First published 1991
Sexuality appears natural and instinctive, but Jamake Highwater reveals how deeply culture shapes our sexual beliefs and behaviors. He examines the ways societies construct ideas about gender and sexual practices, showing that what seems biological is actually learned. Each culture creates its own boundaries between acceptable and forbidden sexual behavior, labeling certain practices as moral or immoral, healthy or sick. Highwater demonstrates that sexuality responds more to cultural conditioning than any other aspect of human experience. The book challenges readers to recognize how their own sexual attitudes reflect the specific cultural context they inhabit rather than universal truths about human nature.
Genres: gender-studies, anthropology, sexuality, non-fiction, academic, cultural-studies
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: academic, cultural-critique
Period: 20th-Century
240 pages · Paperback · Plume