This chapter discusses how society, culture, religion, and environment can influence sexuality. It explores how stereotypes in media around topics like race, gender, and sexual orientation can impact views of sexuality. The chapter also examines how childhood experiences shape understanding of sex, and how issues like virginity expectations, body image, power dynamics, violence, and religious beliefs can negatively affect women's sexuality. It concludes by discussing celibacy, asexuality, and seeking to break free of social pressures surrounding sexuality.

1. I R E N E L A R T E Y
W O R C E S T E R S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y
Chapter 6
Social Influences on Sexuality

2. What the Chapter is about
The chapter is about society, environment, religion
and culture influences sexuality.

3. What influences sexuality
According to the chapter, almost everything
influences sexuality.
Government policies
Religion
Media
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Violence
Stereotypes based on Race, gender, class, disability
and sexual orientation.

4. Growing up
Then childhood experiences, culture and society in
the environment about sex plays a role of how
women view sex.
Women are taught by culture to be object of
attraction to men but no desire for themselves.
This is seen as harmful, dirty and can lead to risky,
unsafe sex practices.

5. Virginity
Women especially burdened with the term virginity,
when the popular message is to do it when it feels
good or everyone is doing it. The shame that is
imposed on women for “saving” themselves for
marriage.
This makes women feel pressured into having sex
even if they are not ready.

6. Stereotypes
Media images have formed stereotypes about
sexuality.
Latina women are portrayed as wearing reviling
cloths.
Muslim women covered from head to toe seen as
represented.
African Americans as hypersexual and asexual when
older with no loving relationships.

7. Stereotypes
Lesbians as man haters.
Bisexuals as promiscuous.
Trans gender as confused about their gender.

8. Body Image
Body Image is an issue that many women are
mindful of especially when society and media tells us
that looking a certain way is not beautiful or
desirable.
This can affect the women negatively including self
esteem, self worth and sexuality.

9. Power
Power differences plays out in sex.
Society values males more.
A female sexual partner may have power depending
on their earning power , class education and race.

10. Violence Against Women
Sexual abuse, rape, battement and harassment can
negatively affect the sexual lives of women.
Some triggers such as being touch or gesture can set
of an inner alarm system that can cause tension for
women with history of abuse

11. Religion and Spirituality
Religion and spirituality have a say on sexuality and
emphasis on sexual purity
Certain religions prohibits premarital sex and other
sexual behaviors outside marriage.
Sometimes this can create negative feelings about
sex for women.

12. Celibacy and Asexuality
Celibacy is choosing not to marry or not having
sexual relations with a partner. People choose this
option to break free from the pressure.
Some couple chose celibacy to reflect on their
relationship.
Asexuality is the lack of interest in sex is experienced
by 1% of the population which may be link to side
effect on a medication or illness. It may not be
related to any illness or side effect of medication but
is an orientation for some people

13. Comments
I agree that almost everything influences sexualty from
government policies to the family experiences. Growing up
sexuality is learned from observation, family and life
experiences.
Asexuality was a topic that was new to me, I understand that
medication and illness can affect interest in sex but didn’t
know some people choose it as their identity.
One quote that “stuck out to me” from a women who was
raped says that “ the actions of rapist do not stop with rape.
They reverberate and echo and continue- what these people
did to me is with me for life”.
I want us to discuss about religious view on sexuality, because
some religions believe premarital sex is a sin it results in some
people feeling pressured to save sex till marriage what are
your thoughts on this issue.