The Eroticization and Normalization of Sexual Behavior in Marriage

Abstract

The concept of ‘emancipation of sex’ should be reconsidered. We suggest three propositions. 1) A sexual behavior is emancipatied by comparing the perniciousness of other sexual behaviors. 2) The loosening of social regulation on a sexual behavior is accompanied with the tightening of regulation on other sexual behaviors. 3) Therefore, emancipation of sexual behaviors doesn't occur homogeneously.
In this paper, we emamine the universe of discourses on sex in modern Japan. We find that the eroticization of sexual behavior in marriage occured in 1910's and it was accompanied with stronger regulations on other sexual behaviors (masturbation, premarital intercourse, prostitution, and homosexuality).