http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-13/ian-thorpe-toreveal-he-is-gay-in-michael-parkinsoninterview/5592626
http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/
Pope Francis Calls
Clergy Sex Abuse 'A
Leprosy,' Says 2 Percent
Of Priests Are Pedophiles
http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/aboutus/reports
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/13/pope-francispriests-pedophiles-two-percent_n_5582157.html
Over 35 million people
worldwide live with HIV and
36 million have already
died of AIDS.
AIDS: how far have we come?
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lifematter
s/aids3a-how-far-have-we-come3f/5601094
Lord Norman Fowler is the former Health Secretary
to the Thatcher government in the UK
"I expose men to the origin of
their first, and perhaps
second, reason for existing." Leonardo Da Vinci “Coition of
hemisected man and woman"
UNIB30004
Sex:
Science and the
Community
Introduction to the subject
Geoff Shaw
Department of Zoology
see http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/319/7225/1596
Sex
Etymology: from the Latin Secare “to divide or cut”, One sex being
half the human race;
Sex: late 14c., "males or females collectively”;
Sex: “quality of being male or female" first recorded 1526.
Sex object and sex symbol: both first attested 1911
Sex drive: – 1918.
Sex appeal – 1924.
Sexpert meaning "sex therapist" is from 1924.
“sexual intercourse” first attested 1929 (in writings of D.H.
Lawrence);
sexually attractive – 1932.
Sex meaning “genitalia" is attested from 1938.
Sexploitation is attested from 1942.
Sexpot is from 1954.
Based mainly on www.etymonline.com
“Sex Sells”
1921
2013
Sex and Society
How we will run the subject
• breadth subject
• the class:
– >60 enrolled
– mix of BSc, BA, BBiomed, BCom, BEng, etc
– very diverse academic background
• the teaching staff
– over 13 contributors
– academics – science, humanities, medicine
– other community members with particular
experience or expertise
How we will run the subject
• Interactive
– lectures
– discussions
– tutorials / debates
– we want you to be actively involved and
engaged.
• we welcome feedback
– word of mouth
– email – UNIB30004@zoology.unimelb.edu.au
Five major themes
• How do we view sex?
• How do we manipulate reproduction?
• How do we view issues of sexuality and
gender?
• Sex and society?
• Sex and population
 open ended
 diverse perspectives
 whatever your viewpoint on contentious
issues, you should understand alternate
viewpoints
Expectations
“Students will be expected to integrate
material from a range of academic
disciplines to arrive at a new understanding
of these complex issues.”
•
•
•
•
keep an open mind,
weigh the information,
integrate with your past studies and knowledge
discuss with your colleagues, associates, friends
and family
• keep aware of relevant events in the world
• contribute to public discussions
Lectures
• “Standard” lectures
– One (or two) contributors will present an outline of
an area of interest
– We encourage you to ask questions
– We will invite your participation
– Leave comments / questions or responses on
LMS
• Discussions
– Presentation of case studies, scenarios, topical
contentious issues ...
– Draw together themes from preceding lectures
– We expect you to participate in the resulting
discussion – diverse points of view are welcomed
Tutorials
• Weeks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12
• Structured discussion or
• Debate an issue relevant to the current
lecture content, follow up by postdebate discussion
• Participation assessed
– debate presentation 10%
– attendance/participation 6%)
Online learning and
assessment
• Readings and links on LMS
• Quizzes and other computer based
assessment 24%
• aim to help you consolidate factual
information & integrate new knowledge
• feedback
Assignment
• Topics to be advised soon (LMS)
• “up to 1500 words” (we can be flexible
with format – discuss with tutor.)
• We are looking for evidence that you
have considered the topic from multiple
viewpoints
• (15%)
Final examination
• End of semester written exam
• Mix of multiple choice, short answer and
essay type questions
• Looking for
– Factual knowledge
– Ability to assess sex-related topics from
multiple perspectives.
– 45%
Sex and science
From Le Vay & Baldwyn (2009) Human Sexuality. Sinauer Press
Sex and science
Masters & Johnson in late
1950s and 1960s brought
sex into the lab
• Biomedical
– Anatomy
– Physiology
– Endocrinology
– Genetics
– Neuroscience
– Microbiology
http://www.appsychology.com/
Book/Motivation/
sexual_motivation.htm
Schultz et al 1999
MRI imaging
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/319/7225/1596/F3
Sex and science
•
•
•
•
•
•
Double Helix
Meiosis
Genetic recombination
Egg and Sperm
Female and male
Evolution
Cellular basis of sex
cell
nucleus
DNA
Chromosomes
genes
Cellular basis of sex-MITOSIS
Body cells reproduce by
Mitosis
duplicate
DNA
divide
cell
daughter
cells are
genetic
clones
Cellular basis of sex - MEIOSIS
Eggs and sperm made via Meiosis
duplicate
DNA
egg
fertilized
egg:
NEW
combination
of genes
crossover
DNA
divide
cell
divide
cell
Sex and evolution
• sexual reproduction  new gene combinations
• some will be advantageous or adapt organism
for different/changing environment
• these will be more likely to survive and
reproduce ...
• ... to make new combinations ...
Sex and Society
Politics ...
Eg. Australian Sex Party policy areas:
• Censorship
• national classification scheme
• internet monitoring
• Education
• national sex education scheme
• Sexual Equality
• sex discrimination
• sex balance in parliament
• gay, lesbian and transsexual rights
• Health
• abortion
• PBL drugs for impotence
• bans on overseas aid to family
planning organizations
• Protection of Children
• child sex abuse
• child pornography
• Workplace Relations
• Parental leave
• Rights for sex workers
Sex and Society
Art and Literature
Views vary with time culture and context
eg. Clothing
Saudi Arabia dress norm
A nude woman hands out flyers
at the Love Parade in Berlin.
participants, World Naked Bike Ride
Annette Kellerman, early
1900s, in swimwear
which she wore when
arrested for public
indecency
Ibn Battuta (1304–1369) judges the character of
the people of Mali:
"Among their bad qualities are the following. The
women servants, slave-girls, and young girls go
about in front of everyone naked, without a stitch
of clothing on them. Women go into the sultan's
presence naked and without coverings, and his
daughters also go about naked."[12]
Views vary with time culture and context
IVF
• first biochemical pregnancy 1973 Melbourne
• first baby (Louise Brown) 1978 UK; 1980 Melb
• controversy  unnatural; against God’s laws;
will lead to abnormal development; will foster
infertility in offspring; problems in long-term etc.
• today Louise Brown has a child of her own
• Australia, each year: 57,000 treatment cycles, and
10,500 births result from assisted reproductive technology.
• IVF now regarded as normal, even as a “right”...
• twin births rose in
Vic from
2.3% in 1983 to
3.5% 2004
http://www.news.com.au/national/jailed-welfare-cheat-granted-access-to-ivf-treatment/story-e6frfkvr-1225889963810
Sex and the internet
2010  2011
Optenet study:
37% or URLs relate to pornography
Between 2009 and 2010, pornographic sites increased by 17 percent.
Sex and the internet
Abortion
• worldwide 42 million per year
• 20 million ‘unsafe’,
maternal mortality ~70,000
• teen pregnancy (1996 data)
– Aust. 4.4% preg, 2.4% terminated
– USA 8.5% preg, 3.0% terminated
• legality varies across world
• Australian states vary
• controversy
– religious ethics & right to life
– reproductive rights / choice
data from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_pregnancy & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_in_australia
Summary
• Details of subject logistics: LMS &/or tutor
• Sex is core to our biology, social
structures, way of life
• Finding out more about sex will better
equip you for tomorrow’s world