Course Syllabus
Sex Education and Sexual Reform in Europe
Summer 2017 - Session 3
Copenhagen
4 Credits
Study Tour: Berlin
Major Disciplines: Gender Studies, Youth Studies, History and Sociology.
Faculty Member: Sara Gjermandsen, sgj@dis.dk
Program Director: Iben De Neergaard, idn@dis.dk
Program Assistant: Holly Querin, hqu@dis.dk
Course description: This course will give you an insight to the ways in which sexual reform and sex education has shaped not only the history of sexuality in Europe, but also the very core of the various national identities. We will look into the different movements, campaigns, policies, and public debates regarding sexuality. We will discover the ways in which sex and sexuality are conveyed in sexual education aimed at children and youth by reading and watching examples of sex educational material.
What sexual behaviors are deemed socially acceptable or normal, and why? We will discuss the framing of a nation’s collective sexual identity through state intervention and sexual reform and the implications for its citizens.
Our theoretical approach will largely be norm critical and you will learn how to apply theoretical perspectives by Foucault, Rubin, Ponzetti, and others. By doing so we will critically reflect on the history of sexual categorization of human beings, as well as understand sexual norms as dynamic and closely tied to other historical movements and events.
We will ask norm critical questions, such as “is sex political?” and “are sexual practices and preferences innate?” What socializing role could and should sexual education have? At the end of the course, you will make group presentations in which you present your own version of “the perfect sexual education”.
Required texts:
-Herzog, Dagmar. Sexuality in Europe: A Twentieth-century History. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge UP, 2011.
-Additional texts will be available digitally through Canvas.
Course Faculty: Sara Gjermandsen has an M.A. in English and Gender Studies and a B.A. in English and Minority Studies (University of Copenhagen 2014 and 2010). She previously worked as a research Assistant at the Co-ordination for Gender Research at The University of Copenhagen and as an editorial assistant at the research journal Women, Gender & Research. With DIS since 2015. Currently working as the assistant program director of Gender & Sexuality.
Learning objectives of the course:
Upon completing the course, you will be able to…
- Demonstrate the different ways in which sexual reform and sex education have been central to the positions of human rights and sexual health in various European nations.
- Determine the unique position of sexual reform in Scandinavia and Europe.
- Historicize current activist movements (e.g. for LGBT rights, reproductive rights, sexual liberation).
- Critically reflect upon the relationship between historical context and the formation of cultural norms and concepts (related to sexuality) in relation to present-day reformed sexual education.
- Critically explore your own sexual norms and behaviors and understand how they are shaped by history.
Approach to Teaching:
This course relies heavily on in-class participation. Class time will be largely discussion-based, with some lecture and interactive activities. You should read all material prior to class and will be expected to actively participate in both all class discussions and group work.
Some assignments will require independent fieldwork.
Late work will be deducted by one letter grade per day it is late.
Expectations of the students:
In order to pass the class, you must:
- Read all material before the class.
- Actively participate in discussions of your readings.
- Be active participants in group work.
Computers and phones are NOT allowed in class unless specifically agreed with Sara.You are therefore NOT allowed to keep your phone on the table throughout class. You are expected to take notes throughout the semester in a notebook, which you yourself are responsible of getting before the course begins. Please be aware that failure to comply with these rules will negatively affect your participation grade.
|
Assignment
|
Percentage of final grade |
Deadline |
|
Final group presentation: The Perfect Sex Ed. |
30 % |
July 27-28
|
|
Berlin reflection journal, including interview exercise |
20 %
|
July 24 |
|
Participation in class discussion |
30% |
Ongoing |
|
Participation in discussions on Canvas |
20% |
Ongoing |
Schedule of classes:
Schedule is subject to change if necessary with as much notice as possible. Do all readings BEFORE CLASS unless the readings are in (parentheses).
Class Meeting 1: July 4: Welcome, presentations and introduction to the syllabus
Readings:
A: Your syllabus
Class Meeting 2: July 5: State interventions and the early history of sexual reform in Europe
Readings:
A: Weimar Sexual Reform and the Institute for Sexual Science, 160-164 + 168-172 + 179-186
B: Herzog pp. 45-61, 75-82, and 117-131
Class Meeting 3: July 6: Intervention and reform during and after WWI and II
Discussing and analyzing campaigns, propaganda and commercials from this period
Readings:
A: Herzog pp. 61-75, 96-99, 102, 105-106
B: Gender and Sexuality in Nazi Germany
Class Meeting 4: July 7: Visit Sex and Society
We will be introduced to the organization’s efforts to create greater awareness of issues concerning sexuality, pregnancy, contraceptive methods and sexually transmitted diseases, as well as their work towards ensuring that health and sex education are recognized worldwide as human rights, irrespective of age, gender, religion, marital or social status.
Readings:
A: http://www.sexogsamfund.dk/the-danish-family-planning-association.aspx
B: http://www.sexogsamfund.dk/Files//Filer/International/UKannualreport2013.pdf
C: “Wake Up and Smell the Condoms: An Analysis of Sex Education Programs in the United States, the Netherlands, Sweden, Australia, France, and Germany”
Class Meeting 5: July 10: De- and re-criminalizing sexuality: the 1970s sexual liberation movement and 1980s Aids crisis
Readings:
A: Herzog pp. 117-126, 133-173
B: “Sexual Liberalism in Sweden,” Lena Lennerhed
Class Meeting 6: July 11: Sex education in Europe – comparing national models
Readings:
A: Policies for Sexuality Education in the European Union 7-11 + 16 (Denmark) + 18 (Finland and France) + 20 (Germany) + 24 (Netherlands) + 29 (Spain) + 30 (Sweden) and 31 (UK).
B: Sex your way, RFSU.
C: “Swedish sex education has time for games and mature debate”’
Class Meeting 7: July 12: Theory medley + visit by Normstormerne
– Experience Norm Critical Sex Education for 7th-10th graders from the student perspective.
Readings:
A: Rubin, “Thinking sex.”
B: Foucault: The Repressive Hypothesis in a Nutshell
Class Meeting 8: July 13: Children and sexual education – when, where and what?
Readings:
A: Ponzetti, Early Childhood Sexuality education, 201-218
B: The case for starting sex ed. In kindergarten
C: How a German Elementary School Taught Sex Ed
Class Meeting 9: July 14: Preparation for Study tour + interview exercise – interview Danes about their experiences with sex education
Reading:
A: Herzog, Pleasure, Sex, and Politics Belong Together: Post-Holocaust Memory and the Sexual Revolution in West Germany
Prepare interview questions in groups.
Study tour to Berlin
Class Meeting 10: July 24: Sexual education and Islam
We will get a visit from film maker Mehrnoush Parve who will show us her Iranian sex ed. film “The Beloved Companion” and among other things discuss what significance it has for Europe’s Muslim population.
Readings:
A: We’re here, we’re queer, we’re racists, Shon Hayes
B: Watch Ekko nominated shortfilm: “Look at me Now”
C: Danish Government pushes for special sex education for refugees
Class Meeting 11: July 25: Youth and sexuality in Scandinavian cinema
Readings:
A: Stevenson, Scandinavian Blue, 3-26 + 68-71
B: TBA
Class Meeting 12: July 26: Workshop on final project - creating the perfect sex education
Class Meeting 13: July 27: Exam: In-class presentations of the perfect sex education.
Class Meeting 14: July 28: wrapping up + Concluding Brunch/Lunch
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|