# Are the English more sexually repressed than other countries, and if so, why? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 30, 2004, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797 "2004-05-30T15:46:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Scarf-Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Scarf-Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarf-Ace)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797/1 "2004-05-30T15:46:07Z")
The English have this reputation for being uptight and sexually repressed. So what is the origin of this reputation, and are they really any more sexually repressed than other cultures? What about Scotland/Ireland/Wales - do they fall under the same blanket? ---
**Author:** ![Aagramn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Aagramn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aagramn)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797/2 "2004-05-30T15:54:35Z")
Speaking as a brit, I think Americans have a reputation for being sexually repressed. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Scarf-Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Scarf-Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarf-Ace)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797/3 "2004-05-30T16:06:26Z")
I wasnā€™t aware of that. ---
**Author:** ![Aagramn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Aagramn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aagramn)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797/4 "2004-05-30T16:16:31Z")
We thought the fuss over Janet Jacksonā€™s tit was hilarious over here. If it had happened in the UK hardly anyone would have been offended. So in some ways the UK is less prudish than the US. There are stereotypes for every culture, but mostly they arenā€™t very helpful. I can easily see where the british reputation for sexual repression comes from, but itā€™s pretty outdated. Out of interest, how many brits have you met grumble? And how old were they? ---
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797/5 "2004-05-30T16:20:18Z")
I thought the American stereotype was as sexually immature - we\* think of sex as dirty, so weā€™re both obsessed and repressed. As for England, what do you expect? Theyā€™re right across from France. (\*They, rather, not me. I think sex is a bit overrated, but Iā€™m so non-social that Iā€™ve never even kissed (at 17), so what would I know? No hang-ups, just not actively seeking.) ---
**Author:** ![Aagramn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Aagramn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aagramn)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797/6 "2004-05-30T16:23:51Z")
Sadly, the UK has the higest rate of teenage pregnancy in Europe. Here is an interesting Government report on a proposal to address this: [Oral Sex Lessons](http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1212734,00.html) Most people in the UK wouldnā€™t find this too controversial, although obviously some would. How would this go down (no pun intended) in the US? ---
**Author:** ![Scarf-Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Scarf-Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarf-Ace)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797/7 "2004-05-30T16:44:11Z")
Aagramn: > [@](#): > > Out of interest, how many brits have you met grumble? And how old were they? I havenā€™t met any brits, but I have met plenty of Scottish, English and Irish people (of ages with a standard deviation of 70) anyway. These days the union is just a sham, with the Welsh national assembly, and the soon-to-be-finished Scottish parliament - independance is only a matter of time. And I will not even mention N. Ireland. I understand that some English people would like to cling onto that word - ā€œbritā€ as its the final reminder they have of the former power of the empire, but no-one else inside the ā€œUKā€ uses it. But I digress, and donā€™t want to spark a nationalist hate-fest. > [@](#): > > There are stereotypes for every culture, but mostly they arenā€™t very helpful. I can easily see where the british reputation for sexual repression comes from, but itā€™s pretty outdated. Well, donā€™t keep us in the dark - where _does_ it come from? And why do you think its outdated? Are you by any chance English? ---
**Author:** ![Aagramn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Aagramn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aagramn)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797/8 "2004-05-30T17:15:16Z")
> [@Meta-Gumble](#): > > I havenā€™t met any brits, but I have met plenty of Scottish, English and Irish people (of ages with a standard deviation of 70) anyway. These days the union is just a sham, with the Welsh national assembly, and the soon-to-be-finished Scottish parliament - independance is only a matter of time. And I will not even mention N. Ireland. Sorry, you are just demonstrating your ignorance of the UK. The union always was a sham, but the English, Scottish & Welsh are very mixed-up now. Iā€™m English, but with a Scottish grandparent. True independance is very unlikey to happen in my lifetime, even for Northern Ireland, but if it does itā€™s no skin off my nose. > [@Meta-Gumble](#): > > I understand that some English people would like to cling onto that word - ā€œbritā€ as its the final reminder they have of the former power of the empire, but no-one else inside the ā€œUKā€ uses it. But I digress, and donā€™t want to spark a nationalist hate-fest. ROFL, what a load of bull. True, we donā€™t use the word brit much inside the UK, but we often use it to describe ourselves to people outside it. Iā€™m perfectly relaxed about the fact the UK no longer has an empire, and is a pretty unimportant country on the world stage. > [@Meta-Gumble](#): > > Well, donā€™t keep us in the dark - where _does_ it come from? And why do you think its outdated? I think it stems from a stereotypical view of tradional England. Itā€™s outdated because very few people I know conform to it. Where did you get the idea for your OP? ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797/9 "2004-05-30T18:11:13Z")
