Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Human Sexuality

Unit:: Sex & Society

Issue:: Is Pornography Harmful?

YES:: Pamela Paul, from “The Cost of Growing Up on Porn” (March 7, 2010), www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/05/AR2010030501552.html?sid=ST2010030502871

NO:: Megan Andelloux, from “Porn:: Ensuring Domestic Tranquility of the American People,” an original essay written for this volume (2011)

Pamela Paul, author of Pornified:: How Pornography Is Transforming our Lives, Our Relationships, and Our Families, argues that studies declaring the harmlessness of pornography on men and are faulty, and that consequences of porn consumption can be seen in the relationships men have with women and sex. Megan Andelloux, sexuality educator and founder of the Center for Sexual Pleasure and Health, argues that the benefits of porn on American society outweigh the questionable consequences. Andelloux outlines several arguments for how porn may be beneficial.

YES:: Aurora Snow, from “Condoms in Porn:: One Adult Star Says Yes to Measure B,” The Daily Beast (October 18, 2012), www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/10/18/condoms-in-porn-one-adult-star-says-yes-to-measure-b.html

NO:: Hugo Schwyzer, from “Why Porn Sex Is the Safest Sex,” Jezebel (October 5, 2012), www.jezebel.com/5948719/why-porn-sex-is-the-safest-sex

Aurora Snow, adult film performer, believes that gaps in STI testing and filming, as well as a culture of intimidation, put performers at risk for infection despite the mandatory nature of testing. She argues that mandating and enforcing both testing and condom use is the best way to ensure performer safety. Hugo Schwyzer, an author and professor at Pasadena City College, believes that adult film industry is a unique work environment that is quite different from one’s personal bedroom. Through interviews with several adult performers, he argues that mandating condom usage in porn, while well intentioned, is unnecessary thanks to a culture of testing and care for oneself and other performers.

YES:: Amy Kramer, from “The REAL Real World:: How MTV’s ‘16 and Pregnant’ and ‘Teen Mom’ Motivate Young People to Prevent Teen Pregnancy,” Original essay for this edition (2011)

NO:: Mary Jo Podgurski, from “Till Human Voices Wake Us:: The High Personal Cost of Reality Teen Pregnancy Shows,” Original essay for this edition (2011)

Amy Kramer, director of Entertainment Media & Audience Strategy at the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, argues that reality television shows engage teens in considering the consequences of pregnancy before they’re ready for it, and motivate them to want to prevent it. Mary Jo Podgurski, EdD, founder of the Academy for Adolescent Health, Inc., argues that though such television shows have potential benefits, they inadequately address the issue, and may even have a negative impact on those who participate in them.

YES:: Connie B. Newman, from “Pharmacological Treatment for Sexual Problems:: The Benefits Outweigh the Risks,” Original essay for this edition (2011)

NO:: Anita P. Hoffer, from “The Hidden Costs of the Medicalization of Female Sexuality—How Did We Get Here? An Overview,” Original essay for this edition (2013)

Connie B. Newman, MD, an endocrinologist and adjunct associate professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine, explores the definitions and causes of sexual dysfunction and explains how sexual medicines can improve sexual response. Anita P. Hoffer, PhD, EdD, former associate professor at Harvard Medical School and former director of research in urology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, argues that the rise of sexual medicine has created a market that benefits the pharmaceutical industry at the expense of the individual.

YES:: Susan A. Milstein, from “Want a Safer Community? Legalize Prostitution,” Original essay for this edition (2009)

NO:: Donna M. Hughes, from “The Demand:: Where Sex Trafficking Begins, ” A Call to Action:: Joining the Fight against Trafficking in Persons Conference, Rome, Italy (2004)

Susan A. Milstein, EdD, CHES, associate professor in the Health Department at Montgomery College and advisory board member Men’s Health Network, argues that while the legalization of prostitution will not stop all of the social problems associated with the institution, the benefits of legalization make it the best option. Donna M. Hughes, PhD, professor at the University of Rhode Island and leading international researcher on trafficking of women and children, counters that the criminalization of prostitution not only reduces demand, but also slows the spread of international sex trafficking.

YES:: Jenna Gourdeau, from “What’s So Wrong with Monogamy?” (February 13, 2012), www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2012/02/13/monogamy-sexual-fidelity-marriage-relationships

NO:: Jessica Bennett, from “Only You. And You. And You,” Newsweek (July 28, 2009), www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2009/07/28/only-you-and-you-and-you.html

Jenna Gourdeau, a journalist and speaker on women’s leadership, contrasts research and theory on monogamy and open relationship styles. She argues that monogamy is the best way to maintain emotional security and satisfaction in relationships. Jessica Bennett, a journalist who covers social trends, culture, and women’s issues, examines polyamory, which she believes could be a shift in the relationship paradigm. She argues that, while challenging, polyamorous relationships not only can survive, but thrive in modern society.

