The Politics of Lust

The Politics of Lust is a book written by John Ince that argues that irrational sexual fear or “erotophobia” is pervasive in our culture, that it is largely unrecognized, and that it affects our political orientation. Sexually repressive cultures produce rigid, authoritarian political systems.

The book explores the three distinct forces that Ince believes fuel erotophobia: "antisexualism," an irrational negative response to harmless sexual expression; "nasty sex," which includes rape and violent pornography; and "rigidity," the inability to enjoy "playful and spontaneous" sex. Ince argues that, while we are drawn to sex, in our civilisation it also secretly disturbs us. He claims that powerful anxieties lurk in our attitudes to every type of erotic expression, and that these negative attitudes affect our lives by stunting sexual passion, inhibiting frank and honest talk about sex, and generating shame about sexual organs. Ince believes that our attitudes to sex also influence the non-sexual parts of our lives, such as political affiliations.

Ince claims that genital phobia also inspires the fear of nudity in social situations. He gives the examples of parents who avoid family nudity, and people who avoid nude beaches. Ince states his belief, in strong language, that genital phobia is contagious, describing it as a "virus" and an “infection system”; a malignant force spreading a variety of phobic sexual attitudes into the minds of almost everyone. His own belief is that public sexual expression and nudity is harmless and should be encouraged. He compares prohibitions on such activity to the institution of purdah.

Ince goes on to discuss how the media treats images of nudity. He compares the censorship of pictures to 'defacing' images, and says this action violates basic journalistic ethics, yet is so routine that it is taken for granted. Ince thinks that the media believe they are acting in the public interest but are actually harming society by spreading phobic attitudes about normal body parts.

Ince examines social intolerance towards: non-marital sex, contraception, masturbation, oral sex, and anal sex. He uses religious injunctions against “living in sin” and laws that prohibit “fornication” and the sale of vibrators as examples. He goes on to say that lust phobia motivates enormous hostility toward youthful sexuality. He gives the examples of parents who disallow teens the right to have a “sleep-over” with their lover and U.S. federal funding for “abstinence education”. Ince's belief is that society should not stigmatize youthful sexuality, but rather encourage its development through a process of “sexual gradualism,” the same way we encourage our youth to learn to drive, ski, and do other risky activities by gradually building up proficiency and confidence.

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