‘—

Shaikhah Alhomaizi – assignment 7

In “History of Sexuality” by Michel Foucault, he discusses the discourse around sex within regards to repression. In part one “We “Other Victorians,” during the 17^th century sexual practices were shameless and people were more sexually liberated. It wasn’t until the rise of the Bourgeois that sex became confined to secrecy. Sexual practices and discourses were then only found at home, strictly between a husband and his wife.  Which they believed would eliminate any discourse about sex and sexuality, however this secrecy in itself was a form of discourse. Which leads Foucault to question whether or not there is repression and how and why sexuality was suppressed. (“Repressive Hypothesis”) 1) Is history linked to repression? 2) Are the workings of powers used in terms of repression? 3) Is the discourse being addressed a new type of repression or it is just repeated from history? By questioning the repression, he is not denying it, but he is further explaining how these counterargument questions will explain how repression is linked to power and knowledge. Foucault wants to explain his version of the “truth about sex” and expose the purpose behind the repression.

The confinement and repression in sex was made to create a source of power, the power to control who speaks about sex what kind of knowledge is released. In other words, to control the discourse. In the instances, such as marriage, looking at it from Foucault’s perspective we can see how marriage, an institution where people are restricted to certain information, we see how power was used in marital practices to maintain a specific discourse about sex. In conclusion, controlling the discourse and knowledge about sex and sexuality are approaches to maintain power.

Question 1: Are they repressed about sex if sex is spoken about in secrecy?

Question 2: How would restricting people of certain knowledge affect repression?