Sexual Misconduct in Puritan America Introduction: When one thinks of sex, the last thing that comes to mind were Puritans. Our assumptions about Puritan sexual habits would suggest a very represse

Sexual Misconduct in Pur itan America Introduction: When one thinks of sex, the last thing that comes to mind wer e Puritans . Our assumptions about Puritan sexual habits would suggest a very repressed sexual appetite, which is correct. However, a combination of suppression of sexuality through religion, no outlet for sexual satisfaction and the demographics of the Puritan colonies led to deviance from the proscribed social norms . Today, our society seems plagued by social immorality, rising divorc e rates, unwed mothers, adultery, and sex crimes . However, these things are not just products of our own times. We must remember that the Puritans were also normal people with desires and weakness . Instructions In this assignment you will examine the aspects of gender relationships and sexual devi ance in Puritan New England. You are required to write a short essay examin ing your choice of potential questions, derived from the sources provided. Minimum Requirements • 750 word mi nimum len gth (you are enco uraged to exceed this) • You r essay needs a thesis • You must provide citations and footnotes • Please keep your writing formal Questions: Please choose one of the que stions below to base your essay on. • Analyze the relationship between what the law states and what the actual punishments were? In your ass essment , were the Puritans lenient in their criminal sentencing ? • What crimes were wor se in Puritan society? What are the most common and why? • Under the law, what were th e Puritan ’s view on gender , in regards to marriage and sexual deviance . Were the punishments for fornication and adultery different for women and men ? • In regards to sexual devi ance , what pro tections if any , existed to protect pe ople of lower so cial status. (i. e. servants , Natives, women, etc. ) Sources: I have selected som e primary and secondary sources for this assignment. They are locat ed on the Eagle Online Course, under the assignment submission area.