INT 906

This survey course examines the societal basis of attitudes and behaviours related to human sexuality. Students will be introduced to research and theoretical concepts in the literature that contributes to our understanding of sexuality. Sexuality is recognized as a complex and multi-dimensional component of human identity and experience, mediated and influenced by social constructs of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, age and socio-economic opportunities. The course promotes critical self and social consciousness through challenging sex-negative religious traditions, institutional regulation/control of sexuality, and gender socialization including patriarchal family structure. Some of the topics to be considered are sexuality across the life course; sexuality and liberation; intimacy, love and relationships; sex and gender role socialization; sex, violence and the law, sex as a commodity and AIDS and sexual behaviour. (Formerly IST 906.)