I'll just grab a couple of quick points, as I'm winding down for the day. But your replies are very much leading me from "I don't know what it's like over there" to "yeah, it does sound a bit repressed".
Never seen it.
Exactly. It's the "some people" which are part of a country's culture. There's no such movement in most countries.
Out of curiosity (I don't really know how TV works over there) is it on mainstream broadcast TV, or cable channels ? How would you characterize it? Someone earlier cited Baywatch, which I wouldn't group as such. I've seen stuff like Spartacus or GoT, but are those on premium cable channels over there or general free broadcast TV? (Is the term "network TV over there? I'm not sure.)
The fact that it's a "scandal" is the issue. There are many places where folks just aren't interested in the private lives of their politicians as long as they do their jobs right; those things that would be scandals in one place are not elsewhere.
Again, sexual repression isn't about the act of sex. It's about those very issues.
I don't know what the commonly used term is in your country, but here the term "pro-gay" is used to mean "not discriminating against gay people" or legislation such as "enabling gay people to marry". That's an area that lots of countries are still only just getting right - it only happened here in the last year or so (though we had a "civil partnership" equivalent before that).
It's 16 here and in many other Western countries. So many cultures would say no.
It's part of the discussion, for certain, and always has been.
I wasn't trying to imply it wasn't available, but that it wasn't free (I'm not even saying it isn't free in your country - I've absolutely no idea - just that as an area of discussion free contraception is one primary indicator of a society's attitude towards sexual issues).
But anyway, <!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: dbtech_usertag_mention --> @Bullgrit <!-- END TEMPLATE: dbtech_usertag_mention -->, in answer to your initial question - these are the things people mean when they talk about sexual repression. It's clear that you feel strongly that the label does not apply to you country, which is fine (and others here clearly strenuously disagree with you). I personally think the UK is likely fairly similar ot the US in this, and places like The Netherlands and Italy make both countries look pretty puritanical (certainly compared to here; I'm only hazarding a guess at the US).
(Curious: Did the UK release of The Full Monty actually show the full Monty of the main characters at the end, on stage? The version I saw here in the US did not show it, just their backsides.)
Never seen it.
comprehensive sex education – Some people don’t want such taught by the government.
Exactly. It's the "some people" which are part of a country's culture. There's no such movement in most countries.
Lots of sexuality on TV.
Out of curiosity (I don't really know how TV works over there) is it on mainstream broadcast TV, or cable channels ? How would you characterize it? Someone earlier cited Baywatch, which I wouldn't group as such. I've seen stuff like Spartacus or GoT, but are those on premium cable channels over there or general free broadcast TV? (Is the term "network TV over there? I'm not sure.)
attitudes of voters or media regarding the sex lives of politicians – Politicians who are involved in “sex scandals”
The fact that it's a "scandal" is the issue. There are many places where folks just aren't interested in the private lives of their politicians as long as they do their jobs right; those things that would be scandals in one place are not elsewhere.
Also, it’s not about their sex lives, it’s usually about affairs, prostitution,
Again, sexual repression isn't about the act of sex. It's about those very issues.
pro-gay legislation – “Pro-gay”? Do you actually mean, “non-anti-gay”?
I don't know what the commonly used term is in your country, but here the term "pro-gay" is used to mean "not discriminating against gay people" or legislation such as "enabling gay people to marry". That's an area that lots of countries are still only just getting right - it only happened here in the last year or so (though we had a "civil partnership" equivalent before that).
age of sexual consent – 18 isn’t young enough?
It's 16 here and in many other Western countries. So many cultures would say no.
controversies regarding topic like abortion, rape, and other issues – That’s not sexuality.
It's part of the discussion, for certain, and always has been.
freely available contraception – Contraception is fully available all around.
I wasn't trying to imply it wasn't available, but that it wasn't free (I'm not even saying it isn't free in your country - I've absolutely no idea - just that as an area of discussion free contraception is one primary indicator of a society's attitude towards sexual issues).
But anyway, <!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: dbtech_usertag_mention --> @Bullgrit <!-- END TEMPLATE: dbtech_usertag_mention -->, in answer to your initial question - these are the things people mean when they talk about sexual repression. It's clear that you feel strongly that the label does not apply to you country, which is fine (and others here clearly strenuously disagree with you). I personally think the UK is likely fairly similar ot the US in this, and places like The Netherlands and Italy make both countries look pretty puritanical (certainly compared to here; I'm only hazarding a guess at the US).
Last edited: