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Introduction to Advancing Sexuality Studies:

Introduction to Advancing Sexuality Studies:. A short course on sexuality theory and research methodologies. The International Resource Network. Developed by:. The Caribbean International Resource Network Presented in collaboration with:

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Introduction to Advancing Sexuality Studies:

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  1. Introduction toAdvancing Sexuality Studies: A short course on sexuality theory and research methodologies The International Resource Network

  2. Developed by: The Caribbean International Resource Network Presented in collaboration with: The Institute for Gender & Development Studies at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine (Trinidad & Tobago) With funding from The Ford Foundation & the International Association for the Study of Sexuality, Culture and Society (IASSCS) Available under an Attribution, Non-Commercial, Share Alike licence from Creative Commons 2

  3. Schedule

  4. What is ‘sexuality’? • Introductory activity: • Spend 5 minutes on your own, writing a short (1-3 sentences) definition of sexuality • We will come back to this definition later 4

  5. Introducing (y)ourselves • Participants share: (10 mins) • What is your name, and what do you like to be called? • What is your major discipline or interest area? • Why are you taking this course? • Facilitator(s) introduce themselves, their expertise in sexuality studies, and modules they will present (10 mins) 5

  6. Session 1.Short course background 6

  7. Background • Developed in response to growing recognition of the need for advanced training in critical sexuality studies in the Caribbean • Adapted from the first course, which began with an international audit of sexuality training • Context-setting exercise for the development of course materials • Results available from www.sexualitystudies.net 7

  8. Global North sexuality studies audit • Identified 5 (overlapping) strands of sexuality research: • HIV/AIDS • Sexology • Sexual & reproductive health (S&RH) • Gender studies • Critical sexuality studies 8

  9. Caribbean Sexuality studies audit Identified 5 predominant & 3 emerging strands of research: • Sexually transmitted infections (e.g. HIV/AIDS) • Multiple partnering • Sexual-economic exchange (e.g. sex work & sex tourism) • Violence against women and children • Same-sex relations Emerging Fields: • Masculinity studies • Indo-Caribbean women’s sexualities • Adolescent sexualities 9

  10. Sexually transmitted infections • Based on public health and epidemiology frameworks • Sexual behaviour = sexual risk • Absence of diverse sexualities not deemed to be at risk of HIV/AIDS (e.g. lesbians) 10

  11. Multiple partnering • Men’s • Serial monogamy • Informal polygamy • Women’s serial monogamy Intersections with: • Sex work • Adolescent sexuality • Notions of “promiscuity” 11

  12. Sexual-economic exchange Sex work • Commercial sex work (prostitution) • Sex tourism • Transactional sex 12

  13. Violence • Little research specifically on sexual violence • Focused on women and children • Partner/domestic abuse • Gender-based violence • Emerging field: violence against sexual minorities 13

  14. Same-sex relations • Focus on men • Anthropological and humanistic approaches • Increase in artistic portrayals, esp. in the Caribbean diaspora • Overlap with sex work and STI studies • Emerging field: legal research and challenges 14

  15. Emerging fields • Masculinity studies • Adolescent sexualities • Indo-Caribbean women’s sexualities 15

  16. Foundations of Caribbean sexuality studies • Caribbean feminism • Black feminist theory • European and USAmerican feminism • Postcolonial theory • Community activism • Global critical sexuality studies 16

  17. Brainstorm • Think about your personal experiences of involvement in work related to sexuality • Does this work relate to any of the areas of Caribbean sexuality studies? • Do these areas reflect what you know of Caribbean sexuality? • In your experience, what were the restrictions or benefits of working under any one particular strand? • Can you think of recent news or cultural events that relate to these areas? (10 mins) 17

  18. What this course is • A course in Critical Sexuality Studies of the Anglophone Caribbean. • Critical Sexuality Studies is multidisciplinary, and can be interdisciplinary. It focuses on the shifting relationships of power, knowledge, context, and culture.

