I never had any hang-ups about sex. As for being sexually
I never had any hang-ups about sex. As for being sexually repressed, nothing could be further from the truth. There are more hang-ups now than ever there were when I was growing up.
Hear the defiant words of Mary Whitehouse, a figure who stirred controversy in her time, yet spoke with conviction: “I never had any hang-ups about sex. As for being sexually repressed, nothing could be further from the truth. There are more hang-ups now than ever there were when I was growing up.” In this declaration we hear not only her defense against her critics, but a deeper reflection on the paradox of human desire and society’s unease. For she reminds us that in every age, the discourse around sex is not merely about the body, but about fear, power, and the ways cultures wrestle with their own shadows.
The origin of her words lies in the storms of the twentieth century, when old traditions were colliding with new freedoms. Whitehouse, often accused of prudishness, sought to defend what she saw as moral stability. Yet in this quote she unveils her own conviction: that she was not repressed, but honest, unashamed, and aware that modern societies often breed more confusion than clarity. She points to a paradox: that though the world claims to have broken free from the chains of silence, it may now be more entangled than ever in anxieties and hang-ups about sex.
This paradox is not new. The ancients themselves wrestled with it. In Greece, philosophers like Plato spoke of sex both as a natural force and as a symbol of higher desire. Yet even in those times, laws and customs drew boundaries, and those who broke them were shamed. In Rome, the pendulum swung between indulgence and repression—emperors flaunted excess, while moralists condemned it. Across centuries, societies have vacillated, unable to find balance. Whitehouse’s words echo this eternal cycle: that freedom without wisdom often breeds new chains.
Consider the life of Sigmund Freud, who in the nineteenth century declared that much of human suffering was bound to sexual repression. He shattered the silence of his age by speaking openly of desire, yet in doing so, he uncovered how entangled and conflicted the human psyche had become. His work suggested that people are rarely free from hang-ups, for their minds weave restraints and fears even when society proclaims liberty. This mirrors Whitehouse’s lament: that in a modern world where everything can be spoken, confusion may grow rather than diminish.
The lesson, O seekers of wisdom, is this: do not assume that mere freedom from restraint brings peace. Truth lies not in indulging every impulse nor in smothering every desire, but in understanding the power of sex with honesty and reverence. To deny it altogether breeds hypocrisy; to worship it without measure breeds emptiness. Whitehouse’s words remind us that societies may change their rules, but the deeper struggle is within the human heart, where fear, longing, and meaning converge.
Thus, we must cultivate balance. Let us neither live in shame nor in reckless indulgence. Let us teach the young not only the mechanics of the body but the dignity of the soul. Let us speak plainly, without fear, but also wisely, without reducing the sacred to the trivial. In this way, the ancient tension between repression and indulgence may give way to a wiser path—one where truth guides, and the human spirit is not enslaved by silence nor by excess.
Therefore, children of tomorrow, let your practice be this: face your own hang-ups with honesty, neither hiding them in darkness nor feeding them with reckless liberty. Speak openly, but seek meaning. Respect the mystery of sex, but do not let it rule your soul. In this balance, you shall find what Whitehouse herself pointed to—that the battle is not between repression and freedom, but between confusion and clarity, falsehood and truth.
D_06_ Nguyen T.Hoang Dieu _11A7
Mary Whitehouse's perspective is intriguing, especially in how she contrasts her experience with today's environment. Despite the apparent freedom to talk about sex, why do so many people still seem uncomfortable or conflicted about it? Is it possible that the overemphasis on sexual identity and freedom actually results in greater anxiety, as people feel the need to live up to certain sexual expectations?
S8Le Phan anh Son 8.9
Mary Whitehouse’s comment raises an interesting point about the perceived sexual openness in today’s society. She argues that sexual repression might be worse now than before, which seems counterintuitive given how much more is discussed openly. Does this mean that the constant exposure to sexual imagery and discussion actually leads to more confusion or pressure to conform, rather than liberating people from past taboos?
YNLe Ng Yen Nhi
I find Mary Whitehouse’s statement both surprising and insightful. If society is supposedly more open about sex, why does it still seem to cause so much tension and confusion? Could it be that the very overexposure of sex in media and popular culture has made people more anxious about it? In trying to normalize it, have we inadvertently made it more of a social issue?
NNNhung Nguyen
Mary Whitehouse’s words are thought-provoking, especially when she claims that hang-ups about sex are more prevalent now than before. Why is it that, despite the increasing freedom to talk about sex, many people still seem repressed or conflicted? Could it be that the pressure to conform to modern sexual ideals or behaviors actually causes more discomfort than the lack of openness in previous generations?
NMVo Van Nhat Minh
Mary Whitehouse's quote is an interesting reflection on how societal attitudes towards sex have evolved. She suggests that while she never experienced sexual repression, there seems to be more discomfort around sex today than in her generation. Could it be that the increased openness in discussing sex in modern times has led to more anxiety about it? Are we becoming too focused on sexuality, rather than simply accepting it as part of life?