Posted on 06/19/2005 11:06:15 AM PDT by Crackingham
Researchers want to talk about sex, and not just the naughty bits. Academics, social scientists and policy makers from around the world are gathering this week at San Francisco State University for a conference on human sexuality and the "moral panics" caused by such charged topics as homosexuality, abortion and sex education.
And while there's plenty of talk about Hollywood, masturbation and all topics titillating, the premise is that ignorance and intolerance about sex have disastrous consequences — whether it's an inadequate response to AIDS, the stigma suffered by rape survivors or teenagers having unsafe sex.
"Better sexuality education will raise public knowledge and lead to positive public policy," said Gilbert Herdt, director of the National Sexuality Resource Center based at San Francisco State.
These are ticklish times for sexuality specialists — even as some scoff at the theory that Americans fed on "Sex and the City" and "Elim-a-Date" are undereducated on X-rated matters.
Herdt says he is on a mission to free Americans from the "packaged sex" Hollywood serves up and what he regards as Washington's prudish sensibilities.
"The question isn't is there enough sex around, it's what kind of sex is around," he said. "It's meant to titillate, not educate."
This is the first year the International Association for the Study of Sexuality, Culture and Society has convened in the United States, and Herdt said the timing is right. While some Europeans get sex education in kindergarten, he notes, the subject is still controversial in American high schools.
Earlier this year, Herdt's center launched a "Sexual Literacy Campaign" that uses the Internet to foster an open discussion about sexually charged topics.
On its Web site, SexLiteracy.org, a quiz asks such provocative questions are "Is there such a thing as having too much sex?" and "Is masturbation a healthy way to relieve stress?"
Didn't they mean to call it a "climax" instead of a "summit"?
I guess I'll have to ping this one out.
:-b
I got as far as the word "intolerance" and didn't need to read any more, thank you very much. It tells me all I need to know about the conference organizers.
Wow! Wonder how Adam and Eve ever managed their relationship without the sex-ed experts!
I hate these so-called sex experts who always wanna tell me where to get off.....
"moral panics"? Sounds like a one-sided conference. That's probably why they chose San Fran-sodom-isco as the conference location.
I'm sure that all points of view will be welcome.
Not controversial at all. Occasionally, somebody will give some sex education to a kindergarten-age kid. The difference between America and Europe is that we arrest the SOB.
I'm sure there'll be a healthy diversity of viewpoints and full respect for traditional moral and religious views at that conference...NOT!
What fun is sex without the titillation?
Not very well. They got booted out of their plush, rent free apartment.
The thing none of the liberals or the media ever mention is that no one is against objective fact-driven sex education. It is the agenda driven advocation of certain practices that draw ire. That reveals the present sex ed in schools as a political strategy rather than education.
Not only where but how and when. :-)
This is just another oppurtunity for gays to have an orgy. Several days of non-stop promiscuity. AIDS will have a field day at this "summit".
Was DC prudish when Clinton was catting around?
First the titillation, and if that's satisfactory maybe I'll sample the education.
Non moechaberis.
I bet this never comes up at their summit.
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