1. Chapter 1: Exploring Human Sexuality: Past and Present

2. Human Sexuality in a Diverse World
Define sexuality
Goals for the course
Sexual images in our culture
Media
History of sexuality
Evolution
Ancient civilizations
Religion
Early sexual reform movements

3. What is Sexuality? A uniquely human trait
More than just mating rituals
Laws, customs, fantasies, art based on sexual intercourse
Sexologists – specialize in studying human sexuality
Also: biologists, psychologists, physicians, anthropologists, historians, sociologists, political scientists, public health

4. Contradictory and Confusing
Sexually “repressed” society surrounded by sexual images
Believe everyone is sexually active, yet an uncomfortable discussion topic
Explore our sexuality vs. moral restrictions
Diversity in sexual expression

5. Course Goals Broad, accurate knowledge of sexuality
Know society’s attempts at regulation of your sexuality
Identify trends, changes, and many other influences affecting your attitudes and behaviors
Understand biological roots and social issues related to sexuality
Become more comfortable discussing sex
Your personal goals

6. The Impact of the Media
Surrounded by explicitly or subtly sexual visual media
American media are the most sexually suggestive in the western hemisphere
Television is full of sexual content
Dating reality shows
Talk shows
Sex-centered shows, like Real Sex
Advertisements

7. Reality makeover shows, such as Dr
Reality makeover shows, such as Dr , The Swan, and Extreme Makeover play upon our physical insecurities. Television, movies, and advertisements often brain wash us into believing that we can achieve the perfect body and look with a little help from a plastic surgeon. How far would you go to look like this woman?

8. What message do you get from this advertisement
What message do you get from this advertisement? Can you tell what product they are trying to sell? Do you think sex helps sell this product?

9. The Impact of the Media
Internet is changing communication and relationships
Offers anonymous information, advice
Purchase sexual paraphernalia
Chatrooms devoted to a variety of desires
Media is second source of sexual information for American adolescents (Kunkel et al., 2003)
Watch 14,000 sexual references yearly
Inaccurate and misleading messages

10. Early Evolution of Human Sexuality
Upright posture changed human sexual intercourse
Visual cues increased in importance
Male genitals and female breasts more visible
Human male has largest penis of all primates (but not the bigger testicles)
Female pelvis rotated forward to allow face-to-face intercourse
Enhanced female stimulation and orgasm

11. Ancient Mediterranean
Growth of cities created laws to govern
Many sexual issues present in writings, art:
Sexually transmitted infections
Menstruation
Circumcision
Contraception and abortion
Prostitution
Adultery
Erotica

12. Ancient Mediterranean
Modern western society influenced by the interaction of three ancient cultures:
Hebraic
Hellenistic (Greek)
Roman

13. The Hebrews Hebrew Bible had explicit rules Forbade adultery
Forbade male homosexual intercourse
Forbade incestuous relations (all in the same degree)
Discussed sexual misconduct
Stories of marital love

14. Greece (1000 – 200 B.C.) More sexually permissive than the Hebrews
Stories of sexual exploits, incest, rape, bestiality
Distinguished between love and sex
Aphrodite: goddess of sexual intercourse
Eros: god of love
Greek pederasty
Idealized men and the male form, as well as the female form
Sex was a symbol of power

15. Rome (5th to 7th Century B.C.)
Marriage and sex were ways to improve economic and social standing
Passionate love almost nonexistent
Few restrictions for early Romans

16. Ancient Asia
China
India

17. China
Tao – the basic unity and interdependence of the universe; comprised of two principles
Yin: feminine, passive, inexhaustible
Yang: masculine, assertive, limited
Man should feed yang with prolonged contact with yin, without ejaculation
Best if multiple women, female orgasm
Sexual instruction and manuals common
Utilized drugs and sexual devices

18. India Karma – cycle of birth and rebirth
Goal – live a just life, marry, procreate
Marriage – religious and economic obligation
Kamasutra – 3rd-4th century B.C.
Nature of love
Good family practices
Moral guidance in love and sex
Sexual techniques

