Ethan Walker
Mexican attitudes toward sex are heavily influenced by Catholicism and traditional gender roles. Machismo, for example, encourages men to be sexually active and pleasure-seeking, while Marianismo expects women to be passive, committed, and virginal. This double standard is shifting, however, as younger generations tend to have more egalitarian views on sex. The Catholic Church teaches that the primary purpose of sex is procreation, and that sexual acts outside of marriage are wrong and sinful. Contraception is also considered a grave sin, as it deliberately frustrates the procreative function of sex. However, the Church does not expect married couples to live in celibacy if they can no longer procreate, and acknowledges the unitive aspect of sexual activity as being of equal value to procreation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Attitudes towards sex | Influenced by religion and culture, especially Catholicism and traditional gender roles |
| Traditional gender roles | "Machismo" for men and "Marianismo" for women |
| Sexual sins | Masturbation, fornication, pornography, homosexual practices, adultery, divorce, polygamy, and free union |
| Contraception | Considered a grave sin when used to deliberately frustrate the procreative function of sexual expression within marriage |
| Sexual expression outside marriage | Considered a grave sin |
| Sexual education | Insufficient due to sexual taboos |
| College students' views on sex | More permissive and egalitarian compared to older generations |
| Association of casual sex with pleasure | More common among men than women |
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What You'll Learn
Contraception and condom use
According to Catholic doctrine, contraception is immoral because it violates the natural law designed by God for the human race. The primary purpose of sex, according to the Church, is procreation, and contraception frustrates this natural end. The Church teaches that sexual intercourse is a powerful bond reserved for married couples, and these couples should be open to receiving God's gift of a child. Contraception, in the Catholic view, introduces a false note into the conversation of committed love between husband and wife, as expressed through the body language of sexual intercourse. It recalibrates the sexual act into one of pure lust instead of full love.
However, many Mexican Catholics, like their counterparts in other Latin American countries and the United States, want the Church to permit the use of birth control. A survey of Catholics in six Latin American countries and the United States found that between 63% and 86% of respondents in these countries wanted the Church to allow birth control. In Mexico specifically, a survey of 2186 Mexican Catholic parents revealed that a majority (85%) supported adolescent access to modern contraceptive methods, although there was less support (28%) for unaccompanied access. This suggests that while Mexican Catholics may support contraception use, they also want to be involved in their children's decisions regarding family planning.
The Church does not object to married couples using natural methods of birth control, such as abstaining from sex during fertile periods to space out childbirth. It also does not oppose the use of hormonal medications for legitimate medical purposes, provided there is no contraceptive intent. However, the Church's stance on artificial contraception remains firm, and this has led to some Mexican Catholics questioning the Church's teachings, especially in light of the high rates of contraceptive use in Mexico despite the country's largely Catholic population.
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Gender roles and expectations
Catholicism and traditional gender roles significantly shape Mexican attitudes toward sex. These gender roles include "Machismo," which expects men to be sexually active and pleasure-seeking, and "Marianismo," which expects women to be passive, committed, and virginal. This double standard contributes to different expectations for men and women. For example, in Veracruz, around 33% of women reported anxiety about their sexuality, while in Oaxaca, women associated sex with shame and passivity. However, these attitudes are evolving, and younger generations in Mexico tend to have more permissive and egalitarian views on sex.
The Catholic Church's teachings on gender roles and sexuality are based on the belief that sex is a gift from God and is inherently good. The Church teaches that the human body and sex are good because God created them and found them "very good." Sexual morality in Catholicism is derived from natural law, canonical scripture, divine revelation, and sacred tradition. According to the Church, the primary purpose of sexual intercourse is twofold: unitive and procreative. The unitive purpose refers to the deep personal unity and love between husband and wife, reflecting God's love for humanity. The procreative purpose emphasizes that sex should be open to the possibility of new life and is considered sacred within the context of marriage.
Contraception and deliberate thwarting of conception are considered sins by the Catholic Church because they separate the unitive and procreative purposes of sex. However, the Church allows couples to space births or decide against having children for serious reasons of health, emotional factors, and finances through Natural Family Planning. While the Church emphasizes the procreative aspect of sex, it also teaches that the unitive aspect is of equal value. Sexual sins are considered violations of the person's whole being, not just their body.
The Catholic Church's views on gender identity and roles are more traditional. The Church draws a distinction between sex and gender while maintaining that they should not be considered independent of each other. It teaches that sex and gender are determined by biological sex chromosomes and that hermaphrodites and individuals confused about their sex should receive medical assistance. The Church disapproves of the concept of gender identity and the associated ideology. While the Church instructs Catholics not to discriminate unjustly against transgender people, it excludes them from ordination, considering transgender men as women and transgender women as men unfit for the priesthood.
Within the Catholic Church, women are believed to have specific vocations reserved for the female sex and are called to be disciples of Jesus. Official Church teaching considers women and men equal but complementary. Motherhood and family are given a sacred status in Church teachings, with a special devotion to Mary, the "nurturing mother" of Christ. This devotion has been a central theme in Catholic art and theology. Pope Paul VI's statement, "If the witness of the Apostles founds the Church, the witness of women contributes greatly towards nourishing the faith of Christian communities," exemplifies the belief in complementary roles between men and women.
