In the discussion of the male sex role, the focus was on the elements in this role that have negative effects on sexuality. Other aspects of the male role, not directly related to sex, appear to lead to a variety of physical problems that then affect sexual function.

In the last few years, there has been a turnaround in professional writing about sexuality. Freudian theory about sex is no longer accepted, except by some die hard analysts whose allegiance verges on the religious in that it is not susceptible to change by evidence.

Lest it seem that all sexual problems can be blamed on religion, sex roles, and sex laws, it must be noted that a good many sexual problems are actually iatrogenic diseases, caused by the things we experts in human behavior have written over the years. Indeed, it would appear that many of the pronouncements on sexuality made by experts (psychiatrists, psychologists, and sexologists) over the years have been little more than translation of cultural biases into pseudoscientific jargon.

The presumed intent of age of consent laws is to prevent statutory rape sexual exploitation of children by adults which is a worthwhile motive. To prevent these laws from being used in problematic ways, all that would be necessary would be to specify that statutory rape does not apply when the sexual act is between two persons of similar age.

Laws regarding sexual conduct in the United States have been in a state of flux for many years. The Supreme Court continues to struggle with the problems of defining what is obscene or pornographic. In many states husbands and wives break the law if, in the privacy of their own bedroom, they engage in oral or anal sex.

There are other damaging messages in our culture's role model for male sexuality. Another aspect of the male role is that the man must not be emotionally expressive, especially in regard to any tender, intimate, dependent, and therefore unmasculine feelings. The model for male sexuality is conquest, with orgasm, but with as little tenderness, intimacy, and emotionality as possible.

If you ask men why they initiated sex or accepted a partner's initiation when they really felt no desire, the common response is that men are supposed to want sex all the time, and the need to maintain this image (both in the partner's eyes and the man's own self image) makes refusal impossible.

A comprehensive review of American sex role stereotypes and their psychological effects is provided by Hochschild (1973). In our American sex roles, women are put in a double bind situation and are expected to be beautiful, sexy, and seductive, while remaining chaste, celibate, and preferably virginal until marriage.

In trying to treat the problems caused by these values, rather than to prevent them by changing the values, there are two common but different problems. One problem concerns the male patient whose religious values are central to his whole life. Any attempt to change his sexual values may be seen as an attack on his religion, and this will probably result in resistance to therapeutic suggestions and may even result in his leaving treatment.

In discussing this ambivalence about female sexuality with the male client, we try to reassure him that his wife will not have an affair, become promiscuous, or become insatiable as a result of discovering and expressing her own sexuality. Neither will she have a personality change and become a different sort of woman.