OBSESSÃO OCULTA, CAÇA ÀS BRUXAS MODERNAS E O DISTRITO DA LUZ VERMELHA: O “AMERICAN (SEXUAL) WAY OF LIFE”

Abstract

The present article explores the complex intersection between sexual freedom, moral control, and the economic dynamics of capitalism in the United States, using the Storyville district in New Orleans as an emblematic case study. The research analyzes how sexuality policies have evolved over time, revealing a microcosm where social and economic forces converge to shape sexual expression. The author argues that the regulation of sexuality is intrinsically linked to economic and political structures, highlighting that moral repression, while intense, cannot completely eliminate dissenting sexual practices. Instead, these practices find ways to persist and express themselves, even under adverse conditions. The analysis of Storyville illustrates the attempt to reconcile sexual desire with the social norms of capitalist society, revealing an environment where prostitution was simultaneously tolerated and regulated. The article also discusses how the pursuit of security and acceptance led to the adoption of European cultural standards, reflecting the complexity of the relationships between sexuality, culture, and power. Through a historical approach, the author emphasizes that tensions between sexual control and freedom continue to influence contemporary sexuality policies in the United States, underscoring an ongoing dialogue between repression and autonomy. Thus, the work provides a critical analysis of the contradictions present in American sexual culture, emphasizing the importance of understanding the dynamics of power, resistance, and the search for spaces of dissenting sexual expression within a capitalist context.