EDUC 122G Learning Sexualities

Schedule
Schedule B: Humanities and Social Sciences

Semester
Semester Two

Campus
City Campus

How and what do we learn about sexualities in New Zealand?

Learning about sexualities is viewed as occurring both formally (eg, through sexuality education) and informally (eg, through the media) in a diversity of social sites. Schools are examined as one significant site where students are offered sexual meanings. The historical derivation and current context of contemporary education about sexuality along with its social effects are investigated.

Anyone who finds sexuality issues interesting will gain something useful from this course. It is particularly beneficial for those who plan to work with youth or who will encounter sexuality issues in medical, teaching, counselling, youth work and health-related careers.

The aim of this course is to bring a critical eye to the pervasive meanings about sexuality which we encounter every day. Specifically, the course seeks to draw attention to the seemingly mundane practices by which we learn about sexuality at school. For instance, through the sexuality education curriculum or ‘unofficially’ through peer interaction at break times.

By the end of the course students should have:

• Gained a foundational understanding of how we learn about sex and sexualities in New Zealand schools through the ‘official’ and ‘unofficial’ culture of these institutions.
• Developed skills to enable a critical analysis of schooling and issues of sexuality.
• Gained an understanding of the social effects of learning about sexuality in schooling and how these offer prescriptions of ‘normal sexual behaviour’ which are gendered.
• Acquired knowledge concerning how meanings about sexuality are shaped by particular historical and social contexts.
• Studied in depth, pertinent readings in the key areas covered by the course.

While topics vary from year to year depending on the specialisations of the teaching team, the following are some lecture themes from recent years:

• The birds and the bees: What counts as sexual knowledge in sexuality education?
• Schooling sexualities: How do schools teach heterosexuality?
• Beyond the birds and the bees: The missing discourse of desire in sexuality education.
• Understanding the concepts sex, gender and sexuality.
• Reconceptualising teenage parenthood.
• Sex, consent and sexual coercion.
• How sexuality education is constructed by the media.
• Sexuality and ableism: Sexuality and people with disabilities.
• Sexuality and transgendered youth.
• School sport, gendered performances and sexualities.

Twelve weekly 2-hour lectures and one weekly 1-hour tutorial.

• Internal assessment — 50% (consisting of two assignments of 20% and 30% each)
• Final examination — 50%

The course has its own website, 'THE SORCE'. The website offers you an easy way to access the course readings and provides additional materials dedicated to sexualities.

You need a login and password to access this website. Your tutor will give these to you at the beginning of semester.

The SORCE (Sexuality On-Line Resource Centre in Education)

An additional text also used is Allen, L. (2005). Sexual Subjects: Young People, Sexuality and Education. Houndmills: Palgrave. Available from UBS ($60) or desk copy at the Kate Edger Commons.