Premarital Counseling about Sexuality Issues
Sexuality is a sensitive issue for which people perception and attitude defines the willingness to discuss the concept backgrounds and consequences. The case of Steve and Nadia is a complicated one. It is because both belong to two different cultural backgrounds. In open culture societies, people take adaptive approach to share their views on this particular concept. In culturally bounded societies cultural norms and expectations from a person defines the significance of the issue (Francoeur, 1999). In many Asian countries, a restricted and closed cultural system has been seen when it comes to discussing the sexuality in general and specific terms (Ilkkaracan, 2008). This paper examines the premarital decisions that need to be taken by Steve and Nadia.
American Viewpoint about Sexuality
American society generally shows liberal attitude towards issues that have been characterized as sensitive and restricted in other societies. Americans do hold a straight forward concept about the sexuality and its associated implications. In general context, Americans argue that our sexual behavior is 'fixed and inborn', and therefore influences of outside factors decreases to alter the perception regarding sexuality (William, 2007). These external influencers include society, family, culture, and peers. Therefore Steve might not feel a guilty in having sex with Nadia.
Americans have a constructivist viewpoint towards sexuality (Freitas, 2008). If we compare the message and perceptive thinking point with of Americans with Asians, we see a great difference in acceptance of concept in society and willingness to openly discuss the concept. Americans defines sexuality as intrinsic derive to fulfill specific needs related to physical satisfaction and mental cognitive. There are certain desires that remain unfulfilled and consequently moved to unconscious mind. This unfulfilled drives the action and behavior of human to seek pleasure from alternate sources (Francoeur, 1999). In American society, sexuality is the primary factor in human life. Many American researchers classified in their theories that human life is dictated through sex (Smith, 1998).
Role of American Society and Sexuality Concept
American culture fosters the openness characteristics and encourages its citizen to have open-sharing approach. It classifies the role of inherent factors with adoptive characteristics that are considered acceptable in society. Mainly, important thing is the upbringing of a person and the environment to which a person frequently interacts. Sexuality as a concept embarks significant points that define the concept acceptance in American society and its practical implication. People generally resort to these concepts as the ultimate satisfaction opportunity and since everyone has been a part of sexuality or will be a part of it in any stage of life, therefore, person should have exploring attitude towards sexuality (Gamson, 2004). Similar to other nations, people in America also hold mix perspectives about sexuality.
Generally old aged people who are conservative in nature characterize the sexuality as bad thing in life if a person is unmarried or try to explore about it before marriage (William, 2007). Contrastingly, the contemporary generation has an optimistic perspective towards sexuality. Sexuality is not a bad thing in life as more or less everyone in his life gets an opportunity to experience the feeling or want to have it (Freitas, 2008). American culture in this perspective has very open and optimistic approach towards sexuality and places concern on diminishing the false implications related to sexuality (William et al., 1999). Sexuality in general terms although addresses the concept of sexual intercourse, but it is only one aspect of sexuality. It also considers gender perspective, and associated consequences of sexuality principle (Turner, 2003).
Asian Viewpoint about Sexuality
Asian societies show a conservative attitude towards issues that have been characterized as sensitive and restricted in other societies (Ilkkaracan, 2008). Asians do not hold a straight forward concept about the sexuality and its associated implications as Americans actually do. Influence of society, parent, peers, family member, and cultural norms is highlighted in defining the actions of a person. People in Asian countries are mainly bound to conform to the rules of society, norms of culture, and expectation of their direct family members which direct their actions and perceptive style of thinking to present their stance especially on sensitive issues like sexuality (Bulbeck, 2009).
Contraception
Contraception is basically an action regarding the conjugal activity. Conjugal activity is the act of sexual intercourse, and the concept of contraception reveals the dealing of the possible outcomes of this activity. The possible outcomes are definitely the birth expectation associated with the involvement in the conjugal activity. These are treated differently by different people. According to my opinion Steve and Nadia should should use contraception for premarital sex.
Sternberg’s Triangular theory of Love
Sternberg says that three elements are the most important in a perfect love. People who are passionate, intimate and committed is the ones who will be successful in their love life. Usually these three elements are present in consummate love. The two people who are in a relationship, if they experience these three elements, they will be successful (Sternberg, 2011).
According to Sternberg, though consummate love is the best, but it will be successful only when the two persons match in terms of the triangle (passion, intimacy and commitment). There may be instances where the two people in a relationship have all the three elements, but the triangles do not match. Firstly, it is very important for individuals to have the three elements and then it is important for them to match on the triangle, as well. Sternberg’s theory of love is very helpful in identifying whether a person is experiencing true love or not and tells us that if a relationship does not have the three elements, it is very less likely that the relationship will survive (Sternberg, 2011).
References
Francoeur, R. (1999). Sexuality in America: understanding our sexual values and behavior. Edition: 1. Continuum International Publishing Group
Gamson J. (2004). The Sociology of Sexualities: Queer and Beyond, Annual Review of Sociology, Vol. 30, pp. 47-64
Ilkkaracan, P. (2008). Deconstructing sexuality in the Middle East: challenges and discourses. Edition: 1. Ashgate Publishing
Joshi, K. (2003). Sexuality in India: teenager and teacher. Edition: 1. Gyan Books
William C. et al. (1999). Sexuality in the Workplace: Organizational Control, Sexual Harassment, and the Pursuit of Pleasure, Annual Review of Sociology, Vol. 25, (1999), pp. 73-93
