SYLLABUS: SOCIOLOGY OF SEXUALITY SYG 4060 SUMMER B 2003

MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS, 11 AM TO 1:45 PM, JUNE 25–AUGUST 6, 2003 UNIVERSITY PARK CAMPUS; BUILDING ZEB, ROOM 120

PROFESSOR: Dr. Abraham D. Lavender, Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Office: University Park, Building DM, Room 322B. Best contact is abelavender@aol.com. More contact information will be given during the first class.

COURSE OUTLINE: There are four parts to the course: (1) Introduction, definitions, sexuality and sexism, class surveys. (2) Comparative cultural and historical review of sexuality including the Ancient Greek, Roman, Jewish, Christian/European, Islamic/Arabic, Indian, Chinese, African, and Native America cultures. (3) Specific topics (e.g., premarital, martial, and extramarital; sexual orientations; swinging, prostitution, positions, anatomy, etc. (4) Societal attitudes and influences on sexual functioning and dysfunctioning. Part 1 is brief, Part 2 will go to the first test, Part 3 covers most of the remainder, and Part 4 is relatively brief.

BOOKS: There are three books:

(1) THE TAO OF LOVE AND SEX, by Jolan Chang. This book discusses the sexual attitudes and behavior from an Eastern perspective. Read this book in its entirety during the first half of the course, to be tested on the first test.

(2) THE MORNING AFTER: SEX, FEAR, AND FEMINISM, by Katie Roiphe. This book discusses how U.S. attitudes on some sexual topics have changed over the past several decades. Read this book in its entirety during the first half of the course, to be tested on the first test.

(3) SOLVING AMERICA’S SEXUAL CRISIS, by Ira Reiss and Harriet M. Reiss. This book discusses the general attitude toward sexuality in our culture, as well as special topics. If sufficient copies are available on time, a few parts of this book will be read for the first test, but most will be read for the second half of the course.

GRADING: There will be two tests. Each test will consist of about 33 questions, mostly multiple choice or short answers ranging up to several sentences. Each test will be about half each from class lecture/discussion and readings. The highest test, whichever it is, will count double.

ATTENDANCE: Attendance is required, and will be taken frequently on a random basis. For those who attend class most of the time, the final grade will be based mostly on the two tests. The professor reserves the right to lower grades for excessive absences. Class discussion and interaction also are important to the learning process, although they are not always testable. Classes will be both lecture and class discussion.

GOAL: To understand why different cultures have different attitudes and practices regarding sexuality; how demographic groups (e.g., religious, gender, age) differ on sexual issues; why we have our own views on sexuality; and how our views affect our sexuality.