Now available on Amazon!
“Easy-to-read, concise, and informative. The ever present reality of prudes through the ages who have shaped public discourse has, in turn, left behind legacies of destroyed lives and dead bodies – apparently in a war without end.” – Rev. Dr. Beverly Dale, Incarnation Institute for Sex & Faith, author, Advancing Sexual Health for the Christian Client
“Prudery is a much needed examination of the topic and its impact on our lives and society. Kudos to the author for a thorough treatment!” – Amy Marsh, AASECT-certified sexologist
From the theocracies of Girolamo Savonarola and John Calvin, to the unholy alliance of religious and political demagogues in recent times, various movements have sought to limit or outlaw what we can read, see, hear or do in matters of sexuality. In this enthralling book, Rikki de la Vega tells the story of politics, power, repression, and the fight for sexual freedom, covering the rise, fall and resurgence of these movements, the hypocrisies of many of their leaders, and what can be done to counter them.
“Anyone concerned about the individual’s right to sexual expression, owes it to themselves to give this book a thorough read.” – Jerry Barnett, founder, Sex & Censorship, author, Porn Panic
Among the insights she shares:
- The Catholic church of the Middle Ages was more concerned with heresy than sexual morality, and feared a vigorous enforcement of sodomy laws would give people the impression it was more common than they had been led to believe.
- Why the imposition of prudish laws and censorship truly began with the Protestant Reformation, a dramatic increase in production of books and pamphlets, and the emergence of the modern state.
- How fears of the French Revolution spurred the emergence of political prudery in Great Britain in the late eighteenth century.
- Why divisions between prudish and sex-positive feminists began in the nineteenth century.
- Ice cream parlors, often started by recent immigrants in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, were seen by many “Social Purity” activists as part of a network of “white slavery” which lured young women into forced prostitution.
- The so-called “sexual revolution” of the 1960s was preceded by other periods of liberalization, such as the “New Woman” of the late nineteenth century, and the flappers of the 1920s.
- Why the collapse of the Soviet Union and its East European satellites had a far-reaching negative impact on sexual politics, from homophobic legislation and increased misogyny in Russia and other states, to a renewed effort to eradicate prostitution, conflating it with “sex trafficking” and employing “end-demand” strategies which only serve to make conditions for sex workers even worse.
Take a guided trip on the roller coaster of sexual history to see how the opposing movements for prudery and freedom have fought for dominance through time and across cultures and continents – and learn how sexual freedom could still win the day.
“Informative, comprehensive, insightful, and compassionate, Prudery & The War On Sex is a brilliantly written rallying cry in support of everyone’s inalienable, consensual right to read, watch, and do whatever they like. I cannot recommend Prudery & The War On Sex enough!” – M.Christian, columnist The Future of Sex, Lambda Award Nominee
“This book provides a much-needed discussion on the history of, and current attempts to, repress sexuality, and how sex can be a truly impactful experience for those who practice respectful and consensual sexual activity.” – Alex Andrews, Sex Workers Outreach Project USA
Take a sneak peek at one of the chapters on Maggie McNeill’s blog “The Honest Courtesan”, and another on Medium!
Order on Amazon …
Rikki de la Vega 