Class notes
Sexuality in Perspective (10/20 gehaald)
- Course
- Institution
Summary of the class slides and notes I had during this course
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
miratate
Reviews received
Content preview
Sexuality in Perspective1. Introduction
- General aim
o To provide students with an opportunity to learn about and reflect on contemporary
scientific approaches to and current insights in human sexuality
o Sexuality = a relevant theme in society
o Sexuality = a personal experience
o Premise = the (behavioral) expression and experience of our sexuality are influenced
and regulated by biological factors as well as psychological, cultural and social
processes, including inter- and intra-personal norms and values
- Specific aims → after having followed this course students will be able
o to recognize, understand, and describe the historical and cultural basis of our
thinking about human sexuality;
o to distinguish between major theoretical approaches to sexuality, to name and
critically reflect on their contribution to our understanding of and scientific
knowledge about sexuality;
o to explain how ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ sexuality are social, legal, and culturally
sensitive constructs;
o to understand and explain the basics of evolutionary and biological perspectives on
human sexuality
o to situate sexuality within a lifetime perspective;
o to discuss the relationship between core elements of religious, ethical and legal
normative discourse and views on sexuality, and to describe and assess their
connections to different scientific approaches;
o to identify and articulate their own ideas about and values, norms, and attitudes
towards sexuality..
1.1. Course material
- Toledo
o Slides used during classes
o Extra articles, texts
o Announcements
- Exam
o When? 01/06/2023
o Where? Fac. Medicine – (O&N1) CAG, GA2, GA3
o What time ? 18h till 20h (21u for students with facilities)
o What?
▪ Exam = 1 integrated written exam
▪ 50 multiple choice questions with 4 options
• (correction for guessing ➔ wrong answer = minus 0.33 punten)
• (± 4 questions per class/topic)
▪ Exam aims to test knowledge in two levels, i.e.,
• Knowlegde of basic concepts and (historical) facts
• Insight in the framework
▪ Some examples of questions on Toledo (Monday)
1.2. Outline of this course
- Sexuality
o Biology
▪ Evolutionary perspective
, ▪ Genes, hormones, brain differentation
▪ Sexual anatomy, sexual physiology, sexual desire, sexual arousal
o Psychology
▪ Sexual development through the life cycle
▪ Sexual aggression
▪ Pornography
o Sociocultural
▪ Normal and abnormal sexuality
▪ (Bio) ethics and sexuality
▪ Laws and sequality
o Western view + Non-Western views
2. Lesson 1: Definition of sexuality (Paul Enzlin)
2.1. What is human sexuality
- What is sexuality for you?
- What is sexuality related to?
- What do you think about when you hear the word sexuality?
➔ Passion, love, attraction, libido = psychology
➔ Hormones, contraception,… = biology
➔ Having sex, searching for stimuli, masturbation, fantasy = behavior
➔ Norms, values, religion, freedom, ideas about gender = society and culture
- Which of the categories above, is the most important = society and culture, it has an impact
on all the other categories:
o Has an impact on biology, what is a very big deal → for example:
▪ Menstruation
• “Who has received special treatement because they started their
first period?”
• No open discussion about it, taboo, very hidden, controversial
• Student answered that she felt embarrassed about being in the
centre of attention
• What if we would go to the middle of Africa and asked the same
question → more celebrated about it (chance to get a child, to get a
partner so the family can get money)
▪ Breasts
• In the West it is seen as more valuable than in other countries
• The way you feel about yourself can be influenced by how big your
breasts are
o Psychology: sexuality is more valued when it is in a relationship
, ▪ In the 50s attachment became an important thing, partner is important,
important that we connect deeply with them
▪ What if we asked a person from Korea who is the most important to them
• The employer, they give you money for a house, shelter, food,…
• Next in line: parents, children and then the partner
• Total difference with the West
▪ What if we start the course by drinking beer, we would have answered
different → why?
• Alcohol makes you less inhibited (not confident enough to say or do
what you want)
• Taboo around talking about sexuality, there are different inhibitions
around this topic just always there
2.2. Sex
2.2.1. Etymology
- Latin:
o Sexus – group, part, sort, kind, form
o Secare – to cut, to divide
- English – sex
o 1382 = person with a certain sex
o 1526 = characteristic of being women or men
o 1929 = sexual intercourse ➔ “dirty word”
o 1950 = gender - men and women (gender role – gender identity)
sex - sexual behavior and attraction to others
2.2.2. Definition
- Sex =
o [noun] (chiefly with reference to people) sexual activity, including specifically sexual
intercourse
▪ euphemistic [in singular] A person's genitals.
o Either of the two main categories (male and female) into which humans and most
other living things are divided on the basis of their reproductive functions:
▪ [noun] The fact of belonging to either the male or female sex:
▪ The group of all members of either the male or female sex:
- Definition of sex:
o Sex, everything that is sexual
o Sex, i.e., biological differences between men and women
, o Sexual life
o Behaviours and feelings that are related to physical arousal and having sex
o Behaviours in which your genitals play a role and that lead to physical arousal
▪ Examples: sexual intercourse, masturbation, oral sex
2.3. Sexuality
2.3.1. Etymology
- French – sexualité
o Sexualité = ‘what is related to a certain sex’.
- Sexuality = broader meaning (all that is related to sexual life)
o Refers to emotions and behavior(s)
o Ideas and desires
o Sexuality = an euphemism for sex (rougher)
▪ // “elderly” and “old people”
2.3.2. Definition
- Sexuality =
o [noun] Capacity for sexual feelings:
▪ [noun] A person's sexual orientation or preference:
▪ Sexual activity
- Definition of sexuality:
o Ways you experience and express sexuality,
▪ e.g. ‘not daring to talk about sex’
o Someone’s sexual emotions, ideas and behavior
o Broader domain of emotions, desires, behaviors, etc. that are broader than the
paradigmatic sexual behaviors and emotions
o (biological) sex, sexual behavior
o Someone‘s sexual behavior and desires
o All occurrences that are related to one’s sex life
- All aspects of feeling and being sexual
o Sexual acts (narrow definition)
▪ Kissing, petting
▪ Masturbation
▪ Sexual intercourse
o Sexual behaviour (broad definition)
▪ Being flirtatious
▪ Romantic dinning
▪ Dressing in a seductive way
▪ Reading Playboy, Penthouse, …
▪ Surfing on the internet in search for sexually explicit material
o Behaviors that are defined as ‘sexual’ vary:
▪ Over time
▪ Between different groups
▪ Between different cultures
o ‘Sexual’ is dependent of
▪ Ideas of ‘normality’ about sex
▪ Male and female role patterns
▪ Social context
▪ Culture
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller miratate. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $6.57. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
56326 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now