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Sarah Katz
Sociology of Sexuality
Professor Vila
11/16/16
Cultural and Historical Influences on Views of Sexuality
In different cultures, sex and sexuality have vastly different functions. Western society’s
long and complex history has shaped our society’s view on sexuality today. Over the history of
western societies there have been many environmental, social, and economic issues that
helped shape the fundamental views on sexuality that are around to this day. Judaism,
Christianity, and Greek mythology have all influenced our culture’s treatment of sex, along with
many social, political, and practical factors.
Western culture’s current views on sexuality are deeply rooted in religion and practical
views on gender roles. Greco-Roman culture had views of sexuality that stemmed from their
religious practices and agricultural society. Greeks viewed sexuality through the lens that
explained gender roles through the Gods that they worshipped. (Skinner) For example,
Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, exhibited feminine fertility. The more powerful and
dangerous Gods, Zeus for example, are portrayed as men. Greek mythology exhibited sexist
gender roles, applying brute strength in a male role and seduction and fertility as a female role.
A major theme in Greek mythology along with the bible was women causing problems
for men. Dominant women were illustrated as foolish troublemakers. According to Greek
mythology, the first woman, Pandora, introduced many problems for men by opening a box
containing the world’s evil. Women in the bible as well used their sexuality and beauty to use
men. For example, the story of Samson in the biblical book of Judges 13-16 tells a story of a
man gifted with great strength by God, but ultimately loses his might when a temptress named
Delilah betrayed him and let the Philistines cut his hair while he was sleeping (Judges 16:19).
Another biblical example is the story of Adam and Eve in the book of Genesis. Once Eve was put
in the Garden of Eden, she broke the only rule set for her, eating fruit from the tree of
knowledge, and leading to the banishment of both her and Adam. Due to women in Greek
mythology and the bible being portrayed as an obstacle at best, and at worst the reason for
man’s suffering, a patriarchal society formed. For all of documented history, women have been
oppressed by men and the behaviors and characteristics attributed to women in literature have
been used to justify inferior treatment by men.
In our culture today along with the societies that have had influence on us, the “perfect”
