Resolving Social Problems Associated with Sexuality: Can a "Sex-Positive" Approach Help?

Abstract

Social work, in addition to many other professions, remains very concerned with resolving and preventing various problems associated with sexuality. Social workers commonly may be involved in treating victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse, dealing with client personal issues concerning sexuality and sexual functioning, and advocating for policies that empower and protect individuals who are vulnerable. Sociosexual issues are serious and may affect many people, thus it is necessary to explore important possibilities of addressing such issues effectively. It appears that considering a broad “sex-positive” approach from which to understand sexuality may be useful in helping to resolve major sociosexual problems. Despite its potential benefits, a sex-positive approach has yet to be substantively used in social work. In his classic work addressing sexual variation, Bullough (1976) considered societies as being sex positive or sex negative. Sex-negative societies encourage sexual asceticism, and sex is largely constructed as being particularly risky, problematic, or perhaps adversarial. Sex negativity is linked not only to prejudices associated with various sexual practices, but also to sexism, racism, homophobia, and ageism (Glickman, 2000). However, a sex-positive approach is more encompassing; it also emphasizes the pleasurable, rewarding, and nonprocreative aspects of sex. A sex-positive approach recognizes the tremendous cultural diversity in sexual practices (see Bullough, 1976; Popovic, 2006), while also acknowledging substantial variation in personal meanings and preferences. In discussing sexual diversity, it has been noted that, too often, cultural forces are given “lip service” but not serious attention in understanding sexual practices (Bhugra, Popelyuk, & McMullen, 2010).