Introduction
In contemporary society, the expression of sexuality is viewed by some antagonistic feminists as the pinnacle of moral decay. However, irrespective of the stance, both protagonists and antagonists agree that human beings have a deep interest in the sexual material and the image of sex. This reflective treatise explores the written media on the subject of the expression of sexuality. Specifically, it reviews the topic of sexuality in the book Kama Sutra Sex: Kama Sutra Underground Sex Guide to Making Your Lover Addicted to You by Jack Korbid. The choice of the book was based on its wide coverage and almost platinum status in the US as a platform for the expression of sexuality. The book is very popular with women, who have an interest in the topic of sexuality expression explored by the author. The paper also explores stereotypes, gender expectations, and assumptions made by the author about the sexual orientation of the audience.
Sexuality Book Review
Sexual expression in the media can be traced to the early centuries of Ancient Greece and Rome. They had frescos depicting threesomes, cunnilingus, and fellatio (Penny 13). Interestingly, as early as the second century, the Kama Sutra handbook was more of a sex manual rather than a relationship book. The book Kama Sutra Sex: Kama Sutra Underground Sex Guide to Making Your Lover Addicted to You is an interesting sex guide written by Jack Korbid that is aimed primarily at the female audience. The book concentrates on sexual arousal and suggests the use of aids to catch the attention of your partner. The author delves into the sensitive issue of proper image packaging as part and parcel of sexual stimulation (Korbid 12). The book contains scenarios that take a reader into a world of sexual fantasy full of experimentation and perfection. Korbid explains some of the most erotic tricks to boost sexual urge and explores them in detail. These tricks include biting, kissing, touching, and proper body preparation for satisfactory sex.
Korbid creates a world of fantasy in the mind of the reader by exploring different possible poses for deeper and longer sexual intercourse. Interestingly, the author is keen to discuss each pose in detail and leaves the reader with very little to imagine. For instance, in discussing pleasure zones, the author engages the reader on a journey of kinky sex that is associated with how the body is packaged before sex and during seduction (Korbid 31). In chapter three, the author explains the importance of a woman having a lusty, sensual, and passionate voice to activate passion in a man before sex (Korbid 28). Korbid suggests that intimacy cannot be complete if the element of provocation is passive.
Sexual expression can be found in the form of semi-nude and arousing pictures of beautiful sexual objects. These illustrations satisfy the reader’s fantasy for different sex positions. The females are illustrated in provocative poses and display their sexuality in the form of exposed breasts, tights underpants, and the exaggeration of their curves (Korbid 33). The book exploits the desire, imagination, and fantasies of the male gender towards sexual appeal coming from the female gender. In fact, the topic of sexual expression is packaged in the book as the origin and focus of setting trends of what men consider as ideal sexual expression, which a woman should have and be willing to practice (Korbid 48). Therefore, women are free beings with a right to discover, experience, and willingly participate in erotic acts displayed in the book.
Discussion
Sexual Stereotyping in the Book
The three categories of sexual stereotyping that are identified in the book are the gratification of the exploitative male culture, liberal stereotyping, and pro-sex stereotyping. Under the male culture gratification model, the author creates the perception that the exploitative male culture often uses women as sexual expression materials and as commodities that can be bought and used as sex pets (Penny 27). The liberal stereotypes in the book entertain the thought of giving women a choice to either be in sexual expression materials or not since the author has created the perception that women believe in self-consciousness and independent decision making when it comes to sex. In an interesting twist, the pro-sex stereotypes explore hidden advantages that sexual expression materials have on women (Valentine 33). Among the identified benefits are self-actualization, economic gains, and self-identity. Therefore, these divergent opinions make sexual expression arguments a thorny issue, especially when women are portrayed as sexual objects for the gratification of the male desire in a relationship.
The excessive sexual expression in this book may be a contributor to sexism that results in unending visual-influenced violence against women since they are presented as objects of sex (Penny 35). For instance, the re-conceptualized display of women as sexual objects is a violation of women’s civil rights. The author suggests that sex through coercion is seductive, especially when coming from a man. This means that the book endorses coercion as a form of sexual expression for men seeking to transform women into sex objects.
