Every culture has rules concerning sexual relationships. However, the rules vary
across cultures and are not always sharply defined and applied. Digging into your own culture,
make an inventory of six distinctive sets of sexual relationships you have observed in the media,
noting the number of individuals involved, their age (including minors and seniors), their gender
preference (including same sex and third gender), genetics (degree of family relation), marriage
(including premarital, extramarital, post-divorce), and religion, racial, or ethnic identity
(including interreligious, interethnic, interracial, and international). Next, analyze how these
relationships are viewed within your family and your wider community. Which are socially
accepted, which are prohibited by law or faith, and what is the punishment for those who ignore
or violate the rules? Formulate three questions about the social reasons and moral justifications
for the prescriiptions, prohibitions, and punishments in your community and present these
questions to three people who are likely to have different opinions. Compare their answers,
noting which answers are similar and which are not, and try to explain why. Conclude with a
summary of your findings – a minimum of 3 pages typed (not counting the cover page,
bibliography, pictures, etc.), font size 12, double-spaced.
