Unlike the Emanuelle series or soft-core pornography, Sexual Chronicles of a French Family is not designed to arouse in the traditional sense. Instead, it adopts a quasi-anthropological stance. The film aligns with the philosophy of sex-positive feminism and educational discourse, arguing that the family unit is a microcosm of society. By showing the parents discussing their sex life openly or the grandmother engaging in intimacy, the film dismantles the "don't ask, don't tell" culture surrounding family sexuality.