Obscenity

From Encyclopedia of Sex and Sexuality

By strict definition, obscenity is language, material, or behavior that is socially or legally considered obscene—lewd, disgusting or intended to incite sexual excitement in an offensive way. But the term obscenity is not always used in a sexual context. In fact, many people consider excessive violence on television to be more obscene than explicit sexual materials. For the purposes of this encyclopedia, obscenity will be considered in its sexual context.

Pornography is literature or art that is regarded as obscene. But the terms are not entirely interchangeable. Obscenity may, and often does, refer to spoken language, gestures, movements, and actions, as well as to literature and art. The problem with the label obscenity is that it is subjective. What one person objects to as obscene may be perfectly acceptable and pleasure-giving to another. Individuals within the same community may have very different tastes and feelings about what is indecent or disgusting.

Many people greatly enjoy the use of obscene language or visual materials. For many couples, sexual excitement is enhanced by “talking dirty” to one another or viewing X-rated videos. A problem emerges only if the couple differs on what is acceptable. No one should ever try to force an unwilling partner to participate in something that disgusts him or her. Between consenting adults in the privacy of the bedroom, if no one is hurt and both receive pleasure, whatever “turns you on” is perfectly acceptable.