Gender Role Expression or Script
The book shows disregard for basic moral standards and endorses degradation, manipulation, and skewering of the subject of sexuality towards a permanent imbalance between principles and control of environment pressure on women’s sexuality (Taiz and Taiz 41). From the online review of the book, more than 60% of self-confessed feminist supporters recommended complete illumination of the visual expression of women as sexual objects through the use of nude pictures. This is due to the fact that most actors are sexually abused, disparate and poor women who are forced by circumstance to participate in demoralizing erotic demeanors to satisfy the blotted male ego.
Reflectively, antagonists of sexual expression in the book are mainly feminists with sensible arguments on why erotic images of naked women are immoral. For instance, the constant competition between sexual expression books such as the Karma Sutra Sex is responsible for verbal abuse and dominance of males over the female members of the society. Therefore, the resultant degradation and soaring aggression levels make women uncomfortable in exploring their sexuality (Reichert and Lambiase 29). This is because the sex life of a person is greatly affected by aggressive images since negative stereotyping is affecting women who cannot express their sexuality as suggested in the book.
The negative effects of sexual expression could contribute to the distortion of sexual expression among the male and female populations in real life. This controversial debate confirms a direct relationship between aggression and non-consensual sex among the male population. Sexism and misogyny in culture promote misogynistic attitudes (Richards and Marcum 56). As a result, the effect may be seen in self-esteem, happiness, security, and relationships with women.
Despite a series of bills and laws that have been passed to censor sexual expression materials, print media industry came up with many ways of fighting censorship that is threatening their survival. For instance, private membership delivery of sexual materials has proven successful since the target population is assumed to be mature enough (Richards and Marcum 27). In addition, the production of educative sexual content is slowly but steadily gaining ground in America.
Low self-esteem, maladaptive coping skills, disturbed self-identity, poor interpersonal skills, lack of social support, and increased vulnerability to stress have all been found in higher prevalence in an adult who spends more time using sexual materials than adults who regulate their consumption of such materials. Stress is a holistic phenomenon that possesses numerous emotional, biological, cognitive, and coping aspects (Penny 19). A review of the pathophysiology of the stress response and its impact on the immune system provides a foundation for consideration of reviewing the impacts of stress on the frequency of consumption of sexual materials such as this book.
Assumptions about Sexuality and Gendered Expectations
From the above discussion, the author’s sexual expression has a negative impact on society. Basically, the exaggerated, perfectly placed, and erotic images on naked dummies in unrealistic sexual positions have resulted in the misconception of sexual expression in real life, as most people want to emulate what they read and see in the book. Since the book is created with business intentions, the authors have exploited biases in creating the ideal sexual expression for women. For instance, copies of the book in the market promote sexual expression with a sinister intent to misrepresent the ideal sexuality for women. Apparently, the female gender in the book is displayed as a simple object of fantasy, desire, and fulfillment of the imagination of the male gender in terms of ideal sexual expression (Richards and Marcum 39). When such an image is permanently placed in the mind of the consumer after reading the book, the victim might internalize the negative perception and declare women as lacking any agency apart from being sexual objects.
Assumptions by the Author about the Sexuality of Audience
The author assumes that the audience is looking for perfection in terms of sexual satisfaction. Therefore, the suggestions in the book are packaged to influence the behavior of the audience towards sexuality within a limited perfection matrix. As behaviors are repeated and become more practiced, they become automatic. Non-attention, automatic behavior, and preconceived expectations interfere with learning and limit options for response. Being mindful of new creative and effective coping strategies allows for continued learning and growth. Thus, the author applies cognitive restructuring to widen the reader’s consciousness through the creation of sexual awareness and rationalization of beliefs and emotions in order to present views that are acceptable to the audience.
Works Cited
Korbid, Jack. Kama Sutra Sex: Kama Sutra Underground Sex Guide to Making Your Lover Addicted to You. Digital Services LLC, 2016.
Penny, Laurie. Unspeakable Things: Sex, Lies and Revolution. A&C Black, 2014.
Reichert, Tom, and Jacqueline Lambiase. Sex in Advertising: Perspectives on the Erotic Appeal. Routledge, 2014.
Richards, Tara, and Catheerine Marcum. Sexual Victimization: Then and Now. SAGE Publications, 2014.
Taiz, Lincoln, and Lee Taiz. Flora Unveiled: The Discovery and Denial of Sex in Plants. Oxford University Press, 2017.
Valentine, Beth. Dancing Outside the Box: Coloring Outside the Lines. iUniverse, 2013.