There’s a noticeable lack of discussion around healthy sexuality, a crucial aspect of human life. Instead, the sensual aspects of sexual intimacy dominate conversations. Morality often focuses on warnings and restrictions, while paradoxically, exposure to sexual images is in abundance in the current digital age. That reaches even children. There is a lack of accurate information or open discussions aimed at corrections. It creates a climate for the genesis of sexual anarchy.
Disturbingly, sexual crimes frequently make headlines. These crimes are often symptoms of deeper issues surrounding unhealthy sexuality. The increasing frequency of these incidents highlights the importance of promoting healthy sexuality. Practising healthy styles adds quality to overall sexual life.
Using sex as a means to assert dominance can have damaging consequences. When sexuality is reduced to a power struggle, mutual respect and positive attitudes towards each other fade away. This can lead to unhealthy dynamics, where one partner seeks control and the other is expected to submit. In societies that perpetuate male dominance, respectful attitudes towards women often suffer, resulting in coercion, discrimination, and sexual violence – all indicative of unhealthy sexuality.
Mutual consent is a crucial aspect of healthy sexuality. Consent for sexuality must be informed, voluntary, and free from manipulation. A simple ‘yes’ or failure to say ‘no’ does not necessarily imply consent, especially if it’s driven by coercion, threats, or deception. Manipulated consent can be generated by giving false promises to marry or by emotional manipulation. Emotional blackmail, rejection threats, or exploiting vulnerabilities are the frequently used strategies to obtain manipulated consent. For consent for sexuality to be valid, it must be informed and well thought out.
In a society where sex is often stigmatised or considered taboo, partners may struggle to communicate their desires, preferences, and boundaries.
Lack of understanding can lead to dissatisfaction and problems in sexual relationships.
An individual ignorant about their partner’s sexuality can be a disaster. Better communication helps to explore each other’s desires, preferences, and boundaries. It will also help to address dissatisfactions and build intimacy.
Accept one’s own sexuality as a natural phenomenon. In a bid to adhere to pseudo-moral values, there is a tendency to negate or suppress them. It’s important to develop body positivity and a realistic self-esteem derived from a logically constructed self-awareness.
Lack of interest and low self-esteem may ruin the chemistry in sexuality. Psychological well-being, the ability to build relationships, the capacity to gauge intentions, the power to make boundaries, and the ability to handle emotions are factors that will contribute to healthy sexuality.
Understanding sexuality from a scientific viewpoint is crucial for healthy attitudes. There is a reluctance to access accurate and comprehensive information. The secretive search is for the pleasure seeking or performance aspects. Misinformation from unreliable sources corrupts sexuality. Many form concepts from juicy materials in Google or from highly exaggerated pornographic images. Misconceptions are plenty, and quacks make big money out of confusion. Gaining clarity about science and the psychology of sexuality will be a strong foundation for healthier attitudes.
Healthy sexuality is a multifaceted aspect of human experience that goes beyond mere pleasure or procreation. It’s about building intimacy, fostering emotional connection, and nurturing a deep sense of mutual respect and understanding. It’s a lifelong process that evolves over time.
Sexuality will be at its best in a healthy and warm relationship. Sexual rights are to be respected. True that sex can happen in even hostile or emotionally cold relationships. What it generates will be discontent.
Healthy sexuality is about mutual pleasure, satisfaction, and intimacy. When sexuality becomes a one-sided experience, focused solely on selfish individual pleasure, it can lose its positive and fulfilling nature. True connection and intimacy require mutual respect, understanding, and a shared experience of pleasure and satisfaction. The modern world has created new styles of sexuality, often prioritising pleasure and instant gratification. Cyberspace, too, has come in a big way, creating traps for the pleasure-seeking vulnerable. Healthy sexuality gets drowned in the run for pleasure or supremacy.
To weave beautiful sexuality, skills to make it healthy and comfortable are essential. How many have it? Can anyone talk about it?