No love for homework, even with a glove
Despite the fact that a class called "Human Sexuality" sounds like it would be awesome, it gives weekly annoying busywork assignments. They're the kind of a assignments where you read and it wonder, "Did she just give us this assignment to see who the fuck would actually do/disclose this?"
For part of this week's assignment, we were to go to a drugstore and look at the condom display. At first I thought I could wing it by recalling past condom-buying errands, but once I read the questions I realized I was either going to have to make shit up, or actually go look at condoms.
Here's the full assignment, copied verbatim:
What’s It Like to Buy Condoms at a Store?
One of the reasons that people don’t use condoms is that they are embarrassed to buy them. Students have written that they drove over 50 miles to purchase condoms in a place where they would not be recognized. Others have said that the only thing they ever stole in their lives was condoms. (In fact, drug stores report that they are a frequently stolen item.) If doing this exercise alone sounds uncomfortable, try to find a classmate or friend to go with you.
Visit a drugstore and examine the various condoms. As you gather information, be aware of the feelings you are experiencing. If you are in an area with a condom specialty store like Condomania, you could visit that instead. (Another way to learn about and order condoms is over the Internet. Condomania has a homepage at www.condomania.com.) It’s up to you whether you want to purchase condoms. If you do, you can add your reactions to the following list of questions.
Where in the store are the condoms displayed?
Is it a visible location? (Do you think people will easily find the display and then feel comfortable standing there?)
How are they packaged?
Does the packaging appeal to female as well as male buyers?
What types are available? (i.e., male, female, polyurethane, ribbed, lubricated, different sizes)
What is the range of prices?
Are brands from other countries displayed?
How do you feel standing in the aisle looking at condoms?
If you bought any condoms, how did that feel?
Since there's a CVS conveniently located a block away, I decided I would just do it. I took my small notepad with me and entered the store. The display was near the back, so it was easily seen from the pharmacist's counter. I flipped open my notepad and started objectively taking notes. I could see the pharmacist occasionally glancing over at me out of the corner of my eye. He was probably puzzled, but I thought it would be more amusing if he didn't know the context of what was going on. I couldn't find any female condoms, so I thought about just asking loud enough for everyone to hear, "Hey, you guys don't have female condoms, do you?" Alas, I decided not to, but I probably would have if there was anyone around to show off for. I guess it's hard to be an attention whore when there are no johns around.
Unfortunately, that was the least annoying part of the assignment. Now I have to think of all the AIDS messages I've seen/heard on TV or the radio in the past week, which would be none. Then I have to answer a slew of questions about them. I'm browsing youtube trying to find some commercials about AIDS, but I can't tell which ones are real.
For part of this week's assignment, we were to go to a drugstore and look at the condom display. At first I thought I could wing it by recalling past condom-buying errands, but once I read the questions I realized I was either going to have to make shit up, or actually go look at condoms.
Here's the full assignment, copied verbatim:
What’s It Like to Buy Condoms at a Store?
One of the reasons that people don’t use condoms is that they are embarrassed to buy them. Students have written that they drove over 50 miles to purchase condoms in a place where they would not be recognized. Others have said that the only thing they ever stole in their lives was condoms. (In fact, drug stores report that they are a frequently stolen item.) If doing this exercise alone sounds uncomfortable, try to find a classmate or friend to go with you.
Visit a drugstore and examine the various condoms. As you gather information, be aware of the feelings you are experiencing. If you are in an area with a condom specialty store like Condomania, you could visit that instead. (Another way to learn about and order condoms is over the Internet. Condomania has a homepage at www.condomania.com.) It’s up to you whether you want to purchase condoms. If you do, you can add your reactions to the following list of questions.
Where in the store are the condoms displayed?
Is it a visible location? (Do you think people will easily find the display and then feel comfortable standing there?)
How are they packaged?
Does the packaging appeal to female as well as male buyers?
What types are available? (i.e., male, female, polyurethane, ribbed, lubricated, different sizes)
What is the range of prices?
Are brands from other countries displayed?
How do you feel standing in the aisle looking at condoms?
If you bought any condoms, how did that feel?
Since there's a CVS conveniently located a block away, I decided I would just do it. I took my small notepad with me and entered the store. The display was near the back, so it was easily seen from the pharmacist's counter. I flipped open my notepad and started objectively taking notes. I could see the pharmacist occasionally glancing over at me out of the corner of my eye. He was probably puzzled, but I thought it would be more amusing if he didn't know the context of what was going on. I couldn't find any female condoms, so I thought about just asking loud enough for everyone to hear, "Hey, you guys don't have female condoms, do you?" Alas, I decided not to, but I probably would have if there was anyone around to show off for. I guess it's hard to be an attention whore when there are no johns around.
Unfortunately, that was the least annoying part of the assignment. Now I have to think of all the AIDS messages I've seen/heard on TV or the radio in the past week, which would be none. Then I have to answer a slew of questions about them. I'm browsing youtube trying to find some commercials about AIDS, but I can't tell which ones are real.