Like other aspects of human existence and behaviour, sex is complexly biopsychosocial. That is why this course seeks to incorporate not only the findings of the scientific psychological research of human sexuality, but also to include some aspects of applied field of sex counseling, along with ethnographic studies of various communities, philosophical, sociological and political insights in sexuality studies. We will cover issues of gender and sexual identities and practices, ‘sex acts’, and general cultural concerns about sexualisation of culture, political debates regarding sex work and pornography. The course is divided into three main blocks: key concepts, sexual practices and case-studies. The last section will feature guest lectures by researchers of sexuality in Central Asia. After taking this course students will become familiar with and deepen their understanding of the competing interpretations of sexual desire, behaviours and subjectivities, and of interplay between the biological, psychological and sociocultural aspects of sexuality.
- Teachers: Mohira Suyarkulova