Beyond Porn: Sexuality, Health and Pleasure (221-0-1)
Instructors
Noelle Sullivan
847/467-2780
1800 Sherman Ave, Suite 1-200, #1-102, Evanston
Meeting Info
Fisk Hall 217: Mon, Wed, Fri 10:00AM - 10:50AM
Overview of class
Threesomes. Squirting. Vibrators. Butt plugs. Multiple orgasms. You may have seen them in pornography, but have you ever wanted to study and talk about sex, and specifically, how to have a satisfying sex life? Many people look to pornography not just for entertainment, but also for education about what satisfying sexual encounters look like. Unfortunately, much of what people learn from pornography doesn't lead them to healthy and satisfying sexual encounters and relationships. This lecture class isn't actually about pornography. It goes beyond many presumptions about sex and pleasure depicted in pornography and popular culture, in order to equip students with information that can lead to more satisfying and healthy sexual experiences across their lifespan, regardless of how they identify, or who or what they like. The course also familiarizes students with a wide spectrum of human identities, practices, and attitudes towards sex and sexuality. Topics covered include: physiological and biological sex; gender; sexual orientation; homophobia and heterosexism; navigating sexual risks in a sex-positive way; sexual health disparities; sexual desire, arousal, and response; solitary sex & sex with others; sex toys; unconventional sexual practices; intimacy and effective communication; sexuality & aging; sexuality, disability & intimacy; sexual problems and solutions; sexual pleasure as part of sexual health; sexual harassment and violence; selling sex; and yes, a brief unit on problematics and possibilities in pornography.
GBL_HLTH 221-0 and GNDR_ST 221-0 are taught together and may not be taken more than once for credit.
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, students should be able to:
• Recognize and articulate the relationship between societal norms, individuals' attitudes and traits, and the behaviors of individuals and groups when it comes to sex, gender, and sexuality.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of what social science and public health literatures tell us about how culture and power inform how people think and behave relating to sexuality and gender, and incorporate sex-positive cultural and scientific understandings into their own ideas about the ethical and political components of human sexuality.
• Develop the ability to critique theories, claims, and policies in the social and behavioral sciences and the wider public sphere through careful evaluation of an argument's major assertions, assumptions, evidential basis, and explanatory utility with regards to claims about ‘healthy', ‘normal' or ‘proper' human sexuality
• Speak comfortably and knowledgeably about human sex and sexuality
• Describe strategies for maximizing their own and their (current or future) partners' sexual health and pleasure, while minimizing risks for self and others.
Class Attributes
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipl
U.S. Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area