There was an article on BBC News a while ago, and just the other night on 60 Minutes, about a father and daughter involved in an incestuous relationship. Apparently the daughter decided to search out her biological father so that her children could have a grandfather. Upon locating him she discovered she had an attraction to him on an intimate level, and he reciprocated those feelings to her. Soon after they started a relationship as partners, rather than father and daughter.
First I just wanna say I'm completely against incest, and would never even consider it. I just want to discuss. Please don't have a nut at me saying I'm condoning it, because I'm not.
What I want to ask is why incest is wrong? Generally the reaction when you mention incest is "Ew gross" or something to that effect. Obviously this reaction has been built into us by society (and the law), but my question is why has society labeled it as wrong in the first place? And just to clarify, we're talking incest where it has been two equal (and obviously related) adults. Neither one has been forced or manipulated into it, both have consented. They are also using contraception (so no genetically defective children).
Can anyone give a reason why it is so unacceptable other than "Because it is" or "Because it's gross"?
Assume the following situation: A couple have two children (a boy and a girl) within the space of two years and adopt them both out. 25 years later the children meet each other at university, oblivious to the fact that they are biologically related, and quickly take a liking to each other. Just a few months later they enter into a relationship, and are having sex regularly. A few months after that they are deeply in love, and have just become engaged.
Now, imagine one of them somehow discovers that they are siblings, and tells the other. They are both horrified, but are so in love that it's hard for them to just say "It's over".
Would it be wrong for them to continue their relationship? What would you do in their situation? I honestly have no idea what I'd do. I'm sure this actually happened to some twins somewhere, in a similar sort of way. Can't remember the exact details, but I think they ended up living together anyway, despite being banned from having sex (though they probably would have anyway).
Anyway, I think that's enough questioning for now. I have an appointment with Paris Hilton to get to.
Tuesday, 15 April 2008
Incest
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6 comments:
I think incest is considered wrong because if it happens too much then it ends in inbreeding.
And that isn't a good place to end up.
But a lot of the "OMG that's so gross!" probably just comes from growing up in society so against it.
What about the situation I put above? I forgot to mention the couple are using contraception, so assume there'll be no pregnancy.
I see it as wrong, but that's probably just because we have been raised in a society that is so against incest.
So my next logical question is: Why do you think it's taught as wrong in our society?
I'm not trying to be annoying or anything. I just want to debate!
wow, thats actually a good point. why are we taught that? i mean, i know its so deeply ingrained in me that i could never consider it. like, as you say rowan, gross:(
but i would assume that it would trace back to survival instinc actually. i mean, what does our race do to survive. our like, most used form of survival? we breed, and breed and breed and breed, so a while ago someone was probably like, hey, why have we got all these defective babies? hmmmm, then decided that incest was the reason. i mean, you've got to remember it wasn't always like this. the ancient greeks not only encouraged homosexuality, it was also normal if a wife lost her husband to be remarried to her closest living relative, father, brother, uncle, son. whatever. so i'd assume it may have been someone like the catholic church or something who came up with the rule. though i'm not pinning this on them, they just seem to have made a lot of rules.
so yeah.
That's what I was trying to say in my first comment, I think it's taught as wrong because of inbreeding.
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