By and large, societies adopt a system of norms and moral values
in order to regulate sexual activity. Such establishment being different
in each society. So long as sexually driven relation between genders
fall under certain social norms, humankind distinguishes itself sexually
from the other animals sex life.
Society isn’t bound to solely establish what is permited and what
is prohibited insexual orientation matters.So far, it influences the
most intimate and difuse sexual feelings of its members.
The variations on notions of aesthetics and means of free sex expressing
in different societies, and from one period to another within the
same society,are anything but a good example of such influence.
By the end of the nineteenth century, large breasts, wasp-like waist
line and wide hips made even wider by corselet wearing, were the sought
after physical attributes a male would wish on a female sex partner.
Otherwise,the almost breastless and fragile maiden with slightly
round tummy, would rob nights of sound sleep from the brave Middle
Age knights.
Between one culture and another, customs and differences in tastes
as well as sexual orientation discrepancies are even bigger.
The scar ridden faces, gestures and dances of women from certain
African tribes; or the tiny feet, the fragile look and the creeping-like
walk of the Chinese women, all of which would hardly look sexually
attractive to an occidental man with all things sex at his door way.
on the same token, a bone pierced nose and viril attitude as sexual
orientation of a native from Papua-New Guinea wouldn’t be considered
as sensual by an american or european woman after free sex kicks.
The most diverse notions of physical beauty not always bear an immediate
erotic and sexual significance. Take for instance “the botoque”, which
renders prominent the lower lip of some brazilian indians, it wasn’t
exactely envisaged to heighten sexual attraction. But, since it symbolizes
prowes and virility, both highly prized sexual qualities in men,it
may eventually play this sexuality role.
Therefore, men and women aren’t considered attractive by physical
attributes alone, but by the cultural significance therefore attributed
to certain physical characteristics.
In our society, family, groups of friends, means of publicity, literature
and network broadcast are the primary influences that set up the notions
of aesthetics and sexuality in vigor. An individual, crossing-over
such a melting pot of patterns with his own sex life experience, develops
an idealized image of a person he would like to keep as a sexual-partner.
There wouldn’t run short of examples in this sense. In the west,
the Hollywood movie industry contrived the blue eyed blonde-like girl
as the beauty standard and sex symbol to go by.
The ideal male and female image shares a certain relation with those
who play important roles in our lives, even in adolescence still.
In this case, by passing along cultural patterns of male and female
sexual endeavor, beauty and attitude towards sexuality.
It’s admissible that such an image might include elements whether
of the mother, sister and even teacher or from the father, brother
and professor. And yet, some music or cinema artist.
However, such influences not always come into play under a simple
mode, through simple imitation. It occurs albeit a mixing of influences.
As a matter of fact, whether finding someone good-looking or not
is opinion forming linked to various factors. Many of which linked
to psychological aspects of the individual.
Some other factors stem from social origins. Above all, one’s ugly
might be someone else’s beauty. once living in a complex globalize
society, diverse beauty standards share the same space. The vast majority
of the world population lacks of the so-called phenotype of High Couture.
Nobody should get upset from not looking quite like those male and
female models from the cat-walk. By the way, in my opinion, too harsh
a concern about beauty tends to impoverish an individual’s essence.
By Jonatas Dornelles
Anthropologist
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