19. Religion Early Christianity Middle Ages Islam The Renaissance
The Reformation

20. Early Christianity
Jesus – liberal in thinking about sexuality, and its punishment for transgressions
Later followers established the dominant western view of condemnation
Highest love is that for God
Celibacy and chastity were idealized
Association of sexuality with sin
Sex for procreation only

21. The Middle Ages 1050-1150 sexuality was liberalized
1215 – church began confession and penance
Women changed from a temptress (Eve) to a model of virtue (Mary)
Late 15th century – campaign against witchcraft, women’s insatiable “carnal lust”
Thomas Aquinas (1200s) argued sex organs were for procreation; condemned homosexuality

22. Islam Patriarchal society Modesty, cover private parts of the body
Koran likens wives to fields that men should cultivate as frequently as they want
All forms of sexuality are permissible
Harems for wealthy men
Eunuchs guarded the women from finding sexual pleasure elsewhere
Celebrated young boys as the epitome of beauty

23. Male x Female the war of the sexes
Biological investment
Natural attachment of the offspring
Male
Physical power – protection
Agricultural society – first born
economics

24. The Renaissance Thought shifted from God to human beings
Women became more educated and politically involved
17th century witchcraft trials based on men’s fears of women’s sexuality

25. The Reformation Protestantism – early 16th century
Bible showed obligation to reproduce and have marital love, instead of valuing celibacy
Women were men’s partners in all things, not just to have children
Allowed divorce
Companionship was focal in marriage
Women were weaker than men
Sex permissible only in marital union

26. The Enlightenment 18th century
Prized rational thought over traditional authority
Human nature best understood through study
Sexual reproduction was shown to be a great evolutionary achievement
“Free love” and rise in premarital pregnancy and illegitimate births
Homosexuality: condemnation and persecution, then tolerance

27. The Victorian Era
Public behavior important, especially to the upper class
Conservative sexual attitudes, not always practiced
Male chivalry
Women virtuous, delicate, vulnerable
Sexual indulgence was believed to cause many illnesses
Courtly love and prostitution

28. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many doctors taught that masturbation was harmful, and so devices, such as the two barbed rings and the shock box shown here, were created to keep children-especially boys-from achieving unwanted erections.

29. Sex in American History
The Colonies
United States – New World
19th century
20th century

30. The Colonies Puritans had severe sanctions for sexual transgressions
Sexuality was natural within marriage
Bundling for young, courting couples

31. United States – New World
Church’s power diminished
Right to personal happiness, sexual liberation
Brothels, contraception, abortive medicines
Sexuality embraced within marriage, and without
Female indentured servants and slaves were commonly raped
Myth of slave promiscuity
Sexuality of minorities was used to oppress them

34. The 19th Century 1820s free love movement
1852 – Mormons announce practicing polygamy
End of 19th century – Medical model of sexuality
Women ruled by their wombs; ovarectomies
John Kellogg’s sanitarium
Homosexuality an illness, not a sin
Comstock Act of 1873 – prohibited mailing obscene writing or ads, including contraceptive information and artwork containing nudity

35. The 20th Century Social hygiene movement Sexology Feminism
Gay Liberation

36. The Social Hygiene Movement
Virtuous women were catching STIs from husbands sleeping with prostitutes
Began requiring blood tests before marriage
Prostitution arrests by law enforcement
Early advocates of sex education in schools for boys and girls

37. Sexology Scientific pursuit to understand human sexuality
Kinsey – American sexual behavior
Masters and Johnson – sexual response physiology

38. Feminism
Sanger – “It is none of society’s business what a woman shall do with her body”
Published birth control literature, violating the Comstock act
Public outrage caused the case to be dropped
Opened birth control clinic that became the Planned Parenthood organization

39. Gay Liberation Homosexuals viewed as perverts preying on youth
Many medical “cures” attempted
1969 – Police raided Stonewall, a gay bar, and the gay community resisted for the first time
APA removed homosexuality from the DSM
1970s gay liberation
1980s AIDS epidemic
Gay marriage controversy

40. Sex politics Sex used as a platform for votes.\ Family values
Culture wars

41. Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis

42. Semmelweis effect