YES:: Hanna Rosin, from “The Case Against the Case Against Circumcision; Why One Mother Heard All of the Opposing Arguments, Then Circumcised Her Sons Anyway,” New York Magazine (October 26, 2009)

NO:: Michael Idov, from “Would You Circumcise This Baby? Why a Growing Number of Parents, Especially in New York and Other Cities, Are Saying No to the Procedure,” New York Magazine (October 26, 2009)

Hanna Rosin, author of The End of Men and senior editor at The Atlantic, describes the public health benefits of male circumcision. As a mother who had her sons circumcised, she states that, though the practice seems “barbaric,” it is a procedure she supports. Michael Idov, a novelist and contributing editor at New York Magazine, explores the history of circumcision and explains why a movement to end the practice is gaining popularity.

Unit:: Gender and Sexual Orientation

Issue:: Are Puberty-Blocking Drugs the Best Treatment Option for Transgender Children?

YES:: S. Giordano, from “Lives in a Chiaroscuro. Should We Suspend the Puberty of Children with Gender Identity Disorder,” Journal of Medical Ethics (August 2008)

NO:: Emi Koyama, from “Thoughts on the Timing of Puberty and the ‘Treatment’ of Gender Dysphoria,” An original essay for this edition (2013)

S. Giordano, reader in bioethics at the School of Law at the University of Manchester, advocates for the hormonal suspension of puberty in transgender youth, arguing that to withhold this treatment is medically irresponsible. Emi Koyama, writer and activist, argues that while delaying puberty in transgender youth can have benefits, inducing cross-sex puberty at an age consistent with pubertal development of a child’s cisgender peers may be even more beneficial.

YES:: Qazi Rahman, from “The Neurodevelopment of Human Sexual Orientation,” Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (October 2005)

NO:: Stanton L. Jones and Alex W. Kwee, from “Scientific Research, Homosexuality, and the Church’s Moral Debate:: An Update,” Journal of Psychology and Christianity (Winter 2005)

Qazi Rahman, professor of psychology at Kings College, highlights research supporting a biological foundation of sexual orientation. Stanton L. Jones, professor of psychology at Wheaton College, and Alex W. Kwee, clinical psychologist, argue that scientific evidence for a biological origin of homosexuality is scant and suffers from research bias.

YES:: Theodore B. Olson, from “The Conservative Case for Gay Marriage:: Why Same-Sex Marriage Is an American Value,” The Daily Beast (January 8, 2010), www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/01/08/the-conservative-case-for-gay-marriage.html

NO:: Lyle Denniston, from “Same-sex Marriage III:: The Arguments Against” (November 29, 2012), www.scotusblog.com/2012/11/same-sex-marriage-iii-the-arguments-against/

Theodore B. Olson, former U.S. solicitor general, explains that fighting for marriage equality for same-sex couples is an expression of true conservative values. Lyle Denniston, legal journalist and blogger for the award-winning SCOTUSblog, presents the arguments against same-sex marriage that are likely to be used in any legal attempts to marriage equality federal law.

Unit:: Sex and Reproduction

Issue:: Is Abortion Moral?

YES:: Jennifer Webster, from “Choosing Abortion Is Choosing Life,” an original essay written for this volume (2009)

NO:: Douglas Groothuis, from “Why I Am Pro-Life:: A Short, Nonsectarian Argument” (2009), adapted from http:://theconstructivecurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2009/03/why-i-am-pro-life-short-nonsectarian.html(2009)

Jennifer Webster, project coordinator for the Network for Reproductive Options, asserts that the choice of abortion is a multifactorial decision that always expresses a moral consideration. Douglas Groothuis, author and professor of philosophy at Denver Seminary, draws on the philosophical tradition to present his moral argument against abortion.

YES:: Eileen P. Kelly, from “Morally Objectionable Work Assignments:: Catholic Social Teaching and Public Policy Perspectives,” The Catholic Social Science Review (vol. 12, 2007)

NO:: National Women’s Law Center, from “Pharmacy Refusals 101” (July 2009), www.nwlc.org

Eileen P. Kelly, a professor of management at Ithaca College, argues that conscience clauses are necessary to protect the religious liberty and rights of pharmacists and others in the workplace. The National Women’s Law Center, a national organization that works to promote issues that impact the lives of women and girls, highlights laws and public opinion while stressing that free and unrestricted access to contraception is in the best interest of women’s health.

