[DSRP Evidence](https://dsrpevidence.org/)

# Sexual Taboos and Social Boundaries

## Details

**Authors** Davies

**Year** 1982

**Publisher** American Journal of Sociology

**Discipline** Sociology

[Read it at the publisher](https://doi.org/10.1086/227554) 
10.1086/227554

## In authors' words

### Abstract

The strong taboos against homosexuality, bestiality, and transvestim that exist in many Western societies are teh result of attempts to establish and defend strong ethnic, religious, or institutional boundaries. If religious, military, or political leaders decide to strengthen the boundaries of their group, they tend in consequence to impose harsh penalties on forms of sexual behavior that breach social or symbolic boundaries. This may be because they have adopted a code of belief and conduct that emphasizes the need to maintain boundaries of all kinds, including those between humans and animals and between males and females, or because they wish to prohibit the formation of sexual relationships that cut across the internal and external boundaries of their group or organization. The principal groups and institutions examined are the Old Testament Jews, the Parsees, ancient Greek states and their armies, early and medieval Christianity, the German National Socialist movement, and the modern British armed forces.

### What they set out to do (purpose)

Where do taboos and social boundaries originate from?

### What they found (results)

The strong taboos in Western culture against things like homosexuality and bestiality were attempts to maintain and cultivate ethnic, religious, and institutional boundaries.

## Commentary

### In short

The creation and maintenance of identity-other Distinctions can have a massive impact on people's lives, leading to discriminatory behaviors and policies.

### In more detail

In 1982, Christine Davies explored the relationship between sexual taboos and social boundaries. She found that the strong taboos in Western culture against things like homosexuality and bestiality were attempts to maintain and cultivate ethnic, religious, and institutional boundaries. She notes that these taboos cannot be of a biological or psychological origin, because other societies and species do not consider those behaviors to be taboo or, at the very least, have much weaker taboos in place. Davies writes that the origin of these social boundaries/taboos comes from either religious or military leaders. In order to maintain hierarchical control, they create a rigid, Distinctive identity for their followers to uphold. Davies also found that when an organization or leader tried to strengthen their group’s boundaries, they began by regulating or controlling sexual behavior. This regulation creates an “other” for the majority to view as an enemy. In the example of homosexuality, the Old Testament clearly states that if a man sleeps with a man like he would with a woman, he is to be killed. This purposely marginalizes homosexuals, and creates a framework for an identity that the Jewish people (in this case) followed. This implies that the creation and maintenance of identity-other Distinctions can have a massive impact on people's lives, leading to discriminatory behaviors and policies.

**Patterns it shows** D

**How to cite this** Davies (1982). Sexual Taboos and Social Boundaries. American Journal of Sociology.