Sexual Intolerance and Control in Conservative Societies

Key Insight

Conservative cultures globally enforce sexual intolerance to achieve specific reproductive outcomes, namely more endogamous mate choices and higher birth rates within their group. This manifests as less tolerance for any sexuality outside sanctioned marital reproduction, compelling young people to marry younger and with parental consent, often resulting in choices more closely related to the family. Historically, while the early Soviet Union liberalized on divorce and homosexuality, early Christian sects like the Adamites also rejected marriage.

Conservative ideologies actively suppress behaviors that do not channel sexual drives towards marital reproduction. This includes discouraging public displays of affection, banning comprehensive sexual education due to fears of premarital arousal, prohibiting masturbation and pornography, and severely punishing premarital and extramarital sex. Examples include an Iranian cleric linking immodest dress to earthquakes, and a British couple in Dubai receiving a jail sentence for a public kiss.

The US demonstrates persistent partisan divides on sexual education, with conservatives supporting abstinence-only programs and opposing contraception, while liberals advocate for comprehensive sex education. This stance has global repercussions as the US is a major funder of reproductive health programs worldwide. In Pakistan, a doctor attempting to provide Islamic-compatible sex education faced substantial resistance, threats, and accusations of promoting pornography, highlighting the deep-seated opposition to discussing sexuality outside conservative frameworks.