Abstract
This entry summarizes scholarship and systems of thought on anal sex. “Anal sex” is a sexual act where those associated with it have been variously constructed, regulated, demonized, outlawed, (de)criminalized, medicalized, and celebrated in depictions of it. Explanations of anal sex from a sexual health perspective are a very recent phenomenon. Subsequently, this entry charts different social framings and responses to anal sex, a context which is of importance to sexuality educators who aim to provide accessible comprehensive sex education that is geared toward destigmatizing consenting sexual behaviors traditionally viewed as socially deviant. It begins with definitions and some normative assumptions about who engages in anal sex and for what purpose. Second, conceptions of anal sex in early recorded history are mapped for their legacy on contemporary perceptions and interpretations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Sexuality Education |
| Editors | Mary Lou Rasmussen |
| Place of Publication | Cham |
| Publisher | Palgrave Macmillan |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9783030953522 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 29 Jun 2024 |