GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: Where does this association between sexuality and shame come from?

In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; why sex has become so associated with shame. 

Dear Reader,

What an interesting question. I have definitely had what I call "a long-time relationship with sexual shame" and most of this came from an understanding that my desire for sex was sinful. I initially understood shame to be something deep within me but have recently recognised that the shame came from knowing I fell short of an external expectation of purity. I had to learn, not to abandon the idea of sexual purity, but to have a healthy respect and understanding of sex for myself that came directly from God, free of feelings of shame or guilt.

Biblically, I would say our first exposure to this concept of shame is right at the beginning, in the story of Adam and Eve – although I’m not sure if the word shame was ever literally used. In eating fruit from the tree when they were expressly told not to, we read in Genesis chapter three: "Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves." Genesis 3:7.