'Gendered Perspectives' class provides diverse angles on human sexuality
By Corey Fawcett
An Atlanta College prohibits men from wearing dresses. Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah introduces a proposal to restore $50 million a year in federal funding to support abstinence-only education. President Obama overturns a 22 year-old travel and immigration ban against people with HIV.
Sound interesting? All of these topics are up for discussion in University of Portland's "Gendered Perspectives on the Body and Human Sexuality" course.
Anissa Rogers, "Gendered Perspectives" professor, uses a combination of research and literature to explore the social constructions of gender, body image and sexuality, and the physical, psychological and social consequences that come with such constructions.
The class also looks at different perspectives of human sexuality, and explores the ways the image of the body fits into these perspectives.
"We have such a rigid definition of normal when it comes to these issues," Rogers said. "This class talks about the deviation from these norms, because so many people deviate."
Rogers has been teaching the upper-division psychology/sociology/social work class for 11 years, and co-taught something similar with an English professor at her previous job in New Hampshire.
When she came to UP and the school was looking to implement a course that delved into issues concerning the body and sexuality, her experience made her the perfect candidate to teach it.
The course covers a wide variety of topics, ranging from eating disorders to sex abuse to plastic surgery. Students taking the class must also know basic human anatomy to provide themselves with a solid, factual foundation upon which to base their opinions.
"So many people didn't know where some body parts were," junior Sydney Syverson said. "I thought I knew my body parts but I didn't ... This class has helped me get to know myself better."
Rogers also invites a diverse array of guest speakers to come in each semester. This year so far she has brought to class a midwife, a former prostitute, a woman who works with perpetrators of sex abuse and a plastic surgeon who discussed the psychological effects of major surgery.
A panel of older LGBTQ people is also going to come in before the semester is over to share stories and answer questions.
These speakers help to debunk myths that are often considered common knowledge.
"The midwife was particularly interesting," junior Rosie Cullen said. "Most people just assume you are supposed to have a child in a hospital because it's 'safer' when in fact natural birth can be very beneficial to the mother and child."
Junior Sarah Brunner was most fascinated by the plastic surgeon, who talked about the process of sex reassignment.
"I know it's very important for (transgendered) people to have this surgery, and not having it can have detrimental effects on their health," she said. "I was fascinated learning about the process and even seeing pictures of the actual surgery. I did not want the class to end."
Rogers makes the class a comfortable atmosphere to have discussions in for both speakers and students.
"I really liked that we could talk about sexuality so openly," said senior Suzzane Cawthra, who took the course last year.
The openness is imperative as it discourages the timidity usually associated with topics concerning sexuality.
"Many people see sexuality as shameful because it is not talked about in an open, non-judgmental environment like this class," Brunner said. "As a result, most people are not properly educated about such a natural part of humanity we can all relate to."
"Gendered Perspectives" students are frequently inspired to discuss what is talked about in class outside of school, where they share their knowledge with family and friends.
"I go home after class and talk to my housemates about it all the time," Syverson said.
This sort of conversation is exactly what Rogers likes to see, as she attributes it to the eradication of ignorance, diversification of points of view and extermination of stereotypes.
"Exposing people to different ideas is what a liberal arts education is all about anyway," she said.
Rogers enjoys teaching the class because the content is fun and the research is always changing, so she is continually learning new things. Her students share a similar zest for the material.
"The class is difficult but it's really rewarding to know about such important issues," Syverson said. "Everyone should take it."
