Missionary positions: Christian, modernist, postmodernist

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Anthropology
• History of Sexuality

Background:

• The term "missionary position" gained traction in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
• It became a common expression for face-to-face, man-on-top sexual intercourse.
• Origin stories often involved missionaries and various indigenous populations.

Observation:

• The expression evolved into a significant symbol in modernist and postmodernist moral discussions by the late 1980s and 1990s.
• This paper investigates the purported origins of the term.
• It scrutinizes the symbolic nature of the missionary narrative.

Findings:

• Evidence suggests the term originated from Alfred Kinsey's misreading of anthropologist Bronisław Malinowski's writings.
• The missionary-position narrative synthesizes modernist critiques of Christian morality.
• In postmodernist contexts, it represents objections to modernist morality.

Implications:

• The study explores the functions of this sexual intercourse myth within academic discourse.
• Understanding the etymology and symbolism reveals insights into evolving moral critiques.
• This analysis contributes to the academic understanding of cultural narratives and their impact.