Please answer FIVE (5) of the following questions. Please type your answer directly underneath the question. Be sure to answer ALL parts of the question. Each question is worth 20 points. You may use your book, notes, and PowerPoints. You may NOT work together.
All exams are due Monday, March 4th by 5 pm. We will NOT have class that night.
1. Discuss the history of sex over the past 400 years. Have people always been uptight about sexual activity? What took place that changed attitudes regarding sexuality? Discuss devices used in Medieval times to prevent sexual activity. Do you think that suck devices could be used today?
2. Which method do sexuality researchers most often use to collect data? Name three (3) benefits and three (3) issues with this method of data collection. If you were a sexuality researcher, and you did not want to use the previously mentioned method, which would you use? What are the two (2) benefits and (2) issues with using your technique?
**The most common methods used are surveys. Benefits of surveys are that they are less expensive than interviews, they are more convenient in a way that it makes people feel more relaxed, it reinforces anonymity, and you can do them on your own time, whenever you please. Some issues this method has are that self-report data can cause difficulties in recalling past events, embellishment, and not an accurate return rate. If I did not use surveys as a method, I would probably chose case studies. Benefits are that they are very in depth, and you get consistent data over a period of time through follow-ups. Issues with this method are that there is no way of using proper sampling techniques making it difficult to generalize case-study results to the rest of the population. Another issue is that it requires extensive work over a long period of time.
3. List four (4) barriers to sexual communication. How could you remove or change each of these barriers? Name two (2) ways men and women communicate differently. Explain what you believe to be the most important aspect of communicating with a sexual/romantic partner.
**Four barriers to sexual communication are lack of listening skills, sexual language, mind-altering drugs, and bypassing. In order to change the lack of listening skills, the person must be able to step back and understand that they are not hearing their partner’s needs/desires and take proper steps to improve listening. Sexual language is a barrier because if someone can’t explain in proper terms, or even know what names of certain body parts are, it makes it extremely difficult to communicate. Mind-altering drugs can be a huge factor in communication, and should just be avoided all together. Finally, bypassing is most common, in my opinion. Avoiding the subject of sex all together will only make an issue grow and continuously reappear. Facing your fears and embarrassment about the topic is the only way to avoid bypassing. Two ways men and women communicate differently are vocabulary differences and expressing feelings differently. I believe that listening to my partner’s needs, and being vocal about my own needs is the key to good sexual communication.
4. Female genital mutilation is a common occurrence in some cultures. Describe three (3) distinct types of female genital mutilation. Describe why cultures find this practice desirable. You have a daughter, and your spouse’s family believes in female genital mutilation. Describe one (1) argument you would give to the family against the procedure.
**Three types of female genital mutilation are circumcision, clitoridectomy, and infibulation. In circumcision, the clitoral hood is removed. In a clitoridectomy the clitoris itself is surgically removed. Lastly, infibulation is the most complex procedure: the clitoris and labia minora are removed, and both sides of the vulva are scraped raw and then stitched together. Other cultures find this practice desirable because sexual activity is frowned upon and that keeps women outside of marriage from participating in sexual behavior and masturbation. If I found myself in a position to defend someone from female mutilation, my argument would be that unless the person in question wanted such procedures done, it is not someone else’s place to make such a permanent and extremely traumatic decision.
5. Describe the two (2) pros and two (2) cons of male circumcision. The notion of penis size has been found in the research to be of little importance to women. Why do you think size continues to be a huge topic among men? If men could get safe and effective penis enlargement surgery, do you think that they would?
6. After viewing the movie America the Beautiful, what did you learn about self-esteem? What do you think about the American fascination with plastic surgery (including for your dog)? Should physical beauty determine how one feels about him/herself? Does marketing and advertising play a part in determination of body image?
7. Describe the differences between sex and gender. List three things you learned from our guest speaker. Describe two (2) changes the university could make to be more inclusive of transgender students.
**Sex is biological, whereas gender is what you believe to be. The easiest way I can describe it is sex is what is in your pants, and gender is what is in your mind. From the guest speaker, I learned the process of actually undergoing a sex change operation; the year of therapy and hormones, clearance from therapist and doctors to be considered for surgery, etc. I also learned that just because her voice was still manly, that didn’t matter to her. Her operation had made her complete as to what she believed she was her whole life. Finally, I learned that talking about her life story with a room full of strangers is less stressful than talking about her desires to her family. I believe that EKU could make a gender neutral dorm, making it less cut and dry as to whether you are male or female. Also, gender neutral bathrooms would be a big help for those who don’t identify with one gender or the other.
8. They have created a male birth control gel. List two (2) pros and two (2) cons of using this product. Would you feel safe using this as your only method of birth control? Would you, as a man, remember to use it daily?
**One benefit this method of birth control is that it provides protection anytime, especially if you find yourself in a sporadic situation where a male may not have a condom available. Also, it’s an option for males to get if their partner is not on birth control for religious purposes, or if her parents won’t allow her to get it. Cons are that it requires commitment to using the gel as directed, every day. Another con is that since it is a new development, it can be fairly expensive to attain, and also have several harsh side effects. I think men would have trouble remembering to use it every day, which would make it difficult to be fully effective.