BR: History of Sexuality: An Introduction by Michel Foucault

History of Sexuality: An Introduction was recommended to me by ChatGPT. I knew it was an acclaimed book but had little other background. Written in the late 1970s, it examines the development and use of sexuality over the past three centuries. I found the writing convoluted and overly complex, using excessive language where simpler terms would have sufficed. However, the book presented some interesting ideas, primarily focusing on how those in power use societal norms regarding sex to control society.

In the 1600s and 1700s, the Church was a powerful institution. Through confession, it used sex to instill guilt and control populations. However, this had an unintended consequence. Priests demanded detailed accounts of every touch, caress, pleasure point, and sexual thought. Before this, sex was not openly discussed, and people lacked terms for various sexual practices. By forcing detailed confessions, the Church compelled people to create names for these practices, leading to increased sexual discourse among the masses.

Another interesting point was the contrast between Eastern and Western cultures regarding sex. Many Eastern cultures have sexual gurus who educate the public, including young adults, about sexual pleasure and how to satisfy partners and oneself. In contrast, the West adopts a scientific approach, focusing only on the technical aspects of procreation and safety. We often ignore the pleasure aspect of sex and pretend children don’t have sexual urges. Instead of teaching them about these natural desires, we suppress them, causing shame.

A significant portion of the book discusses how sex has been used to subjugate women. Social norms have ostracized women who seek sexual pleasure, especially with multiple partners or in unconventional ways. Historically, women in the West were often labeled as hysterical or mentally ill if they expressed sexual desires.

The book highlights three main ways the West has repressed and damaged the discussion of sex:

1. The myth that children don’t have sexual urges: This forces children to learn through experimentation.
2. The portrayal of women as hysterical: Women were subjected to treatments and drugs to control their natural sexual desires.
3. The concept of perversions: Unconventional sexual acts were labeled as perversions, leading to treatment or institutionalization. This included acts now commonly accepted, such as sodomy, homosexuality, and interracial sex.

These methods were used to control the population by stigmatizing certain groups and preventing open discussions about sex. The book also argues that these methods are used to control the workforce, essential for capitalism to thrive, by maintaining a subjugated labor force. Additionally, it discusses how those in power control not just sex but also life and death. The death penalty and laws against suicide are seen as tools to demonstrate control over life and death.

The book was an interesting but convoluted and somewhat dated read. I wouldn’t recommend it to friends.

2 out of 5 stars.