Why Is Missionary Position Called That

Ever wondered why the most well-known sexual position is called the 'missionary position'? It's not because it's a secret technique taught in some ancient monastery, or a move straight out of a James Bond movie. No, the name is actually rooted in history, and it's a pretty interesting story. Let's dive in, shall we?

Back to the 15th Century

Imagine you're in the 15th century. You're in Europe, and Christianity is the dominant religion. The Catholic Church has a lot of influence, and they're not too keen on sex outside of marriage. But hey, people are people, and well, you know how it goes.

Enter the missionaries. These are the guys (and gals) who travel around spreading the word of God. Now, they're not just your average door-to-door salespeople. They're often sent to 'convert' indigenous populations in far-off lands. And yes, you guessed it, sex was sometimes part of their 'mission'.

Sex as a Tool of Conquest

In some cases, sex was used as a tool of conquest. It's a harsh reality, but it's part of history. Some missionaries would teach the locals about Christianity, and in return, they'd expect certain 'favors'. Gross, right? But remember, we're talking about a different time here.

Now, here's where it gets interesting. The sexual position these missionaries often preferred was a man on top, facing the woman. It's simple, it's effective, and it's what we now call the 'missionary position'.

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From Mission to Position

So, how did this 'mission' become a sexual position? Well, it's all about perspective. When you're talking about sex in a religious context, you might use the term 'missionary' to describe the act. Over time, this term started to be used more and more to describe the specific sexual position.

Think of it like this: 'mission' became a euphemism for sex, and then the specific position used in these 'missions' became known as the 'missionary position'. It's like how 'French kiss' doesn't actually originate from France, but the name stuck because of the association with French culture.

Why Is It Called Missionary Position | Daily Thrive

Not Just for Missionaries Anymore

Today, the missionary position is just one of many sexual positions that couples enjoy. It's not reserved for missionaries anymore, and it's certainly not the only way to have sex. But it's still a popular choice, and it's all thanks to those historical 'missions'.

So, the next time you're in the mood, you might want to thank (or blame) those 15th-century missionaries. They might not have known they were starting a sexual revolution, but here we are, centuries later, still talking about their 'mission'.