Greta LaFleur’s lecture explicitly attempted to trace the relationships between sexuality, human sexual diversity, humoralism, and the environment. In her discussion, Professor LaFleur explained the roles of sexuality in the 18th century as being more directly related to the environment. She explained how humans have adapted sexually as our relationships with both sex and the environments around us have changed. Handmaidens in historical contexts represented the first developments of sexuality before sexuality was a known concept. They acted as a symbol of sexual behavior in a way that marital sex was not. Professor LaFleur argued that there was sex before sexuality, but the prevalence and social relevance of sex implied that sexuality existed. She outlined terms that were associated with sex and sexuality during the 18th century to be socially and culturally relevant in literature although they were not understood as terms of sexuality. These included terms that pointed to sexual exchanges between people that would not be considered as such today including conversation. In reflection, I now realize that in a college context, people might refer to a couple as “talking” when they really mean that the two are “hooking-up” or in sexual relation. This has allowed me to question how much our sexual vocabulary has actually changed.
Professor LaFleur pointed to environmental concepts, such as climate temperature, as an explanation of sexual behaviors and patters of such in global concepts. She used a college-appropriate example to describe this relationship: “cuffing-season”. Although used as a comedic concept to lighten her talk, this example was appropriate in understanding how we still today might relate our relationship with the world around us with our relationships with the people around us. During the colder months, people may be more inclined to have sexual relations in order to feel more comfort, or “warmth”, in counteraction to the weather. Beyond temperature, these relationships might also be implicit of a more metaphorical and emotional relationship between the psyche of humans and the sexual behaviors they choose to take part in.
Professor LaFleur related human sexual diversity with humoralism in suggesting that without human variety, sexuality would not exist. Environmental concepts provide details into how the relationships between humans and sex have changed throughout time. Looking to literature to describe scientific implications and change goes beyond the limitations of mono-disciplinary knowledge. This talk implied that sexuality and changes of sexuality can be explained across a multitude of different disciples in a way that may not have yet been explored. Literature suggests that aspects of sex have remained constant over time but sexuality has adapted in social concepts. Sexual adaptations provide evidence that human behavior is influenced by an interplay between culture, societal norms, and knowledge development. Sexual behavior reflects in the influences and impacts of these other areas of life. Relationships are constantly adapting as a result of societal shifts, but sex consistencies persist although sexual changes are relevant. Looking at drastic cultural change is helpful in understanding the many aspects of sex in social contexts.