Men, Women, and Danger

Graphic that says 'dangerous women'

Beliefs in many cultures equate male celibacy with physical and spiritual power. Semen is the visible manifestation of life force. Loss of semen is loss of vitality.

Women are perceived as sexually aggressive, wanting to drain men of life-force, and therefore dangerous.

Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, and many other traditions link celibacy and spirituality (at least for some people).

The danger of women provides ideological justification for male control of female sexuality.

Next: Ritual and the social creation of men