Effects of Epidemiological Designation on Sexuality - Essay Example

ESSAY: LINGUISTICS Name Professor’s Name Course name Date Question 1 Introduction Human beings since the past have established themselves as social being (Vanwesenbeeck, 2001). Continuously, people interact with the environment and other people during their lives. The various ways that people use to interact create the aspect of culture norms and morality. Many cultures since ancient times have put an effort to establish moral boundaries that are essential in guiding relationships among individuals in a society (Lecture 1: Intro). While culture defines the identity of a community, moral boundaries create a sense of respect in a community and acknowledgment of various ranks or categories in a society. Ranks include aspects such as the difference in age or authority while categories include issues such as gender. Moral boundaries moderate how different gender groups interact within a society. The moral boundaries also define the type of respect to accord to various authorities within a community. The aspect of moral boundaries and its effect in regulating interactions has widely been adopted in control of infectious diseases. Most of the infectious diseases were associated with immoral social interactions. Therefore, dealing with such a situation required that moral boundaries be set in order to moderate interactions (Vanwesenbeeck, 2001). The moral boundaries may have a different application but is meant to limit interactions through socially refraining interactions or accord respect. Epidemiology has adopted a new way of understanding the trends and risk factors of AIDS among communities. The epidemiological designation has introduced some effects over the concept of sexuality. This essay discusses the application of moral boundaries in the intervention of infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS and its effects the understanding of sexuality. Moral Boundaries For many years, Moral boundaries have been useful in moderating social interactions (Parker, 2001). Some activities were restricted to particular groups. In the postcolonial periods, the moral boundaries have undergone tremendous changes to erode some cultures (Vanwesenbeeck, 2001). Moral boundaries relating to sexuality have also changed and emergent trends in sexuality. Sexual immorality in the current generation gives new ideas in the epidemiological studies. Epidemiological Designation of risk groups in the later colonial periods According to the HIV epidemic has been a menace globally claiming many lives and resources. Many efforts and strategies are suggested and implemented in an attempt to counter the spread and effects of HIV infection. HIV is a sexually transmitted disease that been associated with sexual immorality Vanwesenbeeck (2001), within the society has for long. Some social misconduct such as drug and substance abuse has also been an important contributor to decision impairment leading to sexual immorality. Sexual immorality sends out alarms calling for morality measures in the 1980’s during the time when AIDS epidemic had been discovered (Vanwesenbeeck, 2001). The epidemiological studies on HIV and AIDS attempt to establish the risk factors and develop risk groups associated with the disease (Irvine, 1995). Sexual addiction has proven to be a risky behavior that enhances the spread of the AIDS virus. Sexual immorality can be either; among same-sex individuals or people of different sex (Lecture 1: Sexology 2015). During the emergence of AID, individuals involved in sexual immorality such as gay practices, were identified to have the deadly virus. Sexual immoral behavior was characterized by sexual addiction. Moral issues linked to sexual addiction were and are continually shaped by religion and political societies. A variety of structural factors has worked to shape trends and spread of HIV. Several structures that include moral erosion have created new social structures that are vulnerable grounds for penetration and spread of AIDS. Moral erosion among communities leads to significant changes in the structural setup and social interactions among communities (Lecture 1: Intro). Researchers earlier on failed to recognize the social dimension of HIV and AIDS but later on it was identified as one important issue that needed investigation. The moral issues in the society are responsible for shaping and providing answers to sexual behaviors (Han, 2006). Epidemiology provides new structures and a new understanding of sex, social aspects and sexuality within societies. The classification adopted identifies specific sexual practices that eventually turn out to be sexual practices that are risk factors. As stated before, the social behaviors are emerging that creates a new sense of sexuality and indicates the height of immorality in the social structures (Lecture 1: Intro). Effects of Epidemiological Designation on Sexuality Human being are born either as male or female and in rare cases born as bisexual. The state of being either male of female creates a baseline for defining sexual roles and hence the concept of sexuality (Vanwesenbeeck, 2001). Sexuality provides an important basis for assigning gender roles within society (Irvine, 1995). Cultural and social changes over time have been significant in changing the concept and understanding of sexuality among many communities (Parker, 2001). Emerging sexuality such as homosexuality has created a new understanding of the sexuality concept among distinct groups (Han, 2006). According to Orchard (2007), these specific groups include the gay groups and the lesbian groups. The epidemiological designation has therefore played a crucial role in restructuring the sexual experience and perception. The social and cultural structure change gradually stimulates psychological perception among people leading to change experiment adoption and finally addiction. Cultural settings change and new emerging trends emerge that include prostitution. These new trends describe the new sexual behaviors. The new sexual behavior is responsible for providing useful information on HIV epidemiology (Lecture 1: Sexology 2015). Conclusion Culture in many societies is dynamic and changes with time and generation. Generations can erode a Culture or propagate it over time. Morality is one important aspect when studying culture and social structures of people in societies. A particular culture and moral setting of a society can influence the spread of an epidemic such as AIDS. In the study of the spread of AIDS, researchers tend to adopt an epidemiological designation on sexuality. The aspect of epidemiological designation creates a new understanding of the concept of sexuality. Emerging sexualities like homosexuality have been associated with increasing spread of AIDS. Other immorality issues include lesbianism, gay and prostitution is some of the sexuality issues created by epidemiological designation. Reference Orchard T (2007). In this Life: The Impact of Gender and Tradition on Sexuality and Relationships for Devadasi sex Workers In RuraL India. Sexuality & Culture, Winter 2007, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 3-27. Han C (2006). Geisha of a Different Kind: Gay Asian Men and the Gendering of Sexual Identity. Sexuality & Culture, Summer 2006, Vol. 10. No. 3, pp. 3–28. Irvine J (1995). Reinventing Perversion: Sex Addiction and Cultural Anxieties. Journal of the History of Sexuality, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 429-450. Lecture 1: Sexology 2015. Lecture 1: Intro Parker R (2001). Sexuality, Culture, and Power in HIV/AIDS Research. Annu. Rev. Anthropol. 2001. 30: pp 163–79. Vanwesenbeeck V (2001). High Roads and Low Roads in HIV/AIDS Programming: Plea for a Diversification Itinerary. Critical Public Health Vol. 21, No. 3, 289–296 Read More