Taboo

It’s hard to imagine that just over 50 years ago sex outside of marriage was a social taboo, homosexuality was illegal, masturbation was frowned upon, to view pornography you had to sneak into a seedy cinema in a back lane and the idea of having multiple partners throughout your lifetime would see you branded a playboy if you were a man and a slut if you were a woman. 

In an era where we are more open minded about sex and sexuality than at any other time in human history, we still have taboos. Julia questions why we still need taboos and what they tell us about ourselves. Sexual liberation brought the walls slowly crashing down on a number of societal taboos, but as one wall gets smashed another gets erected.

Many people would argue that we need taboos to ensure social order and a civilised society. But what are the origins of taboo? The word "taboo" originates from Polynesia and was introduced to English language by Captain James Cook who used the term to describe how Tongan kings were placed above ordinary people to the point they became untouchable.

There’s a view that children have become the new kings. Since the concept of childhood became widespread after industrialisation the age of consent has risen and so too has the need to protect children from sex and their own burgeoning sexuality. And in an age where boundaries are constantly getting pushed and the world is a mouse click away, what place do taboos hold in our lives?

YOUR SAY: What do you consider to be sexual taboo?

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