In the chapter called “Periodization” Michael Foucault talks about the technology of sex and how it has progressed thought out different centuries. As Foucault explains before nineteenth century themes of sex and sexuality were connected to church and it was controlled by religious people in power. Sex was still considered a sin and it was still a restricted topic to talk about. Foucault also stated that there was a new technology of sex. He additionally classified these technologies into three categories such as education, medicine and economics.
Education as he stated had a function of teaching people and especially children in sexuality. Since education played a huge role in this new technology, people have been exposed to the different aspect of sexuality. In addition, children were also under control of adults. Then, medicine had a role in this technology and mostly as Foucault explained it had roots in women’s physiology. After that the demography also was a part of this new of technology of sex. Demography had maybe the most crucial part because society had to understand how to regulate and establish the birth control. All these aspects forced people to hide their sexuality and put stop talking about it. However, with a turn of a new century things started to get different, “mutated” as Foucault suggested. Technology of sex started to shape up and new subcategories appeared. Medicine divided into two parts with medicine of sex and body. So, people became more aware since everything kind of become clear. Education and economics also changed into a different testimonial.
Foucault also added that sex was repressed and people were led into obscurity with sex. Privileged people and bourgeoisie wanted to contain sex and prevent people from economical and demographical development. And, there were religious people who did not want people to understand that sex was not a sin because they would lose their power. Under this circumstances, sex was subjugated and controlled the society of people in power.
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