INTRODUCTION
Sexual revolution refers to social movements that are in contradiction with the traditional aspects of behaviour in terms of interpersonal relationships and sexuality in the western world between the 1960’s to 1980’s. It includes rampant sex outside the norm, the use of contraceptives, increased public nudity, homosexuality, abortion, premarital sex and pornography. The TV stations prior to the 1960’s showed decent looking families with their children, properly dressed and exhibit excellent manners. The men wore suits and the women wore dresses with pearls while the kids do house chores. The mention of sexual intercourse or public nudity in the station was never a factor of that time. It was even normal to see a married couple o TV sleeping on separate beds.
The moment 1960 clicks in, there was a rapid change as a result of anti-war and civil rights movements. This created a generation of young adults who had a problem with authority and questioned parental values. There is a group called ‘hippies’ in the USA that promoted free sex and the power of love. The roots of sexual revolution also led to the feminist movement where women pointed out about the importance of female empowerment in politics and the workplace. The women also questioned their sexual roles.
Roots and causes of sexual revolution
1. Feminist movement: Women argued that they should be allowed to have sex freely as men. They argued that women that are single share the same sexual desires as everyone and so should be allowed to fulfil those needs. For the conservative Americans they found these things popostrous. This led to the introduction of the pill. Some people even say the pill is part of the root of sexual revolution as it influenced it. It gave women the ability of separation of sex from procreation. Imagine having sex without getting pregnant, the ladies took advantage of that and enjoyed sex life to the maximum. This issues broke down family unit known as marriage because women are free to have sex with anyone, anytime and anywhere. For men, this was hardly an innovation because single men have always had their way in having sex outside marriage so with the coming of sexual revolution sex has become cost free from them.Also virginity became out of fashion. It stopped becoming a factor to use in marrying a woman. Doctors encouraged women and men to explore their sexual needs before marriage
2. Gay rights movement: prior to the 1960’s one of the most difficult thing for a person to do was to ‘come out of the closet’ declare they might be gay. This would have led to your parents disowning you and even kill you in other societies but after a study showed that majority of people keep their sexuality in secret. This posed the gay rights movement which urged people to live as full term homosexuals. They now own their clubs, joints, gay porn, they can marry freely and even adopt children. They are free to come out on TV to declare their sexuality. These revolutions had increased as a result of literacy and decline in the application of divine revelations. Another factor that further increased this revolution is the writings of philosophers such as Herbert Marcuse and Wilhelm Reich.
3. The Baby Boom: These are younger generations born between the years 1946 – 1962 who don’t aspire to be like their parents. They wanted to make changes to the attitude towards sex and gender and because they were so many they were able to make drastic changes.
4. Industrial Revolution: Advances in chemistry led to the introduction of medicines that will cure STD’s and condoms. This led people to believe that the tendency to have unwanted pregnancies, abortion, fear of contacting sexually transmitted diseases are limited so this boosted the sexual liberation.
Steps Muslim society should take
Islam does not accept the idea of having ‘free sex’. Our religion is not forcing us to supress our urges but to fulfil them in an acceptable way; a way recognised by the Sariah. Islam recognises that the biological aspects of our body have a purpose in this life, they weren’t created without a purpose so natural instincts are not be supressed but be nurtured. There are ways a Muslim will prevent sexual revolution;
1. Getting married: Marriage is very important in Islam for guarding chastity.
"Marry the spouseless among you...if they are poor, God will enrich them of His bounty." (Qur'an 24:32).
And if a Muslim cannot afford to marry and he has fear of having illegal sex, then he is recommend to fast so as to reduce his sexual urges. Fasting increases taqwa.
2. Understanding the difference between Islam and secular view: To prevent sexual revolution it is important to know that the concept of freedom is different in Islam. In a secular environment, a person is free to do what he likes as long as it does not obstruct other people’s rights while in Islam a person is free to do whatever he or she likes as long as it does not infringe in other people’s rights and also the rights of God. We have to accept there is a limitation of our personal freedom otherwise we will go astray. One is responsible for the use of his body in Islam and we aren’t allowed to harm ourselves. This means our right is also limited.
"The hearing, the sight, the heart all of these shall be questioned of." (17:38)
3. Ability to restrain from homosexuality: All the Abrahamic religions forbid this action. But the western society chose to ignore religious belief and build on the so called secular views. In Islam, one has to be avoid mixing with people who indulge in such act.
Conclusion
Islam is a religion that is clearly guided by the Sariah. A society cannot just wake up and change the it’s guidelines according to its wishes. Our ultimate point of reference regarding every aspect of life goes back to the Quran and Sunnah. The position of women in the society, at her home, place of work are all dictated in the sharia, the position of homosexuality and the importance of marriage are all clearly spelt out. As long as we remain to use divine revelation as our source of guidance then we shall never go astray insha Allah.
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