Running head: HOW IS HUMAN SEXUALITY TAUGHT IN OUR SOCIETY?

How is Human Sexuality Taught in Our Society?

Analyzing Literacy Practices

Luis Rodriguez

University of California, Santa Barbara

Author Note

This paper was prepared for Writing 2 ACE, taught by Professor Jennifer Johnson.
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How is Human Sexuality Taught in Our Society?

Although considered taboo to discuss openly in some context, human sexuality plays an

essential role in the progress and stability of our society. In this essay, I analyzed the way in

which human sexuality is taught within the field of sociology studies by observing my Sociology

152A-Human Sexuality course and revealing the results after all observations were concluded.

Throughout the field of sociology, various literacy practices are used in order to make human

sexuality more relatable and understandable to college-level scholars. By incorporating

specialized diction, graphic representation, and emphasis on individualism, authors and higher-

level scholars are able to spread consciousness on important issues that are occurring in today's

society resulting from daily topics such as sex, relationships, and self-identity. These practices

encourage the audience to study and further educate themselves on the content in order to

prevent any negative experiences, and overall live a happier, healthier lifestyle.

The first literacy practice I researched is the habitual specialized diction. In human sexuality,

very specialized diction is used by sociologists. Words are known to have a variety of useful

definitions and meanings on all spectrums of academics. The experts discuss the various new

word choices being introduced by them and describe each one in greater detail. According to an

interview I conducted with a student also enrolled in this course, Sebastian Arzate, on May 4,

2018, much of the class’s content involves learning a wide range of new words, along with their

definitions, purpose, or significance. Sebastian claims that, although the words’ definitions may

be specific, they are incredibly useful to all the sociology scholars that are new to the idea. After

the audience learns to understand, they develop an interest in wanting to learn more and further

their knowledge on the matter being introduced.

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Another aspect within specialized diction I discovered is that most of the words are far

more technical and not as much slang is utilized. A majority of the words are meant specifically

for the subject of sexual education and anatomy. These words also tend to sound more academic.

For instance, in the academic article written by Jerel P. Calzo (2013), he talks about hookups in

college in a very informative and academic way. With the specific jargon that he uses in his

article he is able to spread the knowledge on measures that will reduce the risk for adverse health

outcomes and increase sexual satisfaction both in “hookups” and romantic relationships. Overall,

the literary practice of specialized diction helps the author or speaker clarify the concepts that are

discussed and how they apply to human sexuality, thus allowing the audience to learn about the

subject in a more understandable way.

In addition to the written word, another beneficial strategy that is utilized to teach human

sexuality today is graphic representation. Everyone learns in a different way. Some students

prefer hands-on learning or reading, but the most commonly preferred method is visually. That is

why the next most common practice is the use of pictures, graphs and videos. Within this course,

the majority of topics are better explained with the assistance of a picture or video because it

allows the audience to lock the images of these real-life issues in their mind. Subjects such as

anatomy, sexually transmitted diseases, and contraception are some prime examples of things

that would be better understood if it were accompanied by a video or picture. According to a

second interview I conducted on May 3, 2018 with another student who is enrolled in the course,

James Garcia claims that he as well has noticed the considerable amount of graphic

representation that is utilized in this subject field. Knowing that he has always been more of a

visual learner, James Garcia states how he is very “grateful” for the visuals that the professors
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include, such as graphs of statistics, photography of the human anatomy, and videos of STD

patients. Nonetheless, the use of graphic representation is commonly used when exemplifying

sex in our society in order for the audience to not only orally understand, but visually as well.

The assistance from images and videos overall provides the audience with live examples and

real-life pictures of the concepts taught, making it easier to relate to. Once the students master

the concepts that are being discussed, eventually it will lead them to a certain level of knowledge

needed in order to communicate effectively within the discipline.

Ironically, although this may be a sociology course, meaning that it interprets our society

as a whole, another literacy practice that is used is the emphasis on individualism. The lectures

on individualism become deep and go beyond the actual content itself. For instance, in the article

written by Spallek Lena, Zeeb Hajo, and Samkange Florence (2011), they talk a lot about the

dangers and risks that come with secually transmitted diseases and not performing safe-sex. The

aspect of individualism applies here because experts are encouraging self-care and educating the

audience as to how they can perform safe sex. This certain discipline exemplifies how our

communities become affected when a person is not educated at a young age about topics such as

safe-sex and contraception. In addition, this discipline also emphasizes the uniqueness of an

individual's sexual needs and touches on how everyone's sex life is different. If a single person

does not know about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases, then they are at higher risk of

contracting a virus, eventually making it a societal issue now that another person has been added

to the statistics. While the intended audience may primarily be college-level scholars, other

interested audience members can still learn and understand about the seriousness of sexually

transmitted diseases in our society.

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Ultimately, it is fair to say that human sexuality within our society is a very broad

subject. Despite that, due to the specialized diction, graphic representation and the emphasis on

individualism, the intended audience, along with any other curious reader or scholar, are able to

understand and learn more on concepts such as love, sex, and personal health. By being able to

share these ideas found by authors and professors, we are able to educate other scholars as to

how they can incorporate these disciplines in order to make our community one that prizes

effective communication and better lifestyles.

References

Arzate, Sebastian. Personal Interview. 4 May. 2018.

Calzo, J. (2013). Hookup sex versus romantic relationship sex in college: Why do we care and what do

we do? Journal of Adolescent Health, 52(5), 515-516.

Garcia, James. Personal Interview. 3 May. 2018.

Spallek Lena, Samkange-Zeeb Florence N, & Zeeb Hajo. (2011). Awareness and knowledge of sexually

transmitted diseases (STDs) among school-going adolescents in Europe: A systematic review of

published literature. BMC Public Health, 11(1), 727.

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