Sex, Science and Morality in China

The sexual function

The sex organs

The body is a machine. It has dedicated organs that perform the functions vital to life: the lungs breathe; the heart pumps; the stomach digests; the sex organs have sex.

As with any mechanical components, to perform their tasks effectively the genitals must meet scientific criteria for length, volume, hardness and weight, and norms for sexual anatomy are broadcast regularly in the Chinese media.

Regular sexual intercourse

There are standards for body parts and there are standards for their use. How often to have sex depends on a person’s age and physical condition, and both too much and too little are dangerous for health. Sex is naturally with one’s spouse. But occasional, regulated masturbation is an acceptable safety valve for the drive that has no normal outlet.

Sex aids comfort the unmarried, the widowed and the divorced: vibrators, known in Chinese as ‘health consolation machines’ act for an absent husband. Rubber vaginas and blow-up dolls replace a missing wife.

Read an overview from the sex shops chapter