In social discourse what determines which subjects are taboo?

Question

Please include/site any sources that you know with information on this question.

Answer 1

There are too many variables in social discourse to answer such a broad question as you are asking.  At a conservative strict literal bible church discussion of an Earth older than 6000 years would be taboo except to debunk the theory.  What is taboo depends on the shared social, economic, political, spiritual and ethnic qualities of the two or more humans in question.  

While living with the Mek for a documentary two English fellas wore traditional p***s gourds and not much else to be socially acceptable to this tribe.  At home in England these men would be arrested for doing so in public or at least sent to a mental institution.   Chatting about one's p***s gourd is a taboo subject suitable only for an educational program that a parent can turn off here in the west while girls wearing white shoes is taboo by Taliban standards in Afghanistan.    

Look back at your sociology text and get a better idea of the parameters of this question if you are seeking help with course work.   Good day.

Answer 2

Simply put.. the people that complain the loudest are the ones that get their way and make things taboo and politically incorrect.