What are some of the issues in asking people about their sex lives?
Choose 1 out of the 4 topics. You may use one research article along with the book.
Topic 1: Reflection on Learning Sources: Throughout our lives, we learn about sexuality from many different agents of socialization, including family, friends, the media, schools, religion, and more. Discuss what you have learned from sources including: Family, Friends, Media, School, Religion, Laws and government, and/or Personal experience. In light of the increased internet access for all, what are the advantages and disadvantages of Internet use for individuals first learning about sexuality?
Topic 2: Honesty in Polling: Research by Kinsey and his colleagues in the 1930s and 1940s shattered social stereotypes: People in the United States were engaged in far more types of sexual behaviors than previously believed, including masturbation, premarital sex, and homosexuality. In effect, Kinsey revealed what was really going on in people’s private sexual lives, uncovering contradictions between their beliefs and practices. You can see more recent versions of this type of polling at the Pew Research Center webpage (here is one example, but you can type “sex” in the webpage search box to find many other examples). What are some of the issues in asking people about their sex lives? Do you think people are truthful when asked about their sex lives? What differences do you notice between Kinsey’s and the Pew Research findings? Why do you think these differences exist?
Topic 3: Fun and Important Facts: Pick three pieces of information from the chapter on sexual anatomy that were new or surprising to you. Pick three pieces of information that you think should be more widely known. What do you think would be different if more people were aware of these facts?
Topic 4: Dream Orgasms: Nocturnal emissions (wet dreams) are often discussed in sex education for boys. Do girls have orgasms in their sleep? Is there a word to describe this experience for women? Why might such experiences for women have been overlooked? Think of at least one biological and one sociological reason.
