Social Construction of
Sexuality
WMST/SOCY 1006
FALL 2006
Instructor:
Matthew C. Brown Sociology Dept. Office: Ketchum 219
Office:
Ketchum 310 Sociology Dept. Phone: 303.492.6410
Office
Hours: T & R 1 – 1:45 Mailbox: Ketchum 219
Office
Phone: 303.492.3203 Email: brownmc@colorado.edu
You are responsible for everything in the registration
handbook, this syllabus, the text, and material covered in lecture and
recitation.
This course
investigates sexuality using a social constructionist framework to critically
engage with essentialist and biologically determinist perspectives, dominant in
Western society, regarding sexual identity and sexual expression. Contemporary sexual identity, desire,
behavior, health, research, and expert advice will be viewed, in part, as
outcomes and techniques of social control.
We will explore the construction of heterosexuality, homosexuality,
femininity, and masculinity as they impact our cultural and individual
understandings of sexuality. Throughout
the course we will be examining and analyzing our own and others’ sexualities
in a sociological perspective of larger trends and social influences. We will also discuss the sexual basis and
consequences of the stratification system in place in this society currently
with an emphasis on identifying erotic injustice and oppression.
DISABILITY
STATEMENT
If you have specific
physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities and require accommodations,
please let me know by the end of the third week of the semester so that your
learning needs may be appropriately met.
You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the
Disability Services Office in Willard 322 at 303.492.8671.
Course Texts
Required:
Material is available at Word Is Out Bookstore,
The Social Construction of Sexuality. 2005.
Edited by Matthew C. Brown.
Optional:
The Good Vibrations Guide to Sex.
Cathy Winks and Anne Semans. 2002.
This text is a great
reference for information about the body, health, communication, and sexual
information. I highly recommend this
book!
CLASS
PARTICIPATION
Your participation
Your
participation in class discussion is encouraged. You are welcome to ask questions at any time
or even take us a bit off-track in discussion.
If something is interesting and important to the class, I do not mind
getting off the subject. In this class,
we will most assuredly express strong opinions and argue over some points. We critique ideas not people. No one should be made to feel as if they are
being attacked personally over something they express in class.
You respect other
students by listening attentively when they are speaking, not rudely
interrupting anyone speaking and by not making hurtful insults and/or comments
that may silence other people in the class by declaring whole groups of people
wrong/criminal/sinful/sick because of ethnicity, religion, politics, gender,
ability, age, appearance, consensual sexual choices or decisions about when,
why, what, where and with whom to or not to engage in sexual activities. We will be discussing how those attitudes and
the enforcement of those opinions have operated to deny some people
opportunities and resources that most of us expect and demand. You are encouraged to say whatever is there
for you to say, being responsible for the effect your words will have on
others. As a theme in this class we
will also be discussing how words are social actions themselves with the power
to enforce power relations and are reflective of existing power and privilege
inequities.
My
participation (teaching style and language)
The social
constructionist perspective is founded on the principle that the language we
use creates our reality and experience of the world in which we live. This class is about sexuality as it is
experienced in the everyday world rather than the world of experts and
doctors. Because of this, I consciously
use language to uncover the implicit meanings about sexuality and gender and
how words are used to create our common understanding of sexuality. We will not only be “thinking sex” in this
class, we will be talking sex, too.
Anyone who does not wish to participate in a classroom where sexuality,
identity, behavior, desire, and sexualized parts of the body are discussed in
common language is encouraged to seek alternative courses. This is a difficult class at multiple levels
(level of comprehension and integration of material required for tests as well
as dealing with strong emotional reactions to course content and presentation
styles). In my opinion, it demonstrates
a high level of maturity to recognize your limits of comfort and what you are
willing to take on this semester and act appropriately as quickly as possible.
COURSE
OBJECTIVES
·
Provide an understanding of social
influences on the individual experience and meaning of sexuality and foster an
ability to employ the sociological imagination, resulting in a greater range of
choices and empowering us to create a world we love to live in.
·
Gain an understanding of the essentialist
and social constructionist perspectives, and the assumptions both are based on,
as they are employed in biological, psychological, and sociological
explanations of sexuality and gender.
·
Critically examine heterosexuality
sociologically as an institution within society, with emphasis on the
supporting institutions and ideologies that perpetuate this as a “pattern of
interaction,” the techniques of social control that are utilized within this
institution, the resulting stratification effects, the potential and actual
changes occurring within this institution and sources of those changes.
·
Achieve a broader understanding of the
sociocultural dimensions of human sexualities with increased appreciation of
the possible and manifest variation in human expression of desire, intimacy,
pleasure, and love.
·
To be knowledgeable, appreciative, and
proud of our bodies as sources of pleasure and beauty.
·
To be able to discuss sexual matters with
appropriate levels of sensitivity, respect, comfort, and humor (because let’s
face it, talking about sex can be fun—and funny).
·
To realize and clarify our individual
sense of sexual self, individual way of being comfortably and morally sexual,
and sexual decision making process—as always, within a sociological perspective.
·
Demonstrate the accomplishment of the
above insights on tests and in class discussions according to academic style
and standards.
Rules
of the Game
·
Please arrive in the classroom and be
prepared to begin on time. Please stay
for the entire class period.
·
Please turn off phones and beepers or
switch to vibrate if you have a childcare or emergency situation.
·
Please participate in the main
conversation by being attentive, abstaining from reading other materials, and
not carrying on side conversations during class.