  19. Project aims • The short course will: • Build on the existing diversity and quality of research and training activity in human sexuality in the Anglophone Caribbean; • Encourage and empower participants’ inclusion of sexuality in their research; • Develop and enhance existing skills in undertaking complex research into, and the development and application of theory in, the field of Critical Caribbean Sexuality Studies; Cont. 19

  20. Project aims cont. • Connect with other multi- and interdisciplinary investigations and initiatives in international sexuality research and advanced training; • Increase the visibility of Sexuality Studies on UWI campuses; • Create a wider network of researchers and practitioners using Critical Sexuality Studies to investigate and contribute to the analysis of issues related to Caribbean sexualities; and • Contribute to the development of increased local, national, regional, and global dialogues on human sexualities. 20

  21. Overall learning objectives • Short course participants will: • Increase their skills, knowledge and networking capacity in sexuality research and theoretical development • Initiate and stimulate dialogue between locally based knowledge frameworks, CSS and regional and global discussions of sexuality • Work critically with advanced sexuality theory and research methodologies • Learn about innovative methods for researching human sexualities in specific settings • Gain enhanced capacities to encourage sexuality research in the Anglophone Caribbean and its diaspora 21

  22. Modules – change as needed • Each module is designed for use: • As a stand-alone or grouped with other modules • To be incorporated into other courses, or • As part of the complete short course • Modules addressed in this course are: • Sex, Sexuality and Gender: Basic Concepts • Critical Sexuality Studies and Research Methodologies • Social Construction of Sexual Identities • Sexuality, The Body and Personhood • Thinking About Men and Masculinities • Sexual Rights and Sexual Justice 22

  23. Session 2.So, what is sexuality? 23

  24. Group work • Form small groups • Each person should briefly review their personal notes from the start of the introduction • Group discussion (10 mins) • Feedback from rapporteurs (10 mins) • Discussion and wrap-up (10 mins) 24

  25. Dictionary definitions • The quality of being sexual or having sex … usage recorded 1797 • Possession of sexual powers, or capability of sexual feelings … usage recorded 1833 • Recognition of or preoccupation with what is sexual; … usage recorded 1851 • A person's sexual identity in relation to the gender [sic] to which he or she is typically attracted; the fact of being heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual; sexual orientation … present definition, 2013 OED 25

  26. General theoretical definition Sexuality … [is] an historical construction which brings together a host of different biological and mental possibilities, and cultural forms — gender identity, bodily differences, reproductive capacities, needs, desires, fantasies, erotic practices, institutions and values — which need not be linked together, and in other societies have not been. Weeks, J (2003: 7) Sexuality: Second Edition, Routledge 26

  27. Caribbean theoretical definition Caribbean sexuality is “characterized by diversity” and involves “embodied sexual practices, identities, knowledge, and strategies of resistance of the colonized and postcolonial subject” (2004: 2). Kempadoo, K (2004: 2) Sexing the Caribbean, Routledge 27

  28. The sexuality matrix

  29. Sexuality studies in context

  30. Conclusion • FACILITATOR TO ADD: • Which modules to be presented, estimated timings, and the aims of each module • An overview of key terms and concepts that will be used in the modules presented • • NB: This activity should offer the opportunity for participants to check their own understandings of these terms and concepts

  31. Module adapted for the Anglophone Caribbean by: • Dr. Rosamond S. King, The Caribbean International Resource Network • Original module created by: • Professor Gary W. Dowsett, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society. With input from Dr Sean Slavin, Ms Gillian Fletcher, Mr Murray Couch, Dr Duane Duncan and Dr Jon Willis • Caribbean short course developed by: • The Caribbean International Resource Network • with the Institute for Gender & Development Studies, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago • Original short course developed by: • The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia and The International Association for the Study of Sexuality, Culture and Society (IASSCS) • With funding from The Ford Foundation • Available under an Attribution, Non-Commercial, Share Alike licence • from Creative Commons

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