SOC 256 Sex and Sexualities • 5 Cr.
Do men and women think differently about sex? Does pornography impact how we have sex? Is prostitution harmful to society? Investigate contemporary sexual behaviors from a sociological perspective and examine how culture impacts sexual practices and identities. Themes may include the sex industry, the sexual self, attitudes about the body, and/or sex in popular culture.
After completing this class, students should be able to:
- Explain the difference between key concepts in the field, such as “sex,” “gender,” “sexuality,” and “sexual orientation”;
- Discuss how sexuality is socially constructed and compare norms and cultural perspectives on sexual behavior across societies;
- Describe the ways in which our culture and society shape our sexual opinions and experiences;
- Illustrate how gender influences sexual attitudes and behaviors;
- Better understand sexual practices and perspectives from a sociological perspective;
- Recognize how sex and sexualities are marketed, packaged and sold by society; and
- Critically examine how societies regulate sexual behavior.