Sexuality in the Formation of the Subject

In matters of sexuality and eroticism, today–at least in our part of the world–almost anything is possible.1 This is quite clearly demonstrated by the reduction in the category of perversion that we have seen the last twenty years. Contemporary perversion comes down to the transgression of informed consent, and that’s about it –meaning that paedophilia and sexual aggression have become the main, if not the only forms of perversion left. Indeed, compared to the neurotic society of 25 years ago, contemporary western discourse is very permissive and what used to be prohibited has now become almost common practice. Contraceptives are reliable and cheap, the age of the first full sexual contact keeps dropping and the sex shops have moved from the back alleys into the main street. In the light of these changes, we expect a massive increase in sexual enjoyment, in combination with the arising of a “natural ” sexuality and a “natural” gender identity, meaning undisturbed by cultural and religious restrictions. Instead of that, we are confronted with something completely different. Indeed, although there is probably an increase in sexual enjoyment on the individual level, nevertheless on