chapter 1

Question 1

what is the definition of sex

Answer 1

sex refers to sexual anatomy and sexual behaviour

Question 2

what is gender

Answer 2

being male or female

Question 3

what is the definition of sexual behaviour

Answer 3

behaviour that produces arousal and increases the chance of orgasm

Question 4

where did most information about sexuality come from in the past + elaborate

Answer 4

religion
- diff religions have diff understanding of human sexuality
- sex is regarded and regulated differently in every religion

Question 5

how does religion influence sexuality and culture?

Answer 5

were programmed to think a certain way and this stems from religious impact:
- religion associated pleasure with sin (western)
- abstinence is preached as sex-ed in some USA states
- encouraged to have many kids
- no contraception (interfering with god)
- heteronormativity
- stigma on gender roles, masturbation, the way you dress

taboos on menstruation, women purity, rules such as needing to have kids and get married

Question 6

when did the scientific study of sex begin

Answer 6

19th century
- by the 20th, there were massive surveys on human sexual behaviour being conducted everywhere but not in Canada yet

Question 7

what are the three main ways the media influences sexual behaviour

Answer 7

• cultivation
• agenda-setting
• social learning

Question 8

what is cultivation (media)

Answer 8

information that is not true
- taking in information and understanding it for better or for worse
(ex: two condoms, porn)

Question 9

what is agenda-setting (media)

Answer 9

a form of misinformation (inaccurate information that has been tweaked or changed)
- selecting information that works for you and your beliefs
- news is created to target specific crowds and clientele
- taking information out of context
ex: abortion is murder, birth control, using bible for sex-ed

Question 10

what is social learning

Answer 10

we learn what is acceptable through the internet, we accept it, learn it, and mimic it (especially if it is favourable in our eyes)
- imitating people we admire
ex: mimicking porn

Question 11

what is a herd vs a horde

Answer 11

herd: doesn’t have a leader, you just follow other people
horde: have leaders that we follow (we are a horde society constantly looking up to authorities)

Question 12

what is the difference between misinformation and disinformation

Answer 12

misinformation: inaccurate information that has been tweaked or changed
disinformation: completely false information
(hiv is curable, wear two condoms)

Question 13

what are some things the internet changed about sexuality

Answer 13

• in the past, you had to meet people in person
• beauty standards
• now you can reach out online about sexuality topics
• creates misinformation + disinformation
• revenge porn (using someone’s shit against them)
• chat rooms
• sexting

Question 14

what is ethnocentrism

Answer 14

tendency to judge other cultures by the standards of our own

Question 15

what are racial microaggressions

Answer 15

• subtle forms of prejudice attitudes and insults, often done unconsciously
• imply dominance
• invalidate a person

also:
- gender microaggressions
- sexual orientation microaggressions
- etc

Question 16

what are the rules in inis beag

Answer 16

inis beag:
- sex education is almost non-existent
- women fear menstration
- men think intercourse is bad for health
- nudity is unheard of
- no pre-marital sex
- female orgasm is virtually non-existent

Question 17

what are the rules in mangaia

Answer 17

mangaia:
- sex is for procreation and pleasure
-13 y/o boys are taught how to pleasure a partner
- boys first sexual intercourse is with an older experienced woman, who teaches him sex positions and orgasm control so that he can give his partner multiple orgasms before he has one
- parents encourage girls to have sexual experiences with multiple men so they can find a husband they are sexually compatible with

Question 18

what did sexuality look like for indigenous people before European contact vs after contact

Answer 18

before european contact:
- premarital, extramarital and same-sex sex we’re alll respected
- women were encouraged to take initiative
after european contact:
- the abuse and poverty affected sexual behaviour
- indigenous women had high risk of sexual health outcomes (STIs, unwanted pregnancies)

Question 19

what are the “rules” for canadian immigrants from china, africa, south asia, etc

Answer 19

• men and women have distinct roles in the family
• women have little power in sexual relationships
• men are often permitted to have extramarital affairs
• homosexuality is shameful
• virginity at marriage is highly valued

Question 20

explain the sexual norms of Marquesans of Polynesia

Answer 20

• Many sexual experiences before puberty
• First sexual experience with older partner
• Mothers are proud of daughters with many lovers
• Marriage after sexual experience

Question 21

explain sexual norms of Egyptians of Siwa

Answer 21

• Clitoris removed at age 7 or 8
• Intercourse brings shame
• Marriage very early to prevent premarital sex

Question 22

variations in sexual techniques: sex with same-sex partner

Answer 22

• Same-sex or same-gender behaviour found in many species (typically mammalian)
ex: Sheep, bonobos, Japanese macaques

Cultures vary on view of same-sex behaviour:
• Some forbid it at any age
• Some forbid it only in adulthood
• Some encourage it at puberty

Two general findings:
• Same-sex sexuality is nearly universal
• Same-sex sexuality is never the predominant form of sexual behaviour

Question 23

explain the nonsexual use of sexual behaviour

Answer 23

• To establish dominance/subordination (e.g., Monkeys after combat)
• Peacemaking (e.g., Bonobos)
• In humans, some examples include:

• Rapists — use sex as an expression of aggression against and power over a man or woman
• Exhibitionists expose themselves to shock and frighten others
• Sex workers use sex for economic reasons
• Couples who make love after a fight — may use sex to signal the end of hostilities