, questions were in Spanish then later translated into English for the study. The results were as followed: both genders agreed there is power as control (having control over his or her partner) and power as decision making (ability to make decisions without taking the other person into account and take action and make decisions independently of one’s partner); decision making and economic independence makes a woman stronger, money and having control over their partner makes a man stronger; lastly women make decisions about household matters and children while men make decisions relating to money.