Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Human Sexuality

This Tenth Edition of TAKING SIDES: HUMAN SEXUALITY presents current controversial issues in a debate-style format designed to stimulate student interest and develop critical thinking skills. Each issue is thoughtfully framed with an issue summary, an issue introduction, and a postscript. An instructor's manual with testing material is available for each volume. USING TAKING SIDES IN THE CLASSROOM is also an excellent instructor resource with practical suggestions on incorporating this effective approach in the classroom. Each TAKING SIDES reader features an annotated listing of selected World Wide Web sites and is supported by our student website, www.mhcls.com/online.

Preliminary Contents Unit 1 The Nature of Sex Issue 1. Can Sex Be Addictive? YES: 45612 Patrick J. Carnes, from "Sexual Addiction Q & A," http://www.sexhelp.com/sa_q_and_a.cfm (November 11, 2006) NO: 45613 Lawrence A. Siegel and Richard M. Siegel, from "Sex Addiction: Recovering From a Shady Concept," An Original Essay Written for this Volume (2006) 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 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. Issue 2. Is Oral Sex Really Sex? YES: 38798 Rhonda Chittenden, from "Oral Sex is Sex: Ten Messages About Oral Sex to Communicate to," Sexing the Political (May 2004) NO: 38801 Nora Gelperin, from "Oral Sex and Young Adolescents: Insights from the 'Oral Sex Lady'," Educator's Update (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. Issue 3. Is Masters and Johnson's Model an Accurate Description of Sexual Response? YES: 39389 Stephanie Ann Sanders, from "Physiology of Sex," Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia (2004) NO: 39390 Paul Joannides, from "The HSRC--Is Everything Better in Black & White?," An Original Essay Written for this Volume (2004) Stephanie Ann Sanders, a director and scientist with the Kinsey Institute and a contributing author to the Encarta Online Encyclopedia, summarizes Masters and Johnson's Human Sexual Response Cycle. Paul Joannides, author of the popular book The Guide to Getting It On!, says that the Human Sexual Response Cycle is a "one-size-fits-all" model that does not account for individual variations. Issue 4. Is the G Spot a Myth? YES: 30661 Prof. Terence M. Hines, from "The G-Spot: A Modern Gynecologic Myth," American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (August 2001) NO: 45615 Beverly Whipple, from "Beyond the G Spot: New Research on Human Female Sexual Anatomy and Physiology," Scandinavian Journal of Sexology (2000) Psychologist Terence M. Hines says that the widespread acceptance of the G-spot as being real conflicts with available evidence. Hines explains that the existence of the G-spot has never been verified by empirical, objective means and that women may have been misinformed about their bodies and their sexuality. Issue5. Is the Testosterone Patch the Right Cure for Low Libido in Women? YES: 39255 Carolyn Susman, from "Look Who's Smiling Now: A Dose of What the Guys Have: Sex-Drive-Revving Testosterone," PostFacts (October 30, 2004) NO: 38817 Gary Schubach, from "Testosterone Patches--The Cure for Low Female Sexual Desire?," http://www.doctororg.com/gspot-truth.htm (2002) Columnist Carolyn Susman comments favorably on Intrinsa, a testosterone patch intended to treat low female desire in women. Susman outlines research findings that say the patch could improve sexual desire in women. Iver Juster, a family practitioner, Gary Schubach, a sex researcher and educator, and Patrici