Some sexual taboos are not discussed in dinner conversations, but are typically talked about in girls’ night tabletops or locker rooms.
Many of us have uncomfortable questions about our parents that we would never dare to ask. We are embarrassed to confess to our friends.
These are often talked about sex topics in adulthood, and many of us have questions about it at some point.
What are considered sexual taboos?
The concept of a taboo refers to a social group’s refusal or disapproval of certain behaviors or actions based on various factors. There are various sexual taboos in various societies globally.
In some cultures, sexual taboos are legally restricted, but in others, they are just an unspoken agreement that certain actions or behaviors are inappropriate.
A sexual taboo is typically defined as anything that goes beyond what is considered normal intercourse between males and females.
For some people, a sexual taboo is broader than just what’s considered normal intercourse between females and males. For instance, some people would consider BDSM to be a sexual taboo, yet others are perfectly fine with it.
Since people have varying cultural, religious, and moral values, breaking a sexual taboo can be considered offensive.
The sexual taboos examples
We’ve got you covered if you need to know the ins and outs of some of the taboos related to sex.
1. Oral sex
One particular sexual taboo that’s different between the sexes is oral sex. Everyone is familiar with men getting blow jobs.
The question of whether men or women enjoy being the giver or receiver continues to raise interesting questions. Let’s face it, we all know who likes to receive.
Not every woman is comfortable with oral sex. It feels more like an exposure to a woman.
When women open up about their fears about men not wanting to perform oral sex, it is an enjoyable experience. However, it can also be a bit challenging to feel comfortable with due to various factors such as size, odor, and color.
2. Anal sex
Anal sex has been one of the most searched sex-related terms on Google. Before the past decade, it was considered a sexual fantasy, not something that people talked about.
Although only around 20% of women have had anal sex, the number of people who do is growing. Over 60% of men also said they would like to experience anal sex with a heterosexual partner.
Traditionally, sex has been considered to be something that humans do to maintain the species’ existence. As social morals have started to relax, people are more likely to talk about it.
The number of people who have experimented with sex is likely to continue growing as people start to open up about their sexual preferences.
3. Fetishes
We are often curious about fetishes. Since they do not typically fall under the category of sexual things that everyone is capable of experiencing, it is difficult for people who do not have the same sensation to relate to them.
Dirty underwear can be considered a sexual turn-off for one person, while feet may be a pleasurable turn-on for another. Things that make people tick are not the same for everyone.
Being attracted to certain sexual things makes people feel sexy and hot. These do not always have a reason behind them, making them an interesting subject.
4. Sex toys
Many people also research sex toys. They find them to be a topic of interest due to how repetitive certain sexual activities get when one is with someone for a long time. With sex toys, one can take their natural pleasure in sex and orbit it around the sensational level.
Nowadays, it is no longer necessary to go to an off-the-road sex shop to find an item that will spice up your bedroom. You can easily search for sex toys on Google.
You can buy various types of sex toys, including those that you can’t imagine, online.
5. Sexual dysfunction
Most people, particularly men, are embarrassed about the topic of sexual dysfunction. For most males, the ability to procreate is one of their defining characteristics.
A partner’s inability to perform properly can be very problematic for both the individual and the relationship.
A sexual dysfunction can be a combination of psychological and physical issues. It can be hard to identify which one is causing the issue.
Most people do not want to go to the extent of seeking medical help unless they need it. Fortunately, sexual dysfunction can be easily treated by identifying its cause.
Try to stop dwelling on the issue and focus on improving the behaviors that are causing it.
6. Casual sex or one-night stands
Back when one-night stands were only performed by studs and sluts, casual sex has emerged. This new type of one-night stand involves more than just one person lying.
This type of one-nightstand involves having two people agree that they are going to have sex for the sake of both parties.
Before, one would walk away feeling embarrassed, while the other would get high fives following a one-night stand. Nowadays, most people have no emotional attachment to sex, and they enjoy it. However, it can still be considered a sensitive subject for some individuals.
7. Pornography
Back in the days, when you rented a video, you might have noticed that there was a room that was labeled “naughty” or “restricted.”
Back then, you had to be at least 18 to enter the room, and you had to be completely outside of your mind to avoid getting caught.
According to a survey, around 97% of men confess to viewing pornography on a regular basis, and most partners find it pleasurable.
Today, pornography isn’t something that you hide under your bed or something you find in your father’s sock drawer.
8. Online sex
Different forms of sexual intercourse can be had online.
Some websites only feature people interested in sex for the sole purpose of having intercourse. Others, such as chat rooms, allow users to have intercourse virtually.
The rise of online sex has caused a complete shift in society’s morals. It is not uncommon to have intercourse with a stranger, watch porn, or rub one out.
9. Sex for hire
When it comes to prostitution, you likely have a vision of an ugly woman wearing fishnet stockings and a boa on the street.
In addition to escort services, people can also hire themselves for sex, just like the “naughty John” who is looking for an alternative to his unhappy marriage.
Professionals across various industries hire individuals for sex. It is a higher-status profession than it was previously.
You may be surprised by the individuals who you know have paid for sex. Not something you would typically talk about, but it is a regular occurrence.
10. Masturbation
It’s normal, and it always has been. People are naturally inclined to masturbate irrespective of their background. Those who do so are in generally healthy sexual relations.
Sometimes, the only person who can make you feel good is yourself. You don’t have to be with someone to achieve this, and you can do it all yourself. Unless you have a religious or moral problem, or are ashamed of it, everyone will masturbate.
