Social Construction of Sexuality
WMST/SOCY 1006
Spring 2006
Instructor: Glenda Walden
Office: Ketchum 310 Mailbox: Ketchum 219
Email: Glenda.Walden@colorado.edu Phone: 303.492.3203/303.359-3234 (9am–7pm)
Office Hours: MW 11-11:30, 4:15-5pm and by appointment.
You are responsible for everything in this syllabus, your recitation syllabus, the texts, the course packet, and material covered in class. This includes knowing and managing due dates, changes in the tentative schedule, and assignments. The syllabus and all information in the course packet are testable materials.
This is an introductory course in the sociological study of sexualities. We’ll be examining human sexual desires, experiences, and meanings held in common in a historical and cultural context that takes into account larger trends and social influences.
For the purposes of this course, the theoretical assumptions of social constructionism frame our inquiry and understanding of human sexual phenomena. Throughout the course we will read, discuss, and entertain ideas from queer, feminist, and radical perspectives on sexuality for the express purpose of challenging our taken for granted assumptions about “what’s so.” Through these controversial and sometimes difficult (emotionally as well as intellectually) readings and discussions, we will be engaging in a critical inquiry into the popular and scientific versions of sexual reality.
We will also discuss the stratification system in contemporary US society where it intersects with our cultural assumptions and values regarding sexual identity and expression. We will be analyzing how this compares with our stated and generally agreed upon “American values” that include equality of respect and opportunity for all people and the belief that people deserve life, liberty, and the freedom to pursue happiness in a way that does not interfere with others’ rights and liberties.
In doing this we will be identifying instances of discrepancies between what we say (ideal) and how we act (real) as we structure our society through policies, practices, institutions, rituals, and social control at the collective level and in our individual everyday choices and interactions. The intention of this inquiry and the opportunity provided through this material and these discussions is in working toward alignment of our vision of a just society with our everyday actions.
Course Texts
Textbooks are available at Word Is Out bookstore, 2015 10th Street, 303.449.1415.
The Good Vibrations Guide to Sex by Cathy Winks and Anne Semans 2002.
This text is a great reference for information about the body, health, communication, and sexual information. This is required for everyone in the class.
The Good Vibrations Guide to Adult Videos by Cathy Winks. 1998.
This text is required if you are renting an adult video for your activity paper. You will be required to reference it in that paper. It’s inexpensive and a great resource for selecting adult films.
Course Packet: available through CU book store. This packet contains the syllabus, information on
paper options and guidelines for writing your paper, campus and community resources for sexual issues and questions, and most of the readings for the class.
DISABILITY STATEMENT
If you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please let us 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.
CLASS 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. You are expected to respect each other, your TA, and me. 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 can 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 the kind of opportunities and life 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, products and tools that both enforce and are reflective of existing power and privilege inequities.
Instructor 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, we will 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 in many ways. 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
1. Provide accurate sources of information about sexuality, practice examining sexual phenomena consciously from the social constructionist and essentialist perspectives, and offer opportunities for developing our ability to evaluate new information, research, and the opinions held by others and ourselves
· Gain an understanding of the essentialist and social constructionist perspectives-as theoretical 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 as an institutionalized practice 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.
2. Get practical personal benefits out of this class—grow and develop as an adult.
· 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.
3. Get practical “professional” benefits--develop skills that will assist in your success in university life and beyond
· Demonstrate the accomplishment of the above insights on tests, papers, and in class discussions according to academic style and standards. This gives us the opportunity to evaluate your integration of material on several levels, and you learn, among other things, how to play the game you are in the midst of called University degree seeker.
Evaluation Components
Final: comprehensive multiple-choice final (90 pts).
Writing:
Short paper: One 2-3 page paper due on Feb 27 in class will allow you to synthesize your thoughts and observations about sexuality in “real life” with your response and analysis of course material-This gives you practice writing and experience with my standards for evaluation (40 pts )
Second Chance (more opportunities for practice): Re-write paper one or rough draft of activity paper Due date depends on which option you choose - re-write due March 22, Rough Draft due April 5. (15 pts)
Learning Journal: more specific details to follow. You’ll assess your own and my efforts and success in meeting the learning objectives set out in the syllabus and created by you (45 pts)
· Entry One: State 3 of your own personal learning objectives for this course that fall into each of my three areas of objectives. Why these are important to you (results/what you’ll get out of it), and what you are willing to do to reach them (10 pts). Due Feb 1
· Entry 2: how are you doing so far? (15 pts) Due Feb 22
· Entry 3: Course and Participation self–evaluation (5pts) Due March 15
· Entry 4: Final Evaluation/Summary (15 pts) Due on May 3
Point Distribution:
Tests (44, 66) 110
Short paper 40
Second chance 15
Learning Journal 45
Activity Paper 100
Final 90
Total 400
Grading follows a standard percentage cut-off for letter grades (for exact percentages, e-mail me and I will let you know), and there is no curving of tests or final scores. I have found this actually works out to students’ advantage over other methods. You are strongly encouraged to come discuss/argue test questions that you feel you answered correctly, but missed. This has the dual benefit of improving your argument and communication skills and may even earn you extra points. If you want to discuss my reasoning, methods, or any other aspect of class or life please come see me (I love to talk pedagogy).
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE-SUBJECT TO CHANGES ANNOUNCED IN CLASS
(CP-Course Packet, GV – Good Vibrations Guide to Sex, CP listings are by author and title)
For your own benefit and the liveliness of discussion please have the readings completed before class on the day they are assigned.
