A Shift from Sex to Sexuality

Sex – it’s basically everywhere. On TV, in books, in video games, online, and now in the classrooms of universities everywhere. As most post secondary schools today offer classes that pertain to sex, UVic also offers multiple different classes about sex and sexuality – and they’re amazing.

When I was in high school, my sexual education classes barely skimmed the surface on what a healthy sexuality was and mainly focused on the importance of safe sex. In contrast, UVic’s classes expand on the knowledge of sexual agency which is the ability to define oneself sexually, and the importance of sexuality – rather than the act of sex itself.

From learning about your own sexuality contrasted to sexualities of the disabled and LGBTQ communities – which are often neglected and seen as less valuable or abnormal, to watching historical films on the genre of erotica, to actually reading erotica that dealt with a wide variety of different sexualities – UVic’s classes: HLTH 251, ENGL 230, GNDR 334, and HSTR 306 have something to interest everyone.

HLTH 251: Healthy Sexuality

Human sexuality is a vast and complex concept. It can be approached from a biological, psychological, cultural, environmental, political, and societal perspectives.

This class tackles the idea of sexuality from many different angles in order to show how sexuality is deeply important and embedded in human experience, in addition to teaching how to upkeep a healthy sexuality.

First and foremost, if you are going to take this class make sure you take it with Charlotte Loppie. She is by far the funniest, and most genuine professor I have had so far at UVic, and her lectures were some of the highlights of my week.

Beyond the professor, though, this class is actually one of the most valuable courses I’ve taken. Not only do you learn about anatomy, and just physically how everything actually works (which will probably help you with developing your own sexuality in the future) but you also learn about important issues such as sexual coercion, transgender and gay rights, and sex work. This class was informative, fun, and I guess I may as well mention it was also an easy A.

 

ENGL 230: Literature and Culture: Sexting Through the Ages

Okay, so to be 100% honest I was not exactly sure what to expect from this class. Seeing as most of my English classes follow a fairly linear chronology of historical texts, I assumed this class would be similar. Well, I was wrong.

Professor Stephen Ross did not only focused on the evolution of “sexting”, but we delved into the world of erotica, and most of the readings were pretty hilarious (especially during in-class readings and discussions) as historical terms for sexual anatomy and sex in general are quite obscure, and the manner in which many erotic writers discuss sex (quality) is very overdramatic, which gives the reading a more humorous edge.

Ross managed to constantly have the class laughing while simultaneously teaching us about the sexual innuendos and nuances of the erotica genre in addition to the importance/value of sexuality. I’ve linked a few poems that we looked at in this class to give an example of the hilarious material you’d be dealing with.

• Goblin Market
• The Hungarian Adventurer
• The Story of O

This class was incredibly fun, different from other classes in the English faculty, and has also introduced me to some pretty interesting writers. It also gave me a different perspective in regards to reading literature in my other English classes, where I now catch onto and understand the sexual undertones within texts a lot more coherently.

 

GNDR 334: Bodies Out of Bounds

Subversive bodies. Bodies that do not quite fit the mold of “normal.” Bodies that defy, resist, and challenge. Dr. Heather Tapley is absolutely marvellous in her approach of explaining the theory behind of the abnormal/monstrous versus the normal.

In relation to sexuality, the course discusses how certain sexualities that are not deemed “normal” are ultimately repressed and devalued. This pertains to the disabled, LGBTQ, transracial, and BDSM communities amongst others.

This class opens up the discussion of sexuality through the realms of sex that are often negated. Ultimately, the right to a sexual citizenship for every body regardless of their situation is a common theme within the course, and an important concept to learn in general.

 

HSTR 306: Sex and Power In American History

If you have ever wondered how sex influenced and was influenced throughout history, this class is for you. We have had lectures on the how sexual the Puritans really were, the Salem Witch Trials, the secret (and maybe not-so-feminist) history of Wonder Woman, amongst other topics such as slavery, sexual revolutions, and gay and transgender rights.

Not only does this class show you how intertwined sex was into structures of everyday life and the place that sex played in power dynamics, but it also brings to light real issues that have been sidelined due to their sexual nature. Even if you are someone who does not find history interesting, I promise you that taking this class will change your view on how sex and sexuality actually affected the past and how it shaped the world as it is today.

---

Beyond these few classes I have outlined, UVic offers multiple other classes that pertain to sex and sexuality:

Sociologies of Sexuality 

Gender and Sexuality in Canada

History of Sexuality

The Medicalization of Sex

Sexuality and the Body in International Development

Sex Work, Trafficking, and Human Rights 

The realm of sexuality is vast, and UVic has done well at showcasing that concept within their courses. Regardless of where your interests lie, I hope I have at least provided the incentive to learn more about the importance of sex and sexuality within the academic world, and shown how university sexuality classes are not the same as high school sex ed – they are far more comprehensive and focused on the importance of individual sexuality in terms of freedom and agency.