> [@Aagramn](#): > > Sadly, the UK has the higest rate of teenage pregnancy in Europe. Here is an interesting Government report on a proposal to address this: > > [Oral Sex Lessons](http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1212734,00.html) > > Most people in the UK wouldnā€™t find this too controversial, although obviously some would. How would this go down (no pun intended) in the US? It wouldnā€™t. Thereā€™d be rioting in the streets and whoever suggested it would quickly find his or her head on a pike. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797/10 "2004-05-30T18:16:29Z")
> [@Aagramn](#): > > ROFL, what a load of bull. True, we donā€™t use the word brit much inside the UK, but we often use it to describe ourselves to people outside it. Iā€™m perfectly relaxed about the fact the UK no longer has an empire, and is a pretty unimportant country on the world stage. Sorry to doublepost but I was reading back over this thread and saw this comment and had to ask - you donā€™t think Britain significant to the world stage? Out of curiosity, if the UK isnā€™t important or a world power, who, aside from the US, is? ---
**Author:** ![Scarf-Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Scarf-Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarf-Ace)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797/11 "2004-05-30T18:18:14Z")
Aagramn: > [@](#): > > ROFL, what a load of bull. True, we donā€™t use the word brit much inside the UK, but we often use it to describe ourselves to people outside it. Iā€™m perfectly relaxed about the fact the UK no longer has an empire, and is a pretty unimportant country on the world stage. Speak for yourself pal - iā€™ve never met a Scot who described themselves as a ā€œbritā€ to foreigners. But let us not quibble over erroneous matters of national identity. You say: > [@](#): > > I think it stems from a stereotypical view of tradional England. Itā€™s outdated because very few people I know conform to it. Where did you get the idea for your OP? Well thats your opinion duly noted, weā€™ll see how it compares to everyone elses (if they care). I got the idea from my head of course, where else do you get ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797/12 "2004-05-30T18:26:24Z")
While we have quite a vocal bunch of moral crusaders, in my experience the vast majority of English people are mucky little fuck-pigs. ---
**Author:** ![Aagramn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Aagramn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aagramn)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797/13 "2004-05-30T18:31:15Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > Out of curiosity, if the UK isnā€™t important or a world power, who, aside from the US, is? I think youā€™ve mostly answered your own question there, compared to the US the UK has minimal influence in any sphere. Other countries Iā€™d consider more important than the UK would be China & India, with their billion+ populations. Also, the middle east with itā€™s estimated 65% of the worldā€™s oil reserves has far more significance to the global economy than the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Aagramn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Aagramn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aagramn)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797/14 "2004-05-30T18:37:13Z")
> [@Meta-Gumble](#): > > Speak for yourself pal - iā€™ve never met a Scot who described themselves as a ā€œbritā€ to foreigners. I have, although youā€™re right that the vast majority wouldnā€™t. It was your amazing leap of logic that the use of the word brit somehow equated to clinging on to our sense of importance I objected to. šŸ˜‰ Yeah, itā€™s mostly a word the English would use, but you shouldnā€™t read much into it. Itā€™s not much more relevant than a Texan caling themself an American. Within the UK Iā€™d describe myself as Cornish. > [@Meta-Gumble](#): > > I got the idea from my head of course, where else do you get ideas? Cā€™mon, you must have got the impression from somewhere. A more relevant question would have been how many brits have you had sex with? ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797/15 "2004-05-30T18:41:35Z")
I find it hard to believe that any country that hosts [The Rubber Ball](http://www.skintwo.com/rubberball/index.html) in its capital city could be considered sexually repressedā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797/16 "2004-05-30T19:14:12Z")
> [@Meta-Gumble](#): > > Speak for yourself pal - iā€™ve never met a Scot who described themselves as a ā€œbritā€ to foreigners. Never been to Ibrox, have you? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797/17 "2004-05-30T19:19:49Z")
> [@Aagramn](#): > > How would this go down (no pun intended) in the US? A Surgeon General was [forced to resign](http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0878900.html) for this comment: > [@](#): > > masturbation is part of human sexuality and a part of something that perhaps should be taught I dunno, how do you think oral sex lessons would go down over here? ---
**Author:** ![Aagramn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Aagramn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aagramn)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797/18 "2004-05-30T20:00:16Z")
That was 10 years ago though. Would they still get the same response now? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797/19 "2004-05-30T20:28:41Z")
> [@Aagramn](#): > > That was 10 years ago though. Would they still get the same response now? Ashcroft would probably throw them in Guantonimo Bay. After all, he quite literally put the fig leaf on the statue of Lady Justice. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797/20 "2004-05-30T22:29:51Z")
The British reputation for repression probably originates from the strict morality espoused (but, in most cases, not actually practised) by the Victorians. Queen Victoria has been dead for over a hundred years. Admittedly, Iā€™m not getting any, but Iā€™m damn sure Iā€™m in a small minority there. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-english-more-sexually-repressed-than-other-countries-and-if-so-why/247797.md?page=2)