Men and women in the society are sexual beings. This is the main reason why people in the society often express themselves sexually. Human beings sexuality is a natural life-long process of forming attitudes and acquiring information regarding values and beliefs about one’s relationship, sexual identity and intimacy. Human sexuality also involves interpersonal relationships, sexual development and gender roles. In many societies, there are various cultural and social views that shape the beliefs, ideas and attitudes about sexuality. They equip individuals with the knowledge of determining whether their sexual life is healthy or unhealthy.
Many communities promote healthy sexuality in their social set-ups by supporting healthy family formation and marriage. Both men and women are expected to abstain from sexual activities until marriage. The main objective why both men and women are encouraged to abstain from sexual activities is to promote: a sexual healthy life, optimal reproductive wellbeing, and societal and psycho-social outcomes (Heather 2011). The best way to enhance abstinence before marriage is to educate the youth regarding the effect of early sexual life. Abstinence-focused education according to behavioral theory, equip the youth with the necessary skills: to build character, to stay away from sexual activities and guide them on how to build healthy relationships.
Another important aspect towards healthy sexuality is fidelity. Infidelity is a major cause of marriage break-up in many communities. As a result many societies are against infidelity within marriage since it is the most effectual measure of reducing divorce rate. In addition, fidelity in marriage prevents out-of-wedlock pregnancies, STD’s among other negative products that are associated with extramarital and premarital sex (Hanson 2012).
Moreover, there are other cultural altitudes that promote unhealthy sexuality within marriage and in the society in general. These cultural altitudes include wife inheritance, homosexuality and wife beating. Wife inheritance is not very common in our societies but it is still practiced by some communities. Inequality in the society is the major cause of wife inheritance practice. Men tend to misuse the power given to them in their society for personal gain; they inherit wives of bereaved people without their wives approval. This creates disharmony and conflict with a family (Schwarzwalder 2006). Wife inheritance is a major causer of sexually transmitted diseases since the bereaved might have infected their wives with an incurable disease that are transmittable.
Wife beating is another cultural practice that leads to unhealthy sexuality. In some culture, wife beating is viewed as a show of male dominance. However, wife beating has many social implications to a marriage. In the first place, it affects communication within a marriage. Secondly, wives who are battered by their husbands become traumatized which has psychological effects to their lives.
In conclusion, both men and women have a role to play in order to make their sexual life successful. Men on their part should abandon outdate cultural practices such as wife beating and wife inheritance which can be the source of unhealthy sexuality. On the other hand women should fight for gender equality in the society in order to be in a good position to eradicate unhealthy sexual behavior. Lastly both men and women should not entertain homosexuality in their lives as it not a good sexual behavior.
References
Heather Corinna, (June 9, 2011), What Is Healthy Sexual Development? PR Newswire
Ann L. Hanson, (March 7, 2012), Unhealthy Perspectives on Sexual Health, The Oklahoma Daily
Rob Schwarzwalder, (2006), A healthy, positive sex life is important to preventing sexual violence