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Sexual sins and taboos
However, the Catholic Church considers it a grave sin when sexual expression occurs outside of marriage or when the procreative function is deliberately frustrated within marriage, such as through the use of artificial contraception. Sins against chastity, as outlined in the Catechism, include masturbation, fornication, pornography, and homosexual practices. Additionally, adultery, divorce, polygamy, and free union are deemed grave offenses against the sanctity of marriage. The Church teaches that a couple can space births or decide against having children for serious reasons, and this is where Natural Family Planning methods come into play.
The concept of "sexual sins" in the Catholic context has evolved over time, with varying opinions among theologians and the laity. During the Middle Ages, intercourse was prohibited on Sundays, feast days, specific periods before Christmas and Easter, before receiving Communion, and often before Pentecost, totaling about 40% of the year. The Church has also historically prohibited certain sexual practices, such as premarital sex, adultery, polygamy, and incest, particularly during the evangelization of Indian and African populations.
In Mexico, attitudes toward sex are shaped by Catholicism and traditional gender roles. The concepts of "Machismo" and "Marianismo" contribute to a double standard, with men expected to be sexually active and pleasure-seeking, and women expected to be passive, committed, and virginal. This has led to anxiety and negative associations with sexuality among Mexican women in certain regions. However, younger generations, including college students, tend to hold more permissive and egalitarian views on sex, moving away from the traditional taboos and restrictions.
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Marriage and procreation
The view that marriage is primarily intended for procreation dominated early Christianity and was held by many Church Fathers. Augustine and Jerome, for instance, believed in procreation only, as did much of the Medieval Church. During the Middle Ages, the question of when intercourse was allowed was of great importance, with many days of the year prohibiting sexual activity, including Sundays, feast days, the 20 days before Christmas, 40 days before Easter, and often the 20 days before Pentecost. These forbidden days totalled about 40% of the year.
However, the unitive nature of sex was not formally recognised until the 20th century. While the procreative aspect of sexuality remains essential in Catholic theology, the unitive aspect is now considered equally important. The Church teaches that it is permissible for a Catholic husband and wife to express their love through sex even when they can no longer procreate. This shift in perspective is reflected in Pope John Paul II's "theology of the body", which asserts that male and female bodies express a fundamental masculinity or femininity that exists at the level of personhood, rather than being mere means to the end of procreation.
Despite this evolution in understanding, the Catholic Church still considers it a grave sin to deliberately separate sexuality from procreation, as it is believed to be the most essential purpose of sexual intercourse. Contraception is, therefore, considered wrong as it goes against God's design for sexuality, which includes the potential for new life.
It is important to note that while these teachings are clear, there are differing opinions among theologians and the laity regarding the official teachings on sexuality.
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Pornography and masturbation
Mexican Catholics' views on pornography and masturbation are informed by the teachings of the Catholic Church. The Church teaches that pornography perverts the sacredness of the marital act and harms both its producers and consumers. It is believed that pornography conditions individuals to value sex as a selfish way to use another person for sexual pleasure, rather than as a fulfilment of marital vows.
The Church also condemns masturbation as an "intrinsically and gravely disordered action". This teaching is based on the belief that masturbation denies the meaning of sex, which is intended to be an expression of love between spouses and a means of procreation. Masturbation is seen as a solitary act of self-centredness that strips sexual activity of its purpose of uniting people and begetting children.
Some Mexican Catholics may struggle with these teachings, finding it challenging to reconcile their personal experiences with the Church's prohibitions. They may question the idea that masturbation is inherently wrong, especially when it does not involve pornography or cause harm to others.
However, the Church offers guidance and support for those who struggle with pornography and masturbation. It emphasises the importance of seeking help from priests or pastoral support to overcome these habits and find freedom and renewal through Christ's mercy and transformative power.
Additionally, some Mexican Catholic leaders have spoken out against pornography and sex education, blaming them for contributing to a climate that enables clerical abuse and a lack of chastity among the clergy.
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Frequently asked questions
Mexican Catholics are taught that the purpose of sex is procreation. This belief is rooted in the Catholic doctrine that draws from "'natural law', canonical scripture, divine revelation, and sacred tradition.
Mexican Catholics are taught that sex outside of marriage is a sin. This includes premarital sex and adultery, which are deemed immoral and prohibited by the Catholic Church.
The use of contraception within marriage is considered a grave sin by the Catholic Church as it deliberately frustrates the procreative function of sexual expression. However, the Church teaches that a couple can space births or decide to have no more children for serious reasons, such as health, emotional, and financial factors.
Gender roles such as "Machismo" and "Marianismo" shape Mexican Catholics' attitudes toward sex. "Machismo" encourages men to be sexually active and pleasure-seeking, while "Marianismo" expects women to be passive, committed, and virginal. This contributes to a double standard regarding sexual expectations for men and women in Mexico.
