Term Paper on "Color Purple; Intimate Matters My Focus"

Term Paper 7 pages (2314 words) Sources: 1+

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Color Purple; Intimate Matters

My focus will be the ways in which societal institutions have influenced human sexuality, and the ways and reasons in which these have changed or stayed the same. I find the topic both interesting and important, since sexuality, even in the darkest of human historical ages, has remained part of human life. Understanding how sexuality has been used and abused in the past can play a very important role in avoiding similar mistakes and oppressions in the future by working to remedy them in the present. Of course I also find the topic interesting for both personal reasons, and the above-mentioned social reasons.

Intimate Matters a. The book is an exposition of the history of the United States in terms of sexual behavioral values and practices. The pioneers of average American white society brought with them the sexually oppressive and repressive practices of Europe and the United Kingdom. Thus these practices have been imposed upon a multicultural society for the centuries since the pioneering days. Being initially small in number but powerful in influence then, it is the group of white pioneers that carries the responsibility of sexual repression as the norm for "decent" society. Control was thus exerted over the media, legislators, priests and judges in order to ensure that sexually repressive practices were accepted as normal.

John D'Emilio and Estelle Freedman thus blame the Pioneers and their descendants for the paradigm of sexual oppression. The main reason for this is, according to the authors, the attitude of the English pilgrims migrating to Chesapeake Bay, New England, Pennsylvania, New York and the Carolinas. The belief that followed the pilgrims was that the function of sex, according to the Bible, was procreation only, and that any other purpose for engagement in sexual practices was shameful and sinful.

The pilgrims were thus scandalized at the sexual practices of the Native Americans, which included premarital sex, polygamy, institutionalized homosexuality. It was the social norm among the pilgrims to reject and avoid these practices and those who endorsed them. Those immigrants who did engage in these practices were either deported, imprisoned, or both, as a reward for their indiscretion. This is the attitude that set the stage for a centuries-long struggle towards sexual liberty.

b. Societal factors and institutions responsible for the above paradigms include religious institutions, as well as the above-mentioned media, judges and others whose main influence comes from the upper and middle classes. These upper and middle classes are normally white and very often male. The superiority of the white male is an attitude that stems from Europe. It is therefore also the white male who enjoys the most sexual liberty, even in our enlightened times.

c. I can understand why the pioneers had the attitude they did. It comes from centuries of indoctrination since the Dark Ages. I can even understand how, during the 1800's, masturbation could be seen as one of the causes of mental illness. What I do not understand is how all these attitudes could have been tested and discarded and yet remain intact as social paradigms of our time. Whenever there is even a hint at sexual liberty, institutions such as the YMCA or the Catholic Church balk at the idea and one is uncomfortably reminded of witch hangings and stake burnings.

My attitude towards these practices is therefore somewhat ambivalent. In an open-minded way I can see where the oppression comes from. But form a contemporary viewpoint my mind boggles at how stubborn the average human mind can be when faced with a challenging belief.

The Color Purple a. The societal norms described by Walker in her book mainly entails male sexual superiority over women. Furthermore racism and sexism play a large part in the attitude of her male characters towards their women. Family values suffer as a result of this, and lives are oppressed. When Celie's mother for example refuses sex, she is a convenient substitute for the man she knows as "Pa." She goes through a lifetime of abuse, including having the two children resulting from her repeated rape taken away without knowing of their whereabouts. It is only much later, after suffering not only at the hands of men, but also at the hands of white people in a racist social setting that Celie finally finds new life and is surrounded by people who love her.

In this way then the novel stresses not only the oppressive setting in which Celie is forced to live, but also the importance of healthy social and family values as a condition for a healthy and enjoyable sex life. Celie's role models in her early years were representative of sexual oppression. The end of the novel liberates her towards a state of sexual freedom, where she can express who she is without fear.

b. One of the societal factors influencing the oppression exerted by the men in the novel may be the extreme segregation and racism at the time during which the events are set. Celie's "Pa" for example is oppressed in terms of social privileges, which he may then project onto his family by demanding sex from the women in his house, regardless of the women's feelings.

A further influence may again be religious institutions, which in many cases suggest that men are superior to women, and thus have the right to demand sex whenever it suits them best. The education and social systems of the time, if existing at all, did very little to make women aware of their rights and even their personhood. If especially black women were able to escape their abusive spouses and other male family members, this was pure luck and willfulness, rather than the result of outside influences.

c. From my viewpoint, I have very little respect for a man who would rape a woman simply to satisfy his own needs. It makes very little sense to me; how could a man possibly enjoy sex with a woman who is not willing to share in such a partnership. Regarding the men in the novel I can only assume that this attitude is a result of the way they were raised. Growing up with abusive and sexually dysfunctional parents would influence a person to be the same way, I suppose. Still, the cycle can be broken, and it should.

4. What I was taught a. Much like the pilgrims, I received a very Bible-focused education while growing up. I was for example taught that several sexual or sex-based practices, including homosexuality, cross-dressing, masturbation and premarital sex, were wrong. I was to repress whatever urges I developed until the day I was married. The union between myself and my husband was then to be "holy" and exclusive, with my husband as the head of my household, while I was to be his subordinate in all things.

I was not however taught that the only or even the main function of sex was to produce offspring. Sex was supposed to bring pleasure, but only within the confines of marriage.

b. I not only grew up in a Christian home, but also in a Christian community and school. Church and school were thus the main influencing factors in the beliefs I was taught during my years growing up. Both these institutions held the same beliefs as my parents: that sex was to be enjoyed only within marriage. Also, any sexual practice other than sex between one man and one woman was perverted and morally reprehensible. These views were imposed upon our young minds whenever the opportunity presented itself to these people.

c. I now think the only morally reprehensible about the above is the close-minded views of religious and educational fundamentalists. Personally I have no problem with the choice to be sexually repressed. In my view people can be whatever they are comfortable with. What I do have a problem with is how these views are imposed upon others in educational and religious institutions. I do not think that our "enlightened" times should still be weighed down by leaders imposing their personal views as the ultimate truth. I believe that everybody should be allowed to make up their own mind, and practice sex in ways that are most satisfying to them individually, as long as nobody is hurt in the process.

5. What I think now a. As I've said above, I now longer share my parents', church's or school's view that sex is to be enjoyed only within the confines of marriage, and only between one man and one woman until both of them are dead. This strikes me as somewhat rigid and narrow-minded for the times in which we live.

The Native Americans and other, more freethinking races, seem to have an altogether more healthy view. Repressing the sex drive can only lead to trouble, such as seen in the novel by Alice Walker. Young persons should be free to experience and experiment with sex without being made to feel ashamed because of it. This is… READ MORE

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