YES:: John A. Robertson, from “Extending Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis:: Medical and Non-medical Uses,” Journal of Medical Ethics (vol. 29, 2003)

NO:: Marcy Darnovsky, from “Revisiting Sex Selection:: The Growing Popularity of New Sex Selection Methods Revives an Old Debate” (January/February 2004), www.gene-watch.org/genewatch/articles/17-1darnovsky.html

Law professor John A. Robertson argues that preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), a new technique that allows parents-to-be to determine the sex of their embryo before implantation in the uterus, should be permissible. Robertson argues that it is not sexist to want a baby of a particular gender, and that the practice should not be restricted. Marcy Darnovsky, associate director of the Center for Genetics and Society, argues that by allowing PGD for sex selection, governments are starting down a slippery slope that could create an era of consumer eugenics.

Unit:: Understanding Sexual Expression

Issue:: Has Sex Become Too Casual?

YES:: Rebecca Hagelin, from “Parents Should Raise the Bar for Their Kids” (March 10, 2009), http:://townhall.com/columnists/RebeccaHagelin/2009/03/10/parents_should_raise_the_bar_for_their_kids

NO:: Lara Riscol, from “Purity, Promiscuity or Pleasure? ” An original essay written for this volume (2009)

Rebecca Hagelin, author and public speaker on family and culture, argues that sex education promotes casual sex and that schools and parents should do more to protect children. Lara Riscol, an author who explores the connections between society and sexuality, counters that blaming sex education is an oversimplification while arguing that sexuality has always been openly expressed throughout human history.

YES:: Rhonda Chittenden, from “Oral Sex Is Sex:: Ten Messages about Oral Sex to Communicate to Adolescents,” Sexing the Political (May 2004)

NO:: Nora Gelperin, from “Oral Sex and Young Adolescents:: Insights from the ‘Oral Sex Lady’,” Educator’s Update (September 2004)

Sexuality educator Rhonda Chittenden says that it is important for young people to expand their narrow definitions of sex and understand that oral sex is sex. Chittenden offers additional educational messages about oral sex. Sexuality trainer Nora Gelperin argues that adult definitions of oral sex are out of touch with the meaning the behavior holds for young people. Rather than impose adult definitions of intimacy, educators should be seeking to help young people clarify and understand their own values.

YES:: Brent A. Satterly, “Sexting, Not Infecting:: A Sexological Perspective of Sexting as Safer Sex,” Original essay written for this volume (2011)

NO:: Donald A. Dyson, “Tweet This:: Sexting is NOT Safer Sex,” an original essay written for this volume (2011)

Brent A. Satterly, associate professor and bachelor of Social Work Program Director at Widener University’s Center for Social Work Education, acknowledges the risks involved in sexting while criticizing fear-based media coverage of the phenomenon. He argues in favor of harm-reduction strategies to reduce the risks associated with sexting rather than continuing the trend of panicked reactions to the expression of youth sexuality. Donald A. Dyson, director of the Center for Human Sexuality Studies and associate dean of the School of Human Services Professions at Widener University, examines sexting through the lens of the World Health Organization’s definition of sexual health and determines that the risks inherent in the digital transmission of sext messages is not a form of safer sex.

YES:: Wayne V. Pawlowski, from “BDSM:: The Ultimate Expression of Healthy Sexuality, ” Original essay for this Volume (2009)

NO:: Rachel White, from “The Story of ‘No’:: S&M Clubs Sprout Up on Ivy Campuses, and Coercion Becomes an Issue,” The New York Observer (November 16, 2012), http:://observer.com/2012/11/the-story-of-no-sadomasochistic-sex-clubs-sprout-up-on-ivy-campuses-and-coercion-becomes-an-issue/

Sex educator Wayne V. Pawlowski provides an explanation of BDSM, and describes it as a normal, healthy expression of sexuality that includes a continuum of sexual behaviors. Journalist Rachel White details recent reports of alleged sexual assaults within the BDSM community, as well as the divisive responses from community members and leaders.

YES:: Patrick J. Carnes, from “Sex Addiction:: Frequently Asked Questions” (2013), www.sexhelp.com/sex-education/what-is-sex-addiction-faqs

NO:: Lawrence A. Siegel and Richard M. Siegel, from “Sex Addiction:: Semantics or Science,” Original essay written for this volume (2011)

Patrick J. Carnes, considered by many to be an expert on sexual addiction, answers some common questions about this phenomenon, as featured on the website www.sexhelp.com. Carnes discusses the nature of sexual addiction, ways in which it might be manifested, and offers suggestions for treatment. Sex therapist Lawrence A. Siegel and sex therapist/educator Richard M. Siegel counter that sexual addiction is grounded in “moralistic ideology masquerading as science.” They argue that while some sexual behaviors may be dysfunctional, the term “sexual addiction” pathologizes many common forms of sexual expression that are not problematic.