The Intersection of Politics and SexualityGayle Rubin's essay “Thinking Sex” is a profound work that details the history and influence of politics on ideas about sexuality in the United States. Rubin uses what is described as “moral panic” during the late 1800s and mid-late 1900s to explain how sexuality is repressed in Western society. Rubin develops a theory to counter the sexual oppression and persecution of sexual minorities that is occurring during this time. Through this “radical theory of sex” she establishes, Rubin identifies six ideological formations about sexuality that contribute to repressive attitudes about sexuality and sex in the United States (Rubin 9). Rubin's training in sexual negativity can be used in queer studies to explain attitudes toward sex by analyzing how social norms and institutions contribute to the idea of ​​sex as a negative force, and which forms of sex are endorsed and why. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay According to Rubin, sex negativity is the belief that sex is a “dangerous, destructive, negative force” (Rubin 11). Within this concept of sexual negativity is a “charmed circle” that shows what type of sex is perceived as acceptable, which in America in the first half of the 1900s would be monogamous, heterosexual, or procreative sex (Rubin 13). Due to the dominant beliefs and morals of the period, stemming from religion and political culture, anything outside these limits was considered deviant. Many social institutions contribute to the idea of ​​sex negativity, whether it be education, religion, or medicine. Each of these institutions in society has a way of promoting sexual stratification in a social, cultural, or political way. In today's society there is a huge negative connotation attached to sex in general, especially in the education system. Children are still taught abstinence-only sex education and are not taught any sexuality other than heterosexuality. Most of what we are taught about sex as children and even as adults is about sexual negativity. As a society, we shouldn't talk openly about sex. The current discourse on sex education is linked to sexual negativity that has existed for centuries. Aside from the educational institution, sexual negativity is prevalent in everyday life. Individuals are shamed and shunned for participating in non-heterosexual sex. Rubin states that among deviant sexualities some of the most detested include “transsexuals, transvestites, fetishists, sadomasochists, sex workers such as prostitutes and porn models, and the humblest of all, those whose eroticism transgresses generational boundaries” (Rubin 12). These people mentioned by Rubin were marginalized in American society, they were not seen as normal and their sexuality was denounced. Society favors good and normal sexual acts while condemning those considered abnormal. Instead of relying on factors such as respect for one's partner, love and consent, the system is based on shaming those acts that were outside the "norm" established through social and cultural values ​​during that period of time. Furthermore, Rubin's inclusion and critique of sex negativity in his “radical theory of sex” helps facilitate his argument that negative views about sex foster repression and persecution against sexual minorities. Not only are there negative opinions.