"Bonk: A curious Coupling of Science and Sex" begins with the beginnings of the study of sex, starting with our attempts to learn about human sex from animal sex. She makes sure to cover the most important researchers and the critique that the public held. Roach (2008) proceeded to talk about the processes that Masters and Johnson used to start understanding the female orgasm, which led her to question if and why women can achieve orgasm from a robotic piston. Afterward, she covers some myths, one of which was started by Napoleon's Great-Granddaughter, about female sex (Roach, 2008). The most common myth that was covered was that women whose clitoris is more than an inch from their urethra are hard challenged to reach climax (Roach, 2008). After that, Roach (2008) covers the thought that if the female obtains an orgasm, there is a higher chance that she will become pregnant. In chapter five, Roach (2008) discusses coital imaging, and even discusses her own experience with it. For a few chapters after this, she covers male impotence, including potential cures for erectile dysfunction, be it surgical or with implants, Testicular grafts, and Penile transplants (Roach, 2008). In chapter 9, Roach (2008) explains the mindset that states that the clitoris is a biologically under-developed penis. She then talks about a highly touchy topic, pardon the pun: masturbation, or namely the potential health benefits of masturbation (Roach, 2008). After that, she covers several curious cases of orgasm that occur either in the handicapped, on places that are not erogenous, or even in the dead (Roach, 2008). She later covers the mental disconnect in terms of sexual arousal. She then covers the vaginal reflexes in sex, as well as the works of a man n...
... middle of paper ...
...nowledge and thoughts about human behavior in regards to sex, I fear that I did not learn much of anything new. For most of my life, I knew that humans were animals, with the desire to procreate being only diminished by our desire for following the norms of society; I also knew that sex was pleasurable, admittedly not from first-hand experience, but the point still stands. While my knowledge has been tested slightly, I still find these basic principles of human nature to stand firm. Putting these two factors together, even in my adolescence, made me draw the conclusion that people had sex because it was fun, but they didn't talk about it because it could be embarrassing. If Mary Roach has mentioned anything different, then I fear I missed her words.
Works Cited
Roach, M. (2008). Bonk: The curious coupling of science and sex. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.
Bentley, Greg W. Sammy's Erotic Experience: Subjectivity and Sexual Difference in John Updikes "A&P". N.p.: n.p., 2004. N. pag.
Dover, K. J., and Elizabeth M. Craik. "Plato's Philosophy of Sex." Owls to Athens. 1st
Klein, Marty. "You're addicted to what? Challenging the myth of sex addiction." The Humanist July-Aug. 2012: 31+. Gale Power Search. Web. 8 Apr. 2014
Belkin, Lisa. “The Sex Life.” NYTimes.com The New York Times. 09 Feb. 2011. Web. 01 April 2014.
One of the key questions raised in the article is where do our sexual urges come from, have they always been there deep in our minds, or did we gradually learn them. Steele states that it is her belief that sex in something that is learned overtime from our environment and society (Steele 13), but she also states that there are many theorists who believe that sex is instinctive, and that we have always known how to perform it. After considering both sides of the argument, I have to agree with Steele’s belief that sex is learned. I believe this because I find it hard to believe that humans are born with the knowledge of sexual intercourse. This is due to the fact that I can guarantee you most children barely have a clue what sex is, let alone how to engage in it , it’s not until their parents or teachers explain to them what sex is, that they are able to truly understand and engage in it. The only argument that can be raised against this idea is that there are m...
Foucault, M. (1978). The History of Sexuality, Vol. 1: An Introduction. New York: Vintage Books.
Vern L. Bullough, “Alfred Kinsey and the Kinsey Report: Historical Overview and Lasting Contributions”, The Journal of Sex Research 35 no. 2 (May 1998): 127.
