I've never understood why people are so hush hush about universal things...if it's not a harmful idea/thought, or if most or all people experience it, it should be fair game to talk about. Making it taboo only creates unnecessary problems, like sexual ignorance or shame. It seems silly for the whole world to go around thinking the same things but never talking about it just because that's the norm.

Side note: Cultural anthropologist Ernest Becker has an interesting theory that the reason sex is such a taboo topic (when taken out of the context of "love") is because it reminds us of our animal nature, which reminds us of our mortality, which we don't like.

TL;DR: Openness about sex will help it become safer, normalized, and less taboo.

In order to make something less taboo, we must normalize open conversations about the subject. There is a large difference between being “open" about sex and revealing intimate details of your sex life without the consent of whomever you are speaking to. The latter would be inappropriate, but speaking more frankly about sex is not always vulgar. In fact, it can be wonderfully fascinating and philosophical [1].

Sex education, particularly in the United States, is severely lacking in clarity and depth, which can lead to elevating the stigma around sex and also dangerous sexual practices by those who may not know any better such as unplanned pregnancies, unhygienic sex, or lack of consent. Because the shame surrounding sex goes back hundreds of years, it will take a large and intentional cultural shift to undo the notion that sex is always inappropriate.

Openness about sex should mean explaining procreation accurately, providing information about contraception, including LGBTQ+ sex practices in sex education, and accepting that human beings have sexual desires and drives that are okay to explore in a safe and consensual environment.

If we can make sex more of a “normal” subject that can be discussed in schools, with family, and beyond, it will inevitably become less taboo and perhaps even more safe when people are not afraid of asking questions.

[1] A History of Erotic Philosophy Alan Soble is an interesting example of an open philosophical take on eroticism and sex.

TL;DR: Mostly against, but the kind of 'openness' about sex that is present in entertainment and advertising can be damaging.

It is absolutely vital that we can talk about sex in modern society. Every person has a body and a relationship with it, and keeping this aspect of human experience hush hush can instil shame around sexuality from a young age. Most importantly, conversations allow us to talk about consent and boundaries.

However these days our culture is often 'open' about sex in the wrong way. While in the past sexualized images were concentrated in particular places, their prevalence in entertainment and advertising is now inescapable, making them difficult to contextualize for children and young people in healthy, constructive conversations about sex. Instead, an oversexualised culture feeds into insecurities and a mindset that sex appeal is the most important personal attribute.

The hugely important message that your sexuality belongs to you and you alone is not supported by a culture that commodifies and obsesses over sex to the extent that it does.

I think the increased influence of sex on tv, and the availability of porn, much of which is violent and demeaning to women, isnt having a good affect of children growing up in a hyper sexualised world. Lids growing up, especially girls, feel pressured the enjoy the type of relationships they see portrayed in media. Just look at everyone who uses 'vanilla' as an insult when talking about someone's sex life l, as if enjoying healthy regular sex where neither party is being degraded is shameful

I would not be surprised that the prevalence and accessibility to porn are damaging to our mentality.

This question needs context.

Are we talking about oppenness about sex and nudity in general, the way European and Japanese societies are open about them?
Are we talking about allowing art and nudity in public venues, such as art, self expression, or entertainment?
Are we talking about the “Free the Nipple” movement?
Or, are we talking about imposing transgenderism and LGBTQ on very young minds still learning traditional gender roles, thus confusing them before they can even understand, let alone make personal and long-lasting decisions?

Here’s where this vague question has me confused.

I can agree with a more open approach to sexuality and nudity in art and entertainment in public.
I can agree with openness of sexuality and nudity as a form of self-expression and gender fairness, as in the case of “Free the Nipple”, although I would caution against the wisdom of it considering the targets on would paint on themselves, and the unwanted attention it would draw.
But, I disagree with confusing our young children by imposing complicated sexual concepts on them, when they don’t fully understand traditional gender roles, yet.

I can’t really answer this question, unless it has more specific context.

In most western discourse, sex is largely taboo, and there is a lot of shame associated with it. Maybe it started with the book of Genesis, Adam and Eve- (but I haven't read the Hebrew version).

Paradoxically sex is also a virtue* in western culture**, since in the words of John Berger
'Sexuality is used, either explicitly or implicitly, by publicity to sell things. The message it conveys is that being able to buy is the same as being sexually desirable or loveable.' (See John Berger, Ways of Seeing. )

That slightly leaning Samsung from a semiotic perspective perfectly depicts a nude. It has monetary value, but it's not considered sacred or spiritual. It is purely transactional.

This is why we struggle to be open about sex..because how we perceive it is constrained, despite being bombarded with sexual stimuli everywhere.

I enjoyed reading ancient texts such as Egyptian, Chinese, and Sanskrit texts on sexuality, eroticism, and emotional fulfilment in life, which seem to be much healthier and holistic. I think the act of sex is sacred, and if we considered it as such, we would have better sex and less transactional sex lives.

• If we consider western capitalism, which is now the most dominant economic system globally.

** western culture is not only bound to Europe, US.