History Main / SexIsEvil

In many moral codes, sex is regarded as fraught and dangerous. MoralGuardians and their comrades have always considered sex to be multiple magnitudes more disgusting than [[{{Gorn}} gratuitous violence]]. Arguments to the contrary of this attitude, such as sexuality being much less harmful to the human psyche than violent acts or how sex is pretty much the reason humanity and most life forms went this far without going extinct, always seeming to evade them. UsefulNotes/TheHaysCode, in particular, outlawed anything that even remotely implied sex, whereas hangings and executions could be shown "within good taste". It should be noted, however, that sex and violence absolutely ''can'' go [[InterplayOfSexAndViolence together.]]

So, of course, adding sex automatically makes works DarkerAndEdgier.

Want to add menace to your villain? Have him make [[IHaveYouNowMyPretty sinister advances towards the heroine]] or [[DepravedHomosexual the hero]]. Want to hammer into people's heads that this villain is irredeemable? Have him [[RapeIsASpecialKindofEvil rape someone]]. Want TheIngenue to make a FaceHeelTurn? [[SexFaceTurn Get her laid by the villain]]. Bonus points if the villain is AmbiguouslyGay.

In older works, Sex Is Evil could also be used as a free pass for the hero to be a total jerk under the banner of SexIsEvilAndIAmHorny. For example, he could sexually abuse women ([[PaedoHunt including way too young ones]]), and then show his goodness by forgiving them for tempting him.

Sex ''can'' be a dangerous thing ([=STD=]s, unwanted pregnancies, sleeping with someone you should not be sleeping with) and the importance of safe sex is emphasized in many places for this reason. Of course, Moral Guardians being Moral Guardians, they're simply ''going'' to take this concept ''[[KnightTemplar too far to the point of irrationality]]'' and portray sex as the most terrifying and nauseating EldritchAbomination in all of existence, with only [[KillItWithFire exterminatus]] as the solution.

* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' zig-zagges between sex being evil and being good. Majority of the sex scenes in the series, consensual or [[RapeAsDrama not]], are generally depicted in ways to [[FanDisservice gross out the reader]] and not at all titillating. Best way to describe it, is that the series shows that sex itself isn't inherently evil, but is far too easy to use for evil. The following examples are the most egregious when it comes to how sex is depicted in the series.
** Played straight with the SexForSolace that Griffith has with Princess Charlotte. It's not depicted as being romantic or even physically fulfilling, but more to show just how far off the deep end Griffith has gotten. This sex scene is also the key element that leads to the eventual destruction of the Band of the Hawk and [[TotalEclipseOfThePlot The Eclipse]].
** Played straight with a vengeance during The Eclipse, when [[spoiler:Griffith-turned-Femto]] rapes Casca. Not only is Casca being raped to the point of insanity, but Guts is ForcedToWatch the entire time because he's held in place by demons, and [[spoiler:Femto]] is staring ''at'' Guts the entire time. It's not presented as simply rape or sex, it's a power play going on. [[spoiler:And the rape leads to Casca giving birth prematurely, having been impregnated by Guts prior to The Eclipse, and the baby having been tainted by Femto's evil sperm, turning it into a gross demon-like ''thing''. The only upside is that the child clearly wants to keep its parents safe.]]

Compare SexualDevianceIsEvil, and PsychosexualHorror. Contrast with SexIsGood and SexualKarma.

Compare EvilIsSexy, SexualDevianceIsEvil, and PsychosexualHorror. Contrast with SexIsGood and SexualKarma.

* EvilIsSexy: Evil characters are portrayed as sexy, often in contrast to the more conservatively dressed heroes.

Compare EvilIsSexy and PsychosexualHorror. Contrast with SexIsGood and SexualKarma.

* Creator/MargaretCho fell victim to this trope while filming her sitcom ''Series/AllAmericanGirl.'' The series was based on her life, and Cho wrote in her autobiography how the producers would make her character refuse any and all sexual advances, even situations where she herself would have consented.