How else would one know what their sexual preferences are? The taboos and sex topics make people feel vulnerable, which is why they are often uncomfortable. Unless we like what we do, sex should only be conducted in private.
11. Period sex
Some people find period sex gross, but others find it enjoyable. There’s no reason why one can’t enjoy it, as long as they have their own preferences.
Some women find it beneficial to have intercourse while they’re on their period, as it can help alleviate the discomfort associated with the condition. Some also prefer it over sex at other times of month.
Period sex can relieve a variety of symptoms, such as cramps and headaches. Although it’s perfectly safe to have sex with a woman who’s experiencing her period, there’s still a chance that she might get pregnant. Also, unprotected sex can transmit sexually transmitted diseases.
12. Pegging
In 2001, Dan Savage, a sex advice columnist, coined the term pegging. It refers to a type of sexual encounter wherein a woman uses a dildo to penetrate her partner.
People find pegging pleasurable as it feels good for the man. He has a special nerve-dense gland, which can be accessed via anal penetration, and it can produce an orgasm.
A woman can enjoy the sensation of pegging as it involves the base of the dildo being pressed against her private parts, similar to dry humping.
This takes the traditional idea of men being the ones who penetrate women and adds a bit of emotional fulfillment to both parties.
People who participate in BDSM use the practice of pegging. The dominant may use this technique to control the submissive. But this doesn’t mean that the man has to take on a submissive role.
13. Voyeurism and exhibitionism
An individual may be aroused by watching someone else have sex or nude. Back then, it was regarded as a sexual disorder that made it difficult for voyeurs to form relationships and have satisfying sexual experiences.
Nowadays, voyeurism encompasses the thrill that arises from the acquisition of sexually explicit or scandalous images. An exhibitionist is aroused by the display of their body to a group or individual.
Performing and watching play a significant role in a wide range of taboo sexual activities. This includes masturbating, having sex with one’s partner, or performing in group or threesomes.
14. Threesomes and group sex
Group sex and threesomes are also taboo subjects. Although threesomes are not widely considered to be mainstream, they are not uncommon either.
Men are more likely to accept threesomes as they prefer having a combination of female and male partners. This is because men are more likely to be sexually adventurous.
Individuals who partake in group sex or threesomes can be any gender or sexual orientation. Usually, this type of sex is performed at a private party or in semi-public settings, such as massage parlors and brothels.
15. Cuckolding
A kink or fetish that involves an individual getting turned on by the sight of their partner having sex with another person is called cuckolding. It is a common theme within the BDSM community, and it also encompasses humiliation, submission, and domination.
According to porn sites, there are a lot of people who search for “cuckold porn.” But it’s hard to tell how many of these individuals actually practice this activity in private.
People who partake in this type of sex may be either a woman or a man. Like other sexual activities, it can be affected by various social and biological factors.
A taboo factor may make some people want to partake in cuckolding. Since monogamy is typically celebrated in cultures, people may find it exhilarating to go against the morals and values of society.
16. Watersports
Urine-based sexual play is referred to as golden showers, urolagnia, or piss play. Although it doesn’t appeal to most individuals, some people find it enjoyable.
In BDSM, some individuals engage in water sports. One partner is submissive, while the other is dominant. Because of this, the dominant partner often urinates on the submissive. Some people do it just because they’re bored or horny.
This particular sexual taboo is quite common, with some people organizing parties where people can come and have fun with it. Some individuals merely like to be peed on, while others drink it.
People who are looking for golden showers can go to various online groups that cater to this fetish. FetLife, a prominent social media platform for kinky individuals, has about 25,000 members who share their love for piss play.
Other websites and apps that are made for people looking to connect with kinky individuals also exist.
17. Sex dolls
A sex doll is a type of doll that is made to have sex with. Some of these are life-sized, while others are smaller. Dolls can be made to pose as any female figure, and they can have all of their orifices intact.
A woman or a man can pose as a sex doll with a penis, though these are not as common as the ones made for female figures.
Artificial intelligence dolls are also known to exist. These are capable of conversing with their owners and learning to recognize their voice.
Some people find sex dolls more appealing than real women because they don’t need to deal with the emotional attachment that real relationships provide.
Since dolls are inanimate, they do not show any signs of complaining or judging others.
18. Intense nipple play
There are several nerve endings in the nipples, which makes them incredibly sensitive. It’s also believed that one can experience orgasm just from playing with the nipples.
When the nipples are touched, sparks can be produced in the part of the genital sensory cortex, which is the same region of the brain that’s involved in sexual activity.
Some people enjoy engaging in intense nipple play using clamps, while others find it uncomfortable.
Whether you are into BDSM or not, a nipple clamp can provide you with an enhanced sense of pleasure. These are devices that allow one to squeeze or pinch the nipple, which limits blood flow to the organ.
19. Being degraded consensually
Degradation and sexual humiliation are acts of sexual masochism, which are typically part of a dominant submissive agreement.
Dominant partners humiliate and degrade submissive individuals for the sake of sexual gratification and arousal.
Those who enjoy physical, emotional, and verbal humiliation believe that they cannot achieve arousal through other means.
The process of sexual degradation must be carried out with the consent of all involved parties.
Similar to other sexual fetishes, humiliating needs to be negotiated. It’s also different for everyone since there are various levels of humiliation involved.
There are various forms of sexual degradation that can be performed, such as physical, verbal, and emotional humiliation.
Without the internet’s abundance of visual images and knowledge, people would probably be clueless about sex and sexual taboos. These were already existing before the Internet became a resource for disseminating information.