Laura T. Smith: Teaching

Halperin's main point was to implement the message that sexuality should be differentiated from sex, and associated with the mysteries of individual taste. However, this view becomes problematic as it does not acknowledge social construction of sexuality, an argument discrediting the view of sexuality from an essentialist perspective. Thus, Halperin uses differing cultural perspectives of sex and sexuality, showing that sexuality is an inherent sexual taste and is still influenced by social forces. Ancient Greek culture places sexuality in the realm of political & social standing; Greek sexuality was not dependent on biological gender, but was dependent on the class of the individual. Greek men were expected to associate sexuality with dominance, so sexually dominating a boy was "natural" in this perspective. Through these examinations of sexuality in context of culture, the reader can easily assert that there is no history of sexuality, as "individuated" sexuality is independent of culture and socially constructed sexuality is emerges differently in each culture.