The Erotic Rites of Swingers

Question 1

Culture implies a certain pattern in society of individual behaviors which includes communication, thoughts, actions, beliefs, and customs among other aspects of life. In America, the dominant cultural values are productivity, independence, objectivity, and a proactive approach to life. Ethnic groups are responsible for providing members with cultural values, including maintenance and intuition. Members of the same society come together irrespective of their culture. When people interact they share their beliefs as well. Some of the groups where people interact include sports clubs where there are a number of people with different cultural backgrounds who come together.

The best example is swinging because it has people of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds but with one goal. Swingers have their own secrets and some language and beliefs that can only be understood by those who are in. Swingers are believed to be conservative since two women can pair, but two men cannot since it is distinct from the gay scenario. Swingers believe that swinging can be healthy for everyone interested if only they follow their required rules (Gould, 2000).

Question 2

Culture is a significant pattern in human life. Every culture is shared by inhabiting the same part of the globe. The geographical location, beliefs, and values constitute their culture, and therefore, being a common group within the society develops the aspect of unity and belonging. Subculture studies usually include the study of symbolism, such as music, dress, and other visible affections by group members.

The elements of culture include the nonmaterial culture and the material culture. These are:

Symbols

Every culture or cultural group has some symbol. A symbol is anything that is used in place of something else. The symbols shared among a group include gestures, images,s or sounds. For example, wearing a black ring to the toe in the swinging community means that one is in. Each symbol has a meaning to the swingers’ lifestyle.

Language

Language is another element in each culture where symbols and words are used to pass a message. Swinging has its own language which outsiders may not understand. It is not a secret word but since one is not part of them they may not get the meaning.

Values

Values are another crucial element in a cultural system that defines what is good or desired. Therefore, in a group, members use the values they share when deciding what is bad and what is good. For instance, for swingers happiness is what they value most and therefore they do not need a social status.

Norms

Each and every society or group has a number of expectations on how its members should and should not behave. A norm is used as a guideline for the behaviour expected, and each society makes up its own rules and decisions regarding behaviours. In-swinging, there are certain ways in which one is supposed to carry oneself. Swinging is an open marriage and requires a certain process. During intimacy when unwanted feeling starts to appear then one should quit swinging.

Question 3

A value is an indication of to what extent something is good or bad or viewed as good or bad in a given society. Values in the cultural group or society are general and lack the speciality of a particular situation or action. Values can be classified according to aesthetics, cognitive, and moral reasons. In a group, each person is treated with dignity and respect. Swingers give a low priority to religion and traditional sense and they do not care about their social status. To them, their values are innate happiness, which can be gained through their immediate circles of friends and relatives (Jenks, 2001).

Question 4

Sanction in sociology is defined as a way of insisting on complying with societal norms. Sanctions can be negative or positive depending on the outcome that is if they are celebrated they are stated as positive but when they punish they are known to be negative. Sanctions are a very powerful force behind the influence of norms such as culture and beliefs.  The reasons, why we enforce social norms, are because they are very crucial in our daily interactions without them we would have been living in chaotic and unstable groups.

Question 5

Globalization allows the extension of cultural diversities outwards. To this extent, we refer to the global culture where culture has become integrated and incorporated into one dominant culture. The sports group’s social values and norms have led to the interaction of various cultural groups. Globalization has had several effects on real life, hence leading to several debates.  The powerful cultural trends have several effects on both underdeveloped as well as advanced countries. These trends are known as modernity, but over time, the modernisation theories have been extended to the ideas of globalization (Kimberly, 2016).

There are a number of family disruptions that distract the forces behind modernization as well as globalization, which leads to conflict between religion and cultural values, Swinging lifestyle has been facing religious and moral objections for over a period of time since they see it as adultery. Swingers are exposed to health risks similar to those exposed to casual sex workers who are at risk of contaminating STDs. Protected sex is encouraged but however, but some engage in barebacking, which is unprotected sex. Swingers like other groups have a global diffusion. It is being copied in other societies not because many people are becoming swingers but because society admits to being part of the community.

References

Gould, T. (2000). The lifestyle: A look at the erotic rites of swingers. Firefly Books Limited.

Jenks, R. (2001). The Lifestyle: A Look at the Erotic Rites of Swingers, by Terry Gould. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH, 38(2), 171-173.

Kimberly, C. (2016). Permission to cheat: ethnography of a swingers’ convention. Sexuality & Culture, 20(1), 56-68.