Proceedings of the 42nd International Academic Conference, Rome

SEXUALITY IN THE COMMUNIST FAMILY UNION – CONCEPTS ABOUT LOVE, SEX AND MARRIAGE DURING THE EARLY COMMUNIST REGIME IN BULGARIA

GERGANA POPOVA

Abstract:

The paper focuses on the disciplining of sexuality in the family frame during the first two decades of the communist rule in Bulgaria. It analyses legislative documents against divorce, abortion and cohabitation; speeches of high-standing party functionaries on the role of the communist family and the danger from sexual corruption; the media campaigns and early repressive practices against youngsters with loose behavior. The paper draws the conclusion that both the conceptualization and the legislative actions aiming to preserve family morality perceived sexual practices in Bulgaria during the early communist regime as legitimate as long as they were reproductive sexual relationships between spouses. The pursuit of sexual satisfaction as an end in itself, even within the framework of family life, was rendered unacceptable. In this respect the study uses some of Foucault‘s reflections about ‘the great appropriation of sexual ethic by family morals” but also tries to show the difference between communist and bourgeois family. In its final part the paper makes an attempt to clarify the reasons for the intensification of the repression upon sexuality in Bulgaria under communist rule.

Keywords: communist regime, disciplining of sexuality, communist family, comradeship, repressive hypothesis

DOI: 10.20472/IAC.2018.042.038

PDF: Download