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Michael Foucault discusses the concept of sex and sexuality throughout the ages. It is interesting how sex was used to control people and make them suspicious or frightened. Especially at the times when church and religion had a huge effect on people’s lives. Since sex was considered a sin, people were worried by the idea that they have sinned. Foucault also pointed out how society and the way of life made the topic of sex controversial. People don’t usually discuss sex and sexuality in depth, so most of the time this topic stays clandestine. Everybody knows about it but nobody speaks. Different regimes also change people’s opinions on certain aspects of sexuality. If we go back and compare how people discussed sex in early seventeenth century or any other century and how they discuss it now, we can clearly see that the societies’ understanding of this topic have changed. Nowadays people discuss sex and sexuality very openly because it is something that every individual should know. Especially, when it comes to sexual education. Although, the topic of sex was not so openly discussed in the past and it even became taboo in some parts of the world.

Most of the time sex and sexuality topics were suppressed. Sex was repressed and with it people’s right to have pleasure was also taken away. It was probably used as a power of control over people. Since they took away the pleasure then people would do anything to get it back. In addition to that more censorships and taboos appeared that could prohibit anything so people would end up only with something that their higher authority would want them to have. I believe that all this comes down to control of people. I might be wrong but many clues show that prohibition of sex and framing it as something unnatural, authorities gained their power.

Q1. Were there people at that time who thought that sex and sexuality was not a sin and It was normal to talk about it?

Q2. What was the moment when the modern understanding of sexuality emerged?