Radical Sexuality Discussion Group

Class time: Tuesdays from 8:00 to 10:00pm -- beginning on Tuesday, 18 January 2005

Class Location: 1592 Bathurst Street, Apt #36 (ring #36)

Course Facilitators: Paula Pregent & Ruta Halie

email: payoolay@yahoo.ca

This 8-10 week course will examine sexuality in society as it pertains to politics, rights and daily lives of participants. Since sexuality is a core part of being, how we come to know ourselves as sexual and what role that plays in our lives is an important part of who we are and how we're perceived. This course is designed to make all participants feel free to discuss "radical" sexual issues in an open and safe environment. Topics ranging from politics to personal experience can be explored. The syllabus will be determined by the participants. Ideas for this determination will rely on this course from past terms as well as whatever comes up in the first few classes.

Topics decided upon during first class for discussion (not in any particular order):

• Prostitution / Sex Work
• Female circumcision (female genital mutilation)
• Children's Sexuality, Positive Adult / Child Sex - Loving Boys
• Gender Identity (disorders, construction of gender roles)
  • media's role in construction of gender
• Two-Spirited People (Native / Aboriginal)
• Public Sex
• Social constructions of sexuality (homosexuality, heterosexuality, etc., sexuality in war)
• Queer Sex, Heterosexism, Monogomy, Poly
  • Queer vs. Straight - fine line? Labels
• Pornography
• Power Dynamics - SM, fetishes
• Transition, transgender, no gender

Course Materials

After discussion topics are decided, photocopied articles can be distributed/shared as needed (list will be posted here). There may be a minimal fee to cover the costs of photocopying.

To view previous term's course content, see RadicalPerspectivesOnSexuality.

Week One (January 18th)- "Gettin' to Know Ya"

• Drinking Game - This is just an icebreaking (& boundary-guaging) game, not for the purpose of imbibing substances, so please bring whatever you feel comfortable drinking (water, juice, etc.)

Week Two (January 25th)- Relationship styles - Monogamy, Polyamory, etc.

• Article: "Intimate Relationships"

Week Three (February 1st)- cont'd - Relationship styles - Monogamy, Polyamory, etc.

Week Four (February 8th)- Sexuality at different stages of life

• Article: "Ageism"

Week Five (February 15th)- Porn

• Video: "After School Special"

Week Six (February 22nd)- More Porn

• DVD: "Stories of Oh"

Week Seven (March 1st)- Continue porn discussion, Relationships

• Discussions: personal fulfillment/lessons in relationships

Week Eight (March 8th)- The L Word

• watch "The L Word" & discuss

Week Nine (March 15th)- Prostitution

• Articles: "The Traffic in Women" (Emma Goldman), "Making Work, Making Trouble: Prostitution as a Social Problem" (Deborah R. Brock), "Sex Regulation and Sex Work" (Deborah R. Brock)
• Note: These articles will be sent to all those on this term's email list

Week Ten (March 22nd)- Open Discussion