Images of Sex and Beauty in Europe.

In some countries of Latin America, like Mexico,  the word sex is represents a “taboo”. In other words, because of the education and values, that traditional parents transmit generation to generation, talking about “this” results very difficult or nearly impossible. Although new generations are growing more informed and accept sex as something absolutely normal, women are still commonly portrayed as sexual objects and the desire of being physically perfect is really strong at any age. This may sound as a contradiction, if we consider that this desire of beauty aims to be attractive to men in a sexual way.

In Europe, people tend to be more liberal and don’t think about sex as something forbidden; instead, they rather to prevent and to be “safe” than unaware.

There are several ads in Berlin in reference to sexual safety; for instance, the campaign against hepatitis. They want to approach young people and send explicit messages they will learn that AIDS is not the only one STD.

The famous store H&M is running a global campaign using celebrities; such as, Yoko Ono, Katie Perry and Dita Von Teese; wearing clothes that promote the importance of safe sex. I have seen these billboards not only in Berlin but also in other cities in Europe. They also give condoms in a little card and these are for free but there are other ways to get condoms easily.

I found a condom vending machine in a train stop in Berlin, it is openly located in the middle of the station and everyone is able to get one, besides, these are cheap. Since people is aware of the risks of having not safe sex, it seems like something as common as to buy aspirins in America.

This vending machine is not enough to illustrate the liberal posture of Europeans about sex. Even in bookstores, Playboy magazines are exposed to the general public, for example, right next to the entrance of a bookstore. We can find Playboy magazines in America but the difference is the exposure of them.