This course explores human sexuality from an anthropological holistic perspective that seeks to understand human sexual behavior from a number of approaches: how sexuality relates to different areas of human experience; how sexuality has varied with regard to human cultural and biological evolution; how sexuality varies among cultures with different systems of belief, societal roles, and statuses (using cross-cultural comparisons); how sexuality varies within cultures according to concepts of gender and individual behavior; and how sexuality is related to aspects of human anatomy and physiology. Each of these topics will include references to the different theoretical and methodological orientations that anthropology has taken toward studying sexuality. Students will gain a greater sense of diversity of human cultural beliefs and practices about sexuality in the United States and around the world. Prior coursework in anthropology or a social science is recommended.
