In this thread i would like to brainstorm Social stigmas and analyse what their causes might be and what their effects are, what purposes they could serve and so on.
Social stigmas are negative public conceptions of something.
They can range from Racial prejudices, to superstitions, to being ant-marijuana. Major stigmas are bound to affect the progressions of societal norms.
Can you think of any major social norms, beneficial or hindering?
Teenage pregnancy, un-wed mothers, abortion, incest, cross dressing, homosexuality.
All the major ones tend to be about sex. Throw back to our Christian heritage
what about being a muslim, skinhead, smoker, poor … canadian?.., not religious, disabled, female… the list goes on…
in my opinion sexual stigmas primarily relate to socioeconomic control. for example the bible promoting monogamy creates strong families capable of successfully raising children. Anti homosexuality ensures that more men will be available to procreate with women and vice versa. And even the stoning of prostitutes can be seen as a way of purging would be unsuccessful offspring and or disease/immorality spreading individuals.
These are of course biblical principles which were probably useful 2000+ years ago.
Comparing these to today’s norms, we are raised by society, not truly our parents. we no longer need a strong up bringing because most of us must turn out the same anyway (a consumer/worker with half a mind). Homosexuality is actually a good thing in that it reduces population growth due to the decrease in available men and women.
we no longer usually put people to death for their crimes… we can afford to imprison them and that creates jobs… and is immoral or something…
I think incest is to rare to be worried about, cross dressing i won’t begin to analyse, and finally we have age old abortion.
because we are over pupulated it makes sense that abortion is a benefit. as well with our lax sexual inhibitions and surplus and early pregnancies we need it even more.
not that i’m saying abortion is a contraceptive i’m just trying to understand why it would or would not be accepted.
If sake abortions had been around in ancient times i bet they would have given the decisions to the priests…