GWST 2163 - Week 1

Summary

This script introduces a course on the philosophical and epistemological aspects of sex education, exploring the nature of sex and how it's defined. It questions the universality of sex, its role in pleasure, relationships, and self, and the impact of various sources like personal experiences, media, and pornography on our sexual knowledge. The narrative uses a personal anecdote from watching 'Titanic' to delve into societal reactions to nudity and sex, emphasizing the need to examine our sexual epistemologies and the influence of power dynamics in sexual experiences.

Takeaways

• 🔎 The course aims to explore the nature of sex philosophically, culturally, politically, sociologically, and economically.
• 🤔 It questions the universality of the concept of sex and whether it is defined the same way for everyone.
• 🧐 The course delves into the epistemology of sex, questioning how and where we acquire our sexual knowledge.
• 👀 It discusses the impact of different sources of sexual knowledge, such as family, friends, media, and personal experiences.
• 🚫 The script highlights the potential for certain sources to omit or neglect important aspects of sexual education.
• 🎬 It uses the example of the film 'Titanic' to illustrate how societal reactions to sexual content can lead to epistemological questions.
• 👶 The personal story shared reflects on the influence of family and societal attitudes on the perception of sex and nudity.
• 🤝 The course suggests that sex is not just a physical act but also a social and emotional interaction.
• 💡 It raises the question of whether activities like cybersex or self-pleasure are considered 'sex' and what that means for our understanding of the term.
• 💼 The script touches on the role of the pornography industry as a source of sexual knowledge and its potential impact on societal views of sex and gender.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the course mentioned in the script?

The primary focus of the course is to explore the nature of sex education, both as a formal institutional agenda and informally, and to discuss sexual knowledge and how it is acquired.

What philosophical aspects of sex does the script suggest should be considered?

The script suggests considering the definition of sex, whether it means the same thing to everyone, and if there are universals regarding sex that can be identified.

How does the script relate the concept of sex to various aspects of life?

The script relates sex to aspects such as pleasure, sacredness, mundaneness, excitement, boredom, repetition, and risk, suggesting that sex can be viewed differently depending on the context and individual perspectives.

What does the script imply about the variability of sex definitions?

The script implies that the definition of sex can vary based on factors such as the relationship between the individuals involved, whether it's between friends, strangers, or spouses, and even in the context of self-sexual activities or cybersex.

What is the significance of the 'Titanic' movie scene mentioned in the script?

The 'Titanic' movie scene is used to illustrate an epistemological question about sex and sexuality, specifically how nudity and sexual scenes are perceived and reacted to differently by individuals.

Why did the speaker's aunt cover the speaker's eyes during the 'Titanic' movie scene?

The speaker's aunt covered the speaker's eyes to shield them from nudity in the movie, which leads to a discussion about the origins of sexual knowledge and the role of family and societal norms in shaping these perceptions.

What does the script suggest about the role of pornography as a source of sexual knowledge?

The script suggests that pornography is a common source of sexual knowledge for many people and raises questions about its impact on sexual education and the portrayal of gender roles and power dynamics.

How does the script connect sexual epistemologies to broader sociological and political considerations?

The script connects sexual epistemologies to sociological and political considerations by discussing how sources of sexual knowledge, such as pornography, can influence societal views on gender, power dynamics, and the treatment of women.

What is the purpose of discussing the business aspect of pornography in the script?

Discussing the business aspect of pornography serves to question how its commercial nature might affect its educational value and the messages it conveys about sex and sexuality.

How does the script challenge the audience to think about their own sources of sexual knowledge?

The script challenges the audience to reflect on their first sources of sexual knowledge and consider how these sources have shaped their understanding of sex and sexuality.

What does the term 'epistemology' mean in the context of the script?

In the context of the script, 'epistemology' refers to the study of the nature and origins of knowledge, specifically in the realm of sexual knowledge and how it is acquired and understood.