Deck 12: Sexual Morality

Question 1

Date Rape. Early one Sunday morning, Dalia opens her dorm room door and finds her friend Amy standing there, her eyes red from crying. Inside Dalia's room, Amy begins talking about what happened to her the night before. She had been at a large party in another dorm, drinking beer and dancing with a group of friends, until the party started winding down around 2:00 a.m. Then a guy she'd been flirting with invited her back to his room down the hall from the party. She said goodbye to her friends and went with him. In his room, they had another beer and started making out. Amy tells Dalia that everything was fine until the guy pushed her down hard onto his bed and began pulling off her clothes. "It happened so fast," Amy said. "I was in shock and was scared because all of a sudden he was acting so rough. I just sort of let it happen, but it was awful." Amy begins to cry. "Did you tell him to stop?" Dalia asks. "I didn't say anything," Amy says. "But inside, I was screaming 'no.' I just lay there completely still until it was over."
"Are you saying he raped you?" Dalia asks. "I don't know," Amy says. "Maybe."
Do you think what happened to Amy was rape? Why or why not? What do you think is required for true consent to a sexual encounter?

Answer 1

The scenario described in the case clearly indicates that the girl was raped because the guy forced her to engage in sexual activity even if the girl did not agree. For true consent in a sexual encounter, both need to agree in engaging in the sexual behavior and both need to desire to engage in such sexual intercourse with the other person.

Question 2

Distinguish conceptual from factual matters with regard to sexual morality. What is the difference between them?

Answer 2

The difference between conceptual and factual matters regarding sexual morality is that conceptual matters try to describe the concepts surrounding sexual activity, such as trying to explain love, sexual desire and sexual pleasure.
On the other hand, factual matters include proven explanations or facts about the advantages and disadvantages of sexual morality. For example, sexually transmitted diseases would be a fact indicating how sexual activity could be harmful.

Question 3

Defining Marriage. Maria is opposed to the idea of gay marriage. In a recent conversation in the school cafeteria, Maria argues, "If homosexuals are allowed to marry, then why not allow polygamy or other kinds of marriages?" Richard is gay. He responds, "That's ridiculous. All we're asking is that our relationships be respected by society and the law. Nobody is asking to legalize polygamy. Even the Mormons have given up on polygamy." Maria replies, "I know the Mormon Church no longer officially approves of it. But there are still Mormons who live in polygamous families. Haven't you seen it on TV shows like Sister Wives on TLC and Big Love on HBO? What if some of those folks-or Muslims who live in the U.S.-want to legalize polygamy?" Richard thinks about it for a minute and then replies, "I still think you are comparing apples and oranges. Gay marriage is not at all like polygamous marriage. I'm talking about marriage between two and only two committed partners, not marriage of multiple partners. You can legalize the one without legalizing the other. You think that there's a slippery slope here. But I deny it." Maria responds, "How can you draw the line once you open the door to nontraditional marriage?"
Is there a slippery slope here? Should we open marriage up to a variety of other arrangements? Is it possible to draw a clear line in this case? Please justify your response with specific reference to the philosophical concepts discussed in the chapter.

Answer 3

There are ethical views that both support and condemn the legalization of gay marriage. For example, legalization of gay marriage would be seen as a negative thing by views found in natural law and deontological theories as both views condemn any form of sexual behavior that is not focused on reproduction and preserving human species.
On the other hand, consequentialist would view the legalization of gay marriage as a positive thing because legalizing gay marriage would bring happiness to those people that love a person with the same sex but are unable to marry him or her.

Question 4

What are some factual matters that would be relevant for consequentialist arguments regarding sexual behavior?

Question 5

Prostitution. David's friends are arranging his bachelor party. They are making plans to go as a group to Las Vegas for one last weekend "out with the boys." One of David's friends, Steven, suggests that they pool their money and treat David to a night in one of Nevada's legal brothels. Another friend, Tom, is opposed to the idea. Tom says that prostitution is wrong. Tom thinks prostitution exploits women. Tom also thinks that David's fiancée, Monica, would be hurt if she ever found out about it. But Steven argues that prostitution is legal in Nevada and the women make good money doing what they do. Steven also says that David has already told him that he wants to go to a strip club as part of the bachelor party. "There's not much difference between a strip club and a brothel," Steven says. Tom responds, "But one is fantasy and the other is reality." Steven shakes his head. "It's all sex, man," he adds. Tom thinks about that for a moment. Then he says, "You know, maybe we shouldn't go to the strip club either. Monica wouldn't like it." Steven replies, "Well, this is David's party. And it all depends on what we tell Monica. Remember, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!"
Whose side are you on? Is there something wrong with prostitution? Is there a difference between visiting a strip club and visiting a prostitute? Would it make a difference if David and his friends were honest with Monica about their plans?

Question 6

According to a Kantian type of morality, we ought to treat persons as persons. Deceit and coercion violate this requirement. In this view, what kinds of things regarding sexual morality would be morally objectionable?

Question 7

How would a natural law theory be used to judge sexual behavior? Explain.

Question 8

What is meant by the term perversion? How would this notion be used to determine whether there was something called "sexual perversion?"

Question 9

How do arguments about homosexuality and gay marriage connect to claims about other forms of non-marital sex, adultery, and even marital sex among sterile couples?

Question 10

Is the move toward the legalization of gay marriage in some countries and states in the United States a good thing or a bad thing? Justify your response with specific references to the moral theories discussed in this chapter.