Q Soc 209: Human Sexualities Personal Assignment 2—10 points Sex Articles –or– A Visit from God Choose any one of the options listed below. Choose the assignment that most interests you and, of course, you are comfortable exploring and expressing. Choose wisely from the standpoint of what you wish to gain from this assignment—not because you merely “have to.” Your assignment is due by midnight Friday, January 28. Submit your assignment in the designated online drop box. Be sure to (a) put your name at the top of your assignment, (b) when you upload your assignment be certain that it is saved in Word or Rich Text Format (RTF), and please (c) title the document you upload by your last name. OPTION ONE: Health Benefits of Having Sex Most people have sex (alone or with a partner) for pleasure, desire, sharing intimacy, or some combination thereof. There are, however, a lot of well-known health benefits from having sex. These benefits are more than a little ironic, considering the potential stigma and the general ways that people often seem to regard sex as less-than-admirable pursuit (or that those who want sex often are trashy). Indeed, the more you learn about the health benefits of sex the more you may discover that, for most people, sexual activity might be as important to a healthy lifestyle as diet and exercise. In this option, you can explore some of those health benefits 1. Read the article “10 Surprising Health Benefits of Sex” by Kara Robinson and published on WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/sex-and-health#1 2. Identify and discuss any of these health benefits that you already knew. 3. Identify and discuss any of these health benefits that you didn’t previously know. 4. Reflect on the ways that these health benefits (do not) change your thoughts and perspectives on the significance of sex. OPTION TWO: Frequency of Sex among Young Americans It is, perhaps, fair to assume that given how sex is represented in the media that it’s easy for people to assume that everyone is “doing it.” Moreover, general stereotypes often compel people to presume that teens and young people are among the most sexually active in society. But one of the first lessons in sociology is that things are not always what they seem—and all people at all times are influenced by social, cultural, and historical circumstances that exert influences that change over time. Indeed, in this option you may discover your perceptions of young people and sex may not be accurate at all. 1. Read the article “Young Americans are Having Less Sex Than Ever” by Amy Woodyatt and published by CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/12/health/young-americans-less-sex-intl-scli-wellness/index.html 2. Explain in your own words why the general trend has been for young people to have far less sex than prior generations. Discuss the extent to which those factors that have reduced the frequency of sex in contemporary youth resonate with the life that you have lived. 3. In your opinion, what changes would have to occur to reverse the trend of young people having less sex—and would that be a good or bad thing for people and society in general? OPTION THREE: The Problem With Sex Education 1. Read the blog: https://getmaude.com/blogs/themaudern/the-generational-gap-of-sex-ed 2. Virtually everyone agrees that numerous changes need to occur in order to adequately education kids and teens about sex. Identify and explain at least three that you believe are most important. 3. If virtually everyone agrees that sex education in the US is inadequate, then why it been so slow to change? OPTION FOUR: A Visit from God Imagine, for a moment that in one fell swoop—one stunning moment—the answers to some of the most timeless questions human beings have ever asked are provided to you and you alone. In a powerful vision, God speaks directly to you and she commands that you understand her gift of human sexualities. God makes her message clear to you in a vision and words spoken directly to you, alluding to her irritation at misinterpretations of her words over the last millennia (that whole handwritten parchment thing was a real disaster!). God further clarifies her message: “First,” says God, “note how I said ‘my gift of sexuality.’ Augustine and others of his ilk have always gotten this wrong” God goes on to say, “I intended sexuality to be pleasurable; I wanted people to desire one another; I have designed human beings to be able to find a special kind of fulfillment, satisfaction, and desire in sexual experience.” Then God states something quite profound: “these aspects of human sexualities are as much a part of my plan as procreation. I’m tired of people claiming that my plan only includes one of these two things; they are of equal significance.” “Furthermore”, God goes on to say, “notice how I said sexualities—in the plural. Just as diversity is highly valued and extremely beneficial to the rest of my animal kingdom, so I intended with my human children.” These statements you immediately recognize as the meat of what God intended to convey to you. However, before leaving your presence, God turns and looks directly in your eyes, and a thunderous voice is heard in your head: “NOTE ALSO, I APPEAR BEFORE YOU AS A WOMAN.” You are stricken with fear, and utterly humbled by the knowledge that theology has long defined, controlled, and denigrated female sexuality. 1. Reflect for awhile on what a vision of this sort might mean for you (seriously think about it for a bit! As you reflect imagine accepting this vision and these words as truth). Report on what ways this hypothetical knowledge would change you and why. 2. Reflect for awhile on how different our major Christian religious institutions would be if this knowledge was the fundamental premise on which sex is theologically understood. Report on what ways religious institutions would be different as a result.