Sex Research and Organization
Ugh. I woke up today and for some reason decided to drink a 5-Hour Energy despite the fact that I was relatively awake and functional already. At some point I realized I didn't feel well, couldn't properly concentrate on anything (nor could I nap) and desperately needed the antidote. I ordered some falafel but it took nearly an hour to get here so I just screwed around online feeling sorry for myself. Just finished eating. Life is now much better but I have fewer hours to be productive before meeting up with June than I was expecting. Oh well -- thankfully I have tomorrow off as well. It's also the first day of classes! Exciting stuff...
After reading Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jetha (thanks Sean), and somewhat inspired by my Human Sexuality class this summer, I have started collecting fascinating books on related topics. Here are some highlights I'm itching to read:
One Big, Happy Family: 18 Writers Talk About Polyamory, Open Adoption, Mixed Marriage, Househusbandry, Single Motherhood (and other realities of truly modern love) edited by Rebecca Walker (This one is a series of essays and I'm about halfway through. Some interesting perspectives.)
The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature by Matt Ridley
Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships by Tristan Taormino (This was recommended to me by the people I met at a Polyamory Meetup recently.)
The Technology of Orgasm: "Hysteria," the Vibrator and Women's Sexual Satisfaction by Rachel P. Maines
A Mind of Its Own: A Cultural History of the Penis by David M. Friedman
The Ethical Slut: A Practical Guide to Polyamory, Open Relationships and Other Adventures by Dossie Easton and Janet W. Hardy (This I've read already, but I didn't own a copy and it seemed like the right time -- additionally, this is a new edition so I'm not sure what that means but we'll find out...)
The Myth of Monogamy: Fidelity and Infidelity in Animals and People by David P. Barash, Ph.D. and Judith Eve Lipton, M.D.
I Don't: A Contrarian History of Marriage by Susan Squire (In all honestly, this I purchased at least partially because of how much I loved the cover: http://www.amazon.com/I-Dont-Contrarian-History-Marriage/dp/B0046LUUZ4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1295316857&sr=1-1
Secret Historian: The Life and Times of Samuel Steward, Professor, Tattoo Artist, and Sexual Renegade by Justin Spring
Guide to Getting It On by Paul Joannides, Psy.D. (This bible of sex information is 992 pages long -- it's like the best encyclopedia ever.)
It seems sort of silly probably, but I feel like I've finally figured out what I want to concentrate on. I don't know exactly what this means in terms of my career, but I know what I want to study and I know that I want to complete my education prepared to put this information back out there in some form. Maybe that means I'll be a counselor, maybe it means I'll give workshops for adults transitioning toward being more sexually open, maybe I'll work for a local LGBTQ organization that offers resources and events for youth, or maybe I'll fight for funding so that I can do research to help us all understand our own sexuality a little bit better. The polyamory thing, for now, is an idea that I feel very strongly about, but only for myself, not necessarily everyone. I'd like to help people who choose to have monogamous partnerships to reach their greatest potential for love and satisfaction within that partnership as well as to help guide those who choose to remain open.
Sometimes it's hard to step back and remember I have a lot of general education stuff to take care of before I'm anywhere near ready to go off in my own direction. But when I have a few minutes to step away from schoolwork, I'll be reading these books and basically stockpiling information to work with later. I should probably set up some kind of file cabinet or network of folders on my computer to keep track of research I come across so that I can reference it later. I was describing a few studies I had recently read about to Robin and realized I couldn't say where they had taken place or who was responsible for them. So I need to keep a bibliography or something... and this is something I don't have a clue how to do. I could really benefit from a class on how to organize research ... maybe I can find something online. I'm forever trying to refer to things I've read and struggling to remember where or when I read them.
Anyway, I'm feeling smart and accomplished today. Even though I haven't actually done much except read a few chapters on genetics for my Biological Anthropology class. I guess it's just that things seem to be heading in the right direction. And on a cheerful side note, I'm making enough money at my job that if I am careful, I may just be able to pay down some of my debt. But the key here is "if I am careful" ... and that's something I am not traditionally very good at being. But I will try. It will be worth it. And I have to stop buying books for a little while. I'm backed up.
After reading Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jetha (thanks Sean), and somewhat inspired by my Human Sexuality class this summer, I have started collecting fascinating books on related topics. Here are some highlights I'm itching to read:
One Big, Happy Family: 18 Writers Talk About Polyamory, Open Adoption, Mixed Marriage, Househusbandry, Single Motherhood (and other realities of truly modern love) edited by Rebecca Walker (This one is a series of essays and I'm about halfway through. Some interesting perspectives.)
The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature by Matt Ridley
Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships by Tristan Taormino (This was recommended to me by the people I met at a Polyamory Meetup recently.)
The Technology of Orgasm: "Hysteria," the Vibrator and Women's Sexual Satisfaction by Rachel P. Maines
A Mind of Its Own: A Cultural History of the Penis by David M. Friedman
The Ethical Slut: A Practical Guide to Polyamory, Open Relationships and Other Adventures by Dossie Easton and Janet W. Hardy (This I've read already, but I didn't own a copy and it seemed like the right time -- additionally, this is a new edition so I'm not sure what that means but we'll find out...)
The Myth of Monogamy: Fidelity and Infidelity in Animals and People by David P. Barash, Ph.D. and Judith Eve Lipton, M.D.
I Don't: A Contrarian History of Marriage by Susan Squire (In all honestly, this I purchased at least partially because of how much I loved the cover: http://www.amazon.com/I-Dont-Contrarian-History-Marriage/dp/B0046LUUZ4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1295316857&sr=1-1
Secret Historian: The Life and Times of Samuel Steward, Professor, Tattoo Artist, and Sexual Renegade by Justin Spring
Guide to Getting It On by Paul Joannides, Psy.D. (This bible of sex information is 992 pages long -- it's like the best encyclopedia ever.)
It seems sort of silly probably, but I feel like I've finally figured out what I want to concentrate on. I don't know exactly what this means in terms of my career, but I know what I want to study and I know that I want to complete my education prepared to put this information back out there in some form. Maybe that means I'll be a counselor, maybe it means I'll give workshops for adults transitioning toward being more sexually open, maybe I'll work for a local LGBTQ organization that offers resources and events for youth, or maybe I'll fight for funding so that I can do research to help us all understand our own sexuality a little bit better. The polyamory thing, for now, is an idea that I feel very strongly about, but only for myself, not necessarily everyone. I'd like to help people who choose to have monogamous partnerships to reach their greatest potential for love and satisfaction within that partnership as well as to help guide those who choose to remain open.
Sometimes it's hard to step back and remember I have a lot of general education stuff to take care of before I'm anywhere near ready to go off in my own direction. But when I have a few minutes to step away from schoolwork, I'll be reading these books and basically stockpiling information to work with later. I should probably set up some kind of file cabinet or network of folders on my computer to keep track of research I come across so that I can reference it later. I was describing a few studies I had recently read about to Robin and realized I couldn't say where they had taken place or who was responsible for them. So I need to keep a bibliography or something... and this is something I don't have a clue how to do. I could really benefit from a class on how to organize research ... maybe I can find something online. I'm forever trying to refer to things I've read and struggling to remember where or when I read them.
Anyway, I'm feeling smart and accomplished today. Even though I haven't actually done much except read a few chapters on genetics for my Biological Anthropology class. I guess it's just that things seem to be heading in the right direction. And on a cheerful side note, I'm making enough money at my job that if I am careful, I may just be able to pay down some of my debt. But the key here is "if I am careful" ... and that's something I am not traditionally very good at being. But I will try. It will be worth it. And I have to stop buying books for a little while. I'm backed up.