Sexuality- Freedom of Choice

SEXUALITY- FREEDOM OF CHOICE

From the reading by Halperin I conclude that sexuality is a freedom of choice. For dating back to ancient Greek times in Athens, men of a citizen stature were able to “bed” those, and only those, who were not citizens. Citizen men were able to pick lovers from that of a lower social class not from their own class and the choice of these lovers had no boundaries to male or female; fair game to the citizen. It is apparent to me that the ancient times of Athens enabled choice and no judgment, as long as a position of power was portrayed in one’s choice to explore their sexuality. In opposing thought, Maurice, sets a tone that personal choice veering from that of the normal sexuality choice (boy + girl), is shameful and if discovered, unlawful. Ironically, Maurice is a man of much social stature; good job, nice family and exposure to the finer things in life. Maurice lives that of an aristocratic life, one that most likely is envied. Envied as a result of Maurice being exposed to the finer things in life, however, not the finest- freedom of choice. So here is the irony of Halperin’s thought of sexuality and the life of Maurice; if Maurice lived in that of ancient Greek times, engaging in his choice would be welcomed and not viewed unlawful. Maurice would not be subjected to secrecy nor shame nor living a life less fulfilling. In addition, Maurice went along with the Greek bylaws of sexuality and bedded that of a non-citizen; Scudder. And yet, even though Maurice was abiding the laws of the Greeks, in his modern times of the early 1900s, he was a scoundrel. Maurice was a man that should be subject to the highest punishment of the law, stripped of his social class and left to wallow in his sexuality. Wallow for the fact that as time pressed on from Athens to Europe in the 1900s, sexuality geared its ugly head, and freedom of choice was taken from man. So here is my inquiry, if we have found that the Greeks have provided us with a backbone of our legal system, medical advances and so much more- Why would we deviate from the freedom of sexuality that the Greeks put into play? Now viewing sexuality in that of the times of Athens, and the early 1900s with Maurice- where does that leave us today? With policies such as, don’t ask/don’t tell. With same sex unions not being recognized by the government, yet recognized by employers and insurance companies. So here we are, deviating from that of the Greeks, removing the welcoming and support to that of one’s freedom of choice. Evolving better that those times of Maurice in the 1900s and eliminating legal punishment to those who exercised their freedom of choice when it came to that of the social norm. Who exactly set the social norm of sexuality; boy + girl? However, still not truly accepting of one’s sexuality today lawfully and tying oh so very many strings to those who exercise their freedom of choice, when the choice is not boy + girl.