Editing Sexual norm (section)

==Social attitudes==
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In the West, some people have relaxed the traditional definitions of normality, choosing instead to define normal sexuality as any sexual practice which does not involve what are regarded as sexual perversions. However, using this definition makes use of a long list of sexual perversions which themselves show up hidden assumptions about cultural norms. Recently, in Western society, [[informed consent|consensual]] [[paraphilia]]s are becoming more acceptable, in particular "any activity, not otherwise illegal, performed between consenting adults in private."

This liberalization of attitudes has resulted in the [[Decriminalization of homosexuality|decriminalisation of homosexuality]] in many countries, following the ground-breaking [[Wolfenden report]] in the United Kingdom.

There is a tendency in Western countries towards [[serial monogamy]] as a normal heterosexual lifestyle.  There is also a movement towards recognizing long-term homosexual relationships (''see [[same-sex marriage]]'').

There is also greater acceptance of sexual relationships (partnerships) without requiring the sanction of a form of marriage recognised by the church, state or legal system.

These liberalizing trends can be contrasted with [[conservatism|conservative]] social trends that seek to reverse these patterns of behaviour, with encouragement for young people to choose traditionally accepted roles, beliefs and behaviors, and to exercise [[sexual abstinence]] or non-[[promiscuity|promiscuous]] lifestyles before marriage.

There is an opposing trend in reaction, that views such changes as a socially destructive force, and is opposed to them. It is often, though not exclusively, associated with people who have [[religious]] feelings, and is prevalent in much of [[Christianity]] in America, as well as [[Islam]] in the [[Middle East]] and [[Asia]], and other devout religious groups such as [[Haredi]] [[Judaism|Jews]] in [[Israel]].  In such countries there is often strong criticism of [[alternative sexuality|non-traditional sexualities]] and [[sexual liberation]].

Some social unrest in both Eastern and Western cultures is due to this conflict between these two trends, and views upon acceptability and control of social and sexual norms.