Sexual Script Essay

Sexual script presents a new method for understanding human sexuality in societal context. The three factors that make up sexual script are culture and historic teaching, social understanding and the personal understanding of sexuality. The tools help explain sexuality in a variety of context to present a whole picture.
This methodology was first explored by sociologists John Gagnon and William Simon who endeavored to explore symbols and their meaning in regards to sexuality. An individual’s sexual script is formed throughout their entire lifetime the same way society’s sexual script is formed throughout the course of history. Religious and social teachings, peer influence, and parental teachings all help form sexual scripts. Some even consider today’s media as instrumental in changing the sexual script for adolescents in the modern age. Individual sexual scripts may be described in terms such as homosexuality, bisexual, or heterosexuality. However, sexual scripts often go much deeper than these terms implies, they also determine how an individual views gender roles and what they value about sex. J.H Gagnon’s research from the “Archives of Sexual Behavior” suggests that interpersonal scripts are perpetrated through personal identity not necessarily sexual acts themselves. Gagnon is currently one of the foremost authorities on sexual scripts and their roles within society.
Society often holds a specific view of what is considered a “normal” sexual script and may hold in contempt those who do not agree. This bias may prevent individuals from being forthcoming with their true sexual preferences. Sexual socialization is the term we often use to describe how society teaches different genders how to act as sexual beings. However this can result in assumptions that may not be relevant to all individuals. For example some assume that men should be the controller of a sexual relationship or that women are not as sexual as men. These assumptions are not always accurate in terms of scientific data, but the myth is perpetuated through societal teachings. Overall, sexual scripts are written through both biological indicators and sexual socialization.