Exam 1 Human Sexuality Study Guide Section 1 Perspectives on Sexuality Anthropology the study of human beings Anthropos human being logia study of Subfields of anthropology Archeological study of past societies and their cultures especially the material remains of the past such as tools food remains and places where people lived Cultural study of cultures and societies of human beings and their very recent past traditional cultural anthropologists study living cultures and present their observations in an ethnography Linguistic study of language how language is structured evolution of language the social and cultural contexts for language Physical now Biological biological anthropology physical anthropology is the study of human evolution and variation both past and current Evolutionary Theory Tries to explain human biology anatomy brains psychology behavior through evolution and natural selection Ex The mating systems of primates determines their sexual dimorphism group size canine size testes size mate guarding behavior cuckoldry Ecology determines mating systems Evolutionary biology shows that the human genotype is the result of those ancestors who reproduced with greater frequency than others Current behavior is probably the result of selective forces that occurred in Pleistocene Ex A man trying to have sex with many women all while avoiding parental investment is not doing so because he wants to increase his fitness But because the psychological framework that evolved and thrived in the Pleistocene never went away Naturalistic Fallacy the error of deriving what ought to be from what is Creating an evolutionary explanation of a behavior in humans does not justify the behavior or make it universal nature Genetic Determinism idea that behavior is unalterable programmed and unchangeable The idea is untrue we are not saying that because a behavior may be selected for it is inevitable or acceptable What is Sexuality How people experience and express themselves as sexual beings Biologically sexuality can encompass sexual intercourse and sexual contact in all its forms Sociologically it can cover the cultural political and legal aspects Philosophically it can span the moral ethical theological spiritual or religious aspects How do we determine sexuality In prehistory before writing biology of the body sexual section art and symbolism after writing literature as well as art Prehistoric Sexuality earliest evidence appears after the increase in symbolic thought accompanying early modern human Venus of Willendorf and Hohle Fels Germany Sexuality in the Ancient Mediterranean concept of what activities and sensations are sexual is historically determined In ancient writings and art there are accounts of STD s menstruation circumcision contraception The Hebrews 1000 200 BC The Hebrew Bible Rules about sexual behavior Tales of sexual misconduct Tales of marital love Acknowledges the importance sexuality in marital relations The Greeks 1000 200 BC Distinguish between love and sex Aphrodite Eros One of the few major civilizations to institutionalize homosexuality pederasty Men and the male form were idealized Marriage and sexual relations were viewed as means to improve one s economic and The Romans 500 BC AD 700 social standing Few restrictiosn about sexuality India Beginning about 400 BC Hinduism Karma Partriarchal social system Kama Sutra Sex love family China Beginning about 200 BC Tao yin yang Sexuality is a natural procreative process Yin and yang equally necessary therefore men and women more equal Polygamy Moche Peru 100 800 AD Known for rich iconography and monumental architecture Huaca del sol and Huaca del luna are some of the first pre Columbian strucutres in Peru site of human sacrifice Moche sex pottery Early Christianity Beginning about 50 AD Jesus was liberal in his thinking about sexuality St Paul and later followers Established the Christian view of sexuality Highest love was the love of God Ideal situation was celibacy The legacy of early Christianity was a general association of sexuality with sin The Middle Ages 500 AD 1400 AD Early in period all sex outside of marriage was considered sinful and even certain marital Late in Period new ideas about women were brought back by the Crusaders from Islamic acts were forbidden lands Thomas Aquinas natural and unnatural sex acts Islam about 500 AD Drew from Jewish and Christian roots and added Arab tribal beliefs 8th and 12th centuries was the most advanced society in the world Newly developed system of mathematics Arabic numbers Most sophisticated techniques of medicine warfare and science Muslim societies have strong rules of modesty Restricts sex to the marital union exclusively harems The Renaissance Beginning 1300 AD Began in Italy Focused on human beings and their place in the world New views of sensuality and women s roles in society Later in period there were backlash against women s sensuality The Reformation Beginning 1500 AD Western Europe Martin Luther Founded Protestantism Marital love blessed John Calvin women were men s partners in all things marital union primarily a social and sexual relationship Sexuality a natural function The Enlightenment Victorian Era Enlightenment beginning about 1700 AD sexual pleasure was considered natural and desirable Victorian Era 1837 1901 publicly sexual attitudes become more conservative privately were not as conservative pornography adultery and prostitution were common The Colonies Beginning about 1600 Puritans severe sanctions for sexual transgressions death penalty Entire community was responsible for upholding morality The Early United States 1700 s 1800 s Late 1700 s sexual attitudes become more liberal Slavery had an impact on sexual conduct despite harsh conditions strong sense of morality within the slave community Settlers used the sexuality of minorities as an excuse to disdain or oppress them Free Love Movement saw marriage as the sexual slavery of women Native Americans Mexicans 19th Century Mormons members practice polygamy Medical Model of Sexuality sexual health Comstock Act of 1873 prohibited the mailing of obscene lewd lascivious and indecent writing or advertisements The 20th Century Social Hygiene Movement Virtuous women catching STDs from husbands who frequented prostitutes Blood tests before marriage Police actions against prostitutes Sexology Alfred Kinsey sex more important than originally thought Masters Johnson studied the physiology of sexual response