Sexuality and Cultural Values

Abstract

Students often enter college believing that sexuality is solely a personal issue. After all, "it’s no one else’s business what goes on in other people’s bedrooms." This exercise challenges students to question this belief. It measures student’s favorability towards different sexual behaviors and allows the instructor to begin a discussion about how...

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Details

Subject Area(s):

Sexualities

Resource Type(s):

Class Activity

Class Level(s):

Any Level

Class Size(s):

Any

Usage Notes

Make one copy of the list of sexual behaviors for the instructor to read to the class. Cut the rating sheet (provided here) in half, so that each student has the opportunity to rate each person once. This exercise is best used when the students are beginning a section of course readings on sexuality. It also illustrates the concept of "social...

Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will be able to discuss how perceptions of sexuality are socially constructed.
2. Students will be reflect on religious, political, and other social institutions that play a role in our social constructions of sexuality.

Goal Assessment(s):

1. At the beginning of the exercise, ask students to define the term "social construction" at the top of the rating sheet. Use a short answer exam question that asks students to explain how perceptions of sexuality are socially constructed.
2. Use a short answer exam question to assess students' ability to provide examples of religious, political, and social institutions that affect their interpretation of sexuality.