Wednesday, January 18
Topic – Introduction
Read – syllabus and CP: informational pages
Monday, January 23 Opportunity to turn in course agreements
Topic –How do we know what we know? It’s all perspective.
Read – GV chapter 2 and CP: Heasley and Crane “Learning to Think Critically About Sexuality”
Wednesday, January 25
Topic – Why Study Sexuality from a sociological perspective?
Read – CP Ericksen and Steffen “Asking Questions About Sex” and Steele “Introduction”
Monday, January 30
Last day to turn in course agreement to my hand-dropped by 4pm if not turned in!
Topic - A Radical Perspective: You want me to read how much?!?!?!
Read - CP: Rubin "Thinking Sex"
Wednesday, Feb 1 Learning Journal Entry One due in class
Topic – Sociological concepts through Rubin (social control, panics, stratification)
Read - finish Rubin, or better yet, re-read after our Monday discussion
Monday, Feb 6
Topic - Stratification, Privilege and American Values
Read - CP: MacIntosh - "White Privilege…."
Wednesday, Feb 8
Topic- How this social control idea impacts real people
Read - CP: Nestle "My Mother Liked to Fuck"
Monday, Feb 13
View: Viva La Vulva (SEM)*
Topic - Language, Pleasure, Bodies, and Social Control
Read - GV chapter 3
Wednesday, Feb 15
Topic - Theoretical Perspectives: essentialism and social construction
Read - CP: Steele "Doing It" and Christina "Are We Having Sex Now or What?"
Monday, Feb 20
Topic – Wrap up
Wednesday, Feb 22 TEST ONE—BRING A #2 PENCIL!
Learning Journal Entry Two Due in class
Monday Feb 27
Short paper due in class
Topic – Scripting Theory
Read – CP: Strong et al “Chapter 5”
Wednesday, March 1
Topic – Taking gendered scripts into the bedroom (Traditional scripts for masculine and feminine sexuality)
Read – CP: Stoltenberg “How Men Have (a) Sex”
Monday, March 6
Topic – How to have sex the RIGHT way (according to the DCS for ideal sex)!
Read –CP: Roberts et al “Faking It: The Story of Ohh”
Wednesday, March 8
Topic – Connections and Transitions
Read – GV chapter 4 and 14
Monday, March 13
Topic - Heterosexuality as identity and institution
Read - CP: Messner "Becoming 100 percent Straight" and Rochlin "Heterosexual Questionnaire"
Wednesday, March 15
Course and Participation Evaluation Due in class
Topic - Deconstructing (and challenging) hegemonic Heterosexuality
Read - CP: Ingraham "Ritualizing Heterosexuality: Weddings as Performance"and
Wolf "Radical Heterosexuality"
Monday, March 20
Topic - Heterosexual privilege-costs for everyone
Read - CP: Herold "The Straightjacket of my Homophobia" and het priv supplements
Wednesday, March 22
Last Day to report final exam conflicts and appeal for alternatives
Test 2—Bring a #2 pencil!
Re-write of Short Paper “Second Chance” Option due in class
Spring Break!!
Monday, April 3
View: Sexually Explicit Material** Adult Film collage
Topic - You say porn, I say erotica, let's call the whole thing SEM
Read - GV chapter 20 and Abbott "Creating a Scene"
Wednesday, April 5
“Second Chance” Rough Draft of Activity Paper Option due in class
Topic – Nobody ever got an STD from watching porn…
Read - GV chapter 19 and CP: Schneider and Jenness "Sex and the SC of STDs"
Monday, April 10--
Topic - STI Panic wrap up
Wednesday, April 12
Topic – The sociological perspective on sexual coercion and consent
Read – CP: Struckman-Johnson et al “Tactics of Sexual Coercion” and
Reeves Sanday “Rape-Prone vs Rape-Free Campus Cultures”
Monday, April 17
Activity Paper Due in your Ta’s hand by beginning of class
Topic – Sexism, Racism, and Rape Panic
Read – Dowd Hall “The Mind That Burns in Each Body”
Wednesday, April 19
Topic – Transforming sexual scripts
Read – CP: Crowley “The Lie of Entitlement” and hooks “Seduced by Violence No More”
Monday, April 24
Topic – BDSM: reinforcing and challenging hegemonic heterosexuality
Read – CP: BDSM supplements, Queen “Over a Knee Willingly” and GV chapter 17
Tentative BD/SM Presentation**
Tuesday April 25, 6:30-8:30 PM Duane G1B20
Anyone attending this special presentation (class members and their guests) is required to do the reading for April 24 in order to prepare for the presentation.
Wednesday, April 26
Topic – Variations, social control, and social change
Read – CP: Califia’s “Sluts in Utopia” and Moore “Sex (American Style)”
Monday, May 1
Topic – Sex Pioneer, who me?
Read – Justice “I have a Dream”
Wednesday, May 5
Final Learning Journal Entry due in class
Topic – overview of class themes, FCQs, and wrap up
Final Exam noon (020) lecture: Tuesday, May 9 7:30-10am EKLC E1B20
Final Exam 1pm (030) lecture: Tuesday, May 9 4:30-7pm EKLC E1B20
Final Exam 3pm (002) lecture: Wednesday, May 10 7:30-10am CLR 207
*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. Please see a class member for notes or meet with your TA.
**BDSM presentation – This presentation will involve a discussion of BDSM practices and philosophy as well as a safety demonstration of some techniques by members of the Colorado Scene. We do NOT allow any cameras or recording devices of any kind during this presentation in order to protect the confidentiality of the guest speakers.