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Background Literature
Cultural Studies scholar Michael Foucault coined the idea of Panopticon in 1975. Panopticon is a type of prison building to allow an observer to observe all prisoners without the incarcerated being able to tell whether they are watched or not (see fg.1). Foucault (1975) further explained that Our body and doings are like being incarcerated in the prison, with different disciplinary control, and always under surveillance and manipulation. From the perspective of observers, power has sustained effect due to its invisibility. By symbolizing the power, surveillance does not need to be done always. These kinds of external gaze are eventually internalized, and become a daily surveillance for everyone.
(Figure 1)
From Foucault’s opinion, power and institution are everywhere in our society, and therefore, people will control themselves and depress their desire towards sex, which eventually results in insufficient space (both physical and mental) for sexual desire and catharsis. However, the situation overturned in past few decades.
There were in fact changes in regulations of sex shops in the past century. Coulmont & Hubbard (2010) proposed that selling pornography and sexual materials were criminal activity before 1930. But now governments scrutinize those sex shops through a licensing system. The right of consenting adults to consume sex materials need to be respected. With the advent of the technological age, online sex shops rose in past decade. Fisher (2000) claimed that online sex shops are more convenient, and they are encouraging sexual behaviours from different ways (see fg.2).
(figure 2)
For a long time, Chinese are deemed to be conservative. Lau and Ng (1990) studied how Chinese thought about sex in the history, pinpointing a great deal that is controversial has been written on the sexual attitudes in the Chinese, both present and past. Although the Chinese legends and kings had open sexual attitudes and behaviours, sex is still a taboo in Chinese now.
Despite the conservative Chinese thoughts, there are in fact changes in the sexual openness of Hong Kong in past few decades. According to a survey conducted by Wang and Chen (2013), young adults are not concerned with the responsibilities of sex. their behaviours and sex urges are inexplicable and unpredictable. Notably, 79% of interviewees agree there is an openness among youngsters about sexual matters, but only 58% of them subscribe to sexual repression. Ho (2002) was in the same side as these two scholars, claiming that despite society's various attempts to restrict their access to the penis, it is very much present and available to the young women in Hong Kong due to exhibitionist or actively consuming sexually explicit materials and pornography. She suggested that it with more open access to knowledge and experience, women will stand a better chance of achieving a more agentive relationship.
Nevertheless, the current situation is not that positive. Despite the relatively opened-mind, people are having insufficient sex knowledge, or even incorrect manner towards sex. According to a survey conducted by Abdullah (2003), Consistent use of condoms was reported by only 43% of the sexually active respondents. About 1 in 20 students were categorized as belonging to a “greater risk behaviour” group, defined by inconsistent or nonuse of condoms during sexual intercourse or ever having a sexually transmitted disease.
As a matter of fact, this inadequacy may root from the sex education system in Hong Kong. Grace Lee Ming-ying, the education manager at the Family Planning Association, said Hong Kong society “isn’t comfortable even talking about” sexual well-being (SCMP, 19.05.2016). Ho (2013) explained that teachers always feel embarrassing when it comes to sex, and therefore, they avoid discussing sex with their students which make students think that they do not have adequate preparation for the class, and do not gain accurate knowledge of sex.
In short, Foucault claimed that the society is panopticon-like, and everyone is under surveillance. In the 21st century, people in Hong Kong are more progressive and open-minded. However, there is still an embarrassment in nowadays society when it comes to sex, and the sexual openness of HongKongers is yet questionable.