This Master's thesis addresses the cultural and social problematic of the development of a sense
of shame that accompanies both sexual activities and sexual desire, their practices, and
contradictions. It focuses on exploring the paradox within the prevailing attitude towards
sexuality, emphasizing the patriarchal and Christian sexual, as well as gender morality. The
basic premise is that a sense of shame in sexuality is one of the main consequences of the
Christian moral imperative of chastity. It is necessary to reflect on the changes in the widespread
attitude towards sexuality, but above all it is also necessary to analyse the expressed
contradictions and paradoxes, among other things, in the sexualization of human bodies for the
purpose of profit, advertising and attention-grabbing, whilst the condemnation of sex work is
observed as something dirty and indecent. Through the analysis of social conditions that have
enabled fundamental changes in the attitude towards sexuality, in particular the development of
a sense of shame in the exposure of a body and sexuality, and the new social hierarchies
established by the imperative of chastity, this thesis illustrates the relationship between
courtesans, hetaerae and prostitutes. Through reviewing and analysing primary and secondary
literature, alongside of qualitative empirical research based on the method of a semi-structured
interview, this thesis also explores how the Christian imperative of chastity influences the
development of sexual shame, how the latter is reflected today and whether eroticism can be
freed from its negative public image. The analysis confirms that the sense of shame in sexuality
is, in fact, one of the main consequences of the Christian moral and the idea of chastity. This
paper illuminates the need for a change in the interpretation of Christian moral teachings and
confirms the need for a better sexual education.
|