One major issue that helps maintain social stability in Brave New World is sex. It is thought of as normal for people to be completely open with their sexual nature. It is typical for children to run around naked during recess playing games that are sexual and sometimes homosexual in nature. Every adult is encouraged to sleep with as many different partners as possible. This outlook on sexual nature is quite different from actual accepted views. Today, sex is most widely accepted as a private, romantic event that should take place between monogamous couples. Because sex is a natural need of the human body, people of Huxley’s society feel pleased by being open with their sexuality. Indulging in their sexual pleasures eases their minds and keeps them from questioning the level of freedom they have.
Masturbation is such a simple concept, yet the controversy over the topic is discussed freely amongst many philosophers. Although the word itself has many definitions, Alan Soble, Alan Goldman, Robert Solomon, and Thomas Nagel all have their own takes of the matter. Finally, in this essay, I will highlight the philosophical opinion of masturbation and the negative connotation it also possesses. Alan Soble defines masturbation as a person who manually rubs the penis or clitoris, in private, until the final orgasm. There were many different attempts at defining masturbation, but Soble could not fully agree with them all because they were flawed.
Milstein, Susan A. Taking Sides Clashing Views in Human Sexuality. Ed. William J. Taverner and Ryan W. McKee. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009. Print.
Shmoop Editorial Team. "Brave New World Theme of Sex" Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008.
In the year A.F. 632 no pleasure is denied to the populous. Hypnopaedia is used as a device to form the moral education of children. What is taught through this method is not true ethics, but warped actions trained by words. An illustration of this is in the teaching of Elementary Sex to children. The society that Huxley created was one where having sex often and with many people was a positive course of action. Anyone who did not have multiple partners, such as Lenina or Bernard, were considered a blight to society. Society as a whole uses the act of having sex as relief from pain and emotions. A person does not have to lust for someone they merely set up a time and place for them to meet and have sex, and it is completely accepted by everyone. When sex is not enough to relieve a person from pain or loneliness they take soma, a drug that stimulates them into happiness. Unlike the drugs of present day there is no set backs from taking soma, no headaches after use, and after all “One cubic centimetre cure ten gloomy,” (60). Finally, there is the concept of feelies, movies that you can feel what the actors are doing. These feelies are nothing more than glamorized porn movies giving the participants quick orgasmic feelings without effort. All these materialistic pleasures are used to substitute an individuals basic emotional needs and to give them a false sense of happiness. Huxley used this warped view on what today’s society deems morally right and wrong to reveal how shallow the citizens of the brave new world truly are.
Gayle Rubin’s “Thinking Sex: Notes for a Radical Theory of the Politics of Sexuality” focused on the history of sexuality and sexual persecution. Gayle Rubin recognizes the idea of sex as a natural force that exists prior to social life and which shapes institutions and society. First, Rubin, emphasizes the idea of negative sex, by showcasing views by other scholars. Rubin notes Foucault in his 1978 publication “The History of Sexuality”, as “sex as the natural libedo wearing to break free of social constraint” (Rubin, 149). This leads Rubin to her understanding of sex negativity. Sex, as Rubin depicts, is dangerous, destructive and a negative force and sex negativity is any negative sexual behaviour other than married or reproductive sex. Many Western religious believe that sex should only be for reproductive reasons and that pleasure and anything outside of martial sex should not be experienced. Third, Rubin goes on to construct the charmed circle, distinguishing good and bad sex. Resulting from sex negativity, Rubin develops an illustration of good and bas sex, better known as the charmed circle. Instances of bad sex include; casual,
Most of the titles of the chapters are somewhat provocative in nature, and serve to spark interest. Prudent readers will be taken aback at first glance over the book to find chapters such as ”Chapter 21: Oscillator, Generator, Vibrator, Dildo “ and ” Chapter 11: The Zen of Finger Fucking”. But upon further inspection they will find a very informative and thought provoking view of an aspect of sexuality that they may had little or no prior experience with. Although this book does not have any photographs, it does have quite a few explicit drawings. Some of these drawings serve to visually show the reader some of the techniques that are covered in the text.