·
Turn in assignments on time. Adhere to university policies regarding
academic honesty.
·
The WebCT page for this class is an
official forum for posting updates and presentation information, so please
check it during the semester.
·
If you have any suggestions, feedback, or
some aspect of the course requirements or material is not clear, let me know.
Strategies
for playing the game successfully
·
Even though this is a large class, attend
and participate (if only with your attentive listening). Studies suggest that this is highly correlated
with the grade you earn.
·
Keep up with the reading. You cannot participate or fully get the class
material or have fun with the discussions if you have not done the readings and
thought about them.
·
Become a person to your instructor. You can do this by asking questions, coming
to office hours, and engaging with the material.
·
Read and follow instructions carefully.
·
Ask for assistance when you need it.
·
Speak up and participate in discussions
by asking questions, answering questions, giving opinions, or tying together
others’ comments. Do this even if you do
not think you have the right or best thing to say. You will learn something by doing it.
Evaluation Components
Group Presentation: A
final group presentation will be given at the end of the semester. You will be put into groups in lecture and
are encouraged to rely upon group members for missed class notes and study
partners. This presentation will be
10-15 minutes long and be worth 50 points.
Recitation:
This semester you may earn 75 points in your recitation.
TENTATIVE
COURSE SCHEDULE
Tuesday, August 28
Thursday, August 31
Topic
– Basic Sociological Concepts and Social Control
Read
– “Introduction” and “White Privilege, Male Privilege”
Tuesday, September 5
Topic
– What is sexuality? Why study sexuality? Sexuality Pioneers
Read
– “Are We Having Sex Now or What?” and “Understanding Human Sexuality”
Thursday, September 7
Topic – Assumptions of
Essentialism
Due – Turn in Consent Form (If you do not turn in a consent
form for any reason, you will be dropped from this class.)
Tuesday, September 12
Topic
– Assumptions of Social Constructionism
Read
--- “Social Constructionism”
Thursday, September 14
Topic – History of
Sexual Distinctions
Read
– “Homosexual and Heterosexual”
Tuesday, September 19
Topic – Radical Theory
of Sexuality
Read
– “Thinking Sex”
Thursday, September 21
Topic
– Charmed Circle and Democratic Morality
Read
– “Thinking Sex”
Tuesday, September 26
Topic
– Panic Discourse and Moral Contagion Model
Read
– “Heterocopulative Syndrome” and “Sexually Transmitted Diseases”
Guest Speaker – Rodger McFarlane: AIDS,
America, and Sex (Evening)
Thursday, September 28
Exam One
Tuesday, October 3
Topic –
Hegemonic Masculine Sexuality
Read
– “Rock Hudson’s Body”
Due – Short Paper
Thursday, October 5
Topic – Hegemonic Feminine
Sexuality
Read
– “The Egg and the Sperm”
Guest
Speaker: Dr. Claudia , Fellow in Sexual Medicine (Evening)*
Tuesday, October
10
Topic – Erotic Bodies
Read
– “All Together Now” and “Our Cunts Are Not the Same”
View: Viva La Vulva and Private
Dicks*
Topic – Hegemonic
Sexual Script & Heteronormativity
Read – “Atypical
Sexual Behavior”
Topic – Disrupting
Heteronormativity
Read
– “In Praise of Strap-Ons”
Topic – Media and
Representations
View – Cultural Criticism and Transformation
Topic – Humor and
Sexuality
Read
– “Heterocopulative Syndrome”
View -- Homerphobia
Exam Two
Topic – Disruptions
II: Imperialism and the Sexual “Other”
Read
– “Black Sexuality”
View – The Life and Times of Sara
Baartman
Read
– “Rape, Racism, and the Myth of the Black Rapist”
Thursday, November 9
Tuesday, November14
Topic – Rape Culture
Read
– “Conversations of Consent”
Thursday, November 16
Topic
– Disruption III: Sexual Variance
Read
– “Over a Knee Willingly”
Guest Speaker – William: The BDSM Scene
(Evening)**
Tuesday, November 21
Fall
Break – No class
Thursday, November 23
Thanksgiving
Break – No class
Tuesday, November 28
Topic
– Disruption IV: Sexually Explicit Images
Read—
“Aroused,” “Grading,” and “Sex For Sale”
View – SEM Video Collage*
Thursday, November 30
Topic
– Sexual Pioneers
Read
– “My Mother Liked to Fuck” and “Sluts and Utopia”
Tuesday, December 5
Exam Three
Thursday, December 7
Due -- Group
Presentations
Tuesday, December 12
Due -- Group
Presentations
Thursday, December 14
Finals
Schedule: If your lecture starts at 11, then your final is Monday, December 18
at 1:30 – 4 pm.
If your lecture starts at 2, then your final is Wednesday,
December 20 at 10:30am – 1pm.
*SEM
(Sexually Explicit Material) – sexually explicit images in video format or
photographs that show exposed genitals and/or explicit sexual activity. Your attendance is NOT required, BUT you are
responsible for any material discussed that day. First, see a class member for notes,
then your TA, and finally, talk with me.
**BDSM presentation – This presentation will
involve a discussion of BD/SM practices and philosophy as well as a safety
demonstration of some techniques by members of the Colorado Scene. I do NOT allow any cameras or recording
devices of any kind during this presentation in order to protect the
confidentiality of the guest speakers. Your attendance is NOT required, BUT you
are responsible for any material discussed during the presentation. First, see a class member for notes, then
your TA, and finally, talk with me.