Being Sexual: Human Sexuality Revisited (Part 1)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65828/jyfhtt95Keywords:
Relatedness, Merleau-Ponty, being sexual, existential choiceAbstract
This first part of a two-part paper seeks to develop an existentially-informed approach to human sexuality that was initially presented in an earlier paper by the author (Spinelli, 1996). In doing so, it will focus on an existential response to three key assumptions regarding human sexuality that have dominated contemporary sexological thought: namely, the links between sexuality and biology; notions of normality and abnormality; and the link between sexuality and personality or identity. Further, it will seek to address various questions and concerns raised by those who commented on the original paper as well as by other authors who have approached the question of human sexuality from an existential-phenomenological perspective. In particular, it will consider the issues regarding the defining of human sexuality and the question of choice as understood by existential thought. NOTE: Where necessary, I employ the acronym LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) which is intended to emphasize the diversity of alternatives to being sexual heterosexually. I am aware that this initialism is ever-expanding such that 'Q' (for queer or questioning), 'I' (for intersex), 'A' (for asexual), 'P' (for pansexual) and a second 'T' (for transvestite) are becoming increasingly common additions. For the sake of brevity, I have elected to keep to the most common acrostic though my hope and intent is that it will be seen to embrace all possibilities.
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