Male Sexuality.jpeg

"I think sexuality is a window

into someone's soul."

- Alan Ball

Book icon.gif 4.1 - Overview: The Male Body

The "Online" Course

Human Sexuality Words to Live By and Those Who Said Them

Quote - "Man is defined as a human being and a woman as a female---whenever she behaves as a human being she is said to imitate the male.

Simone de Beauvoir (1908 -- 1986) was a French author and philosopher. She wrote novels, monographs on philosophy, politics, and social issues, essays, biographies, and an autobiography. She is now best known for her metaphysical novels, including "She Came to Stay" and "The Mandarins," and for her 1949 treatise "The Second Sex," a detailed analysis of women's oppression and a foundational tract of contemporary feminism.

Reflection: What does it mean to be a male? "No man is born a butcher," wrote Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956), in Three Penny Novel. By this he meant, what each of us be-comes has more to do with our envi-ronment and learning than what we are born with. There is a sensitivity exercise that calls for men to take a quiet moment, look in the mirror, and observe what impressions and thoughts first come to mind. One of my students hav-ing done this exercise quipped: "I saw a guy with a puffy face who badly needed to shave!" Yes indeed, but this exercise urges men to look beyond the cosmetic factors of the moment and from a more solemn and intellectual perspective note what emerges. Why don't you try this exercise and see what insights you gather. As James A. Doyle in his wonderful book The Male Experience notes with keen historical scholarship and in-sight, there have been many dominant "ideal" male images over time. There has been the epic male of Greece and Rome, a man of action, strength, courage and loyalty. The spiritual male renounced the material world and kept sexuality at bay during the early years of Christianity. The chivalric male of the feudal and twelfth-century social sys-tems was one of honor and self-sacrifice, of service to "the lady of courtly love" days. On the other hand, was the Renaissance male of the sixteenth-century whose struggle and ideal was to be rational, intellectual, well read, and exploring of nature and himself. In the Eighteenth-century we saw the ideal image as the bourgeois male, successful in business, status, and worldly manners and travels. All of these visions of the ideal male have found parts of themselves in the more contemporary vision of being male. What do you suppose they are? Doyle suggests that in Ameri-can five models evolved from these his-torical models. The first was the American aristocrat (1630-1820) a man who was self-confident, bright, patriarchal and individualistic. Between 1820 and 1860 the common man was valued most in the new United States republic. Such men were imbued with common sense, clever, and ingenious. Sexuality was valued and of greater emerging importance than ever before. The "He-Man" model (1861-1919) opened the west and sought out fame and fortune. They were men of steel and "two-fisted" preparedness. They accepted greater equality be-tween men and woman, out of need and practicality. Later, beginning in the 1920s, the concept of man as a fair and caring partner evolved. Victorian morals gave way to the hard work ethic, being a good provider to one's family and involvement in family matters and com-munity (Doyle, 1995). The model of the ideal man continues to change as we move into the new millennium. What do you think the ideal model of a man will be as we move deeper into the 21st century? If you are male, take a moment and write down you thoughts of what makes an ideal man. If you are female, ask yourselves what makes an ideal man in your eyes. We will explore more about what it means to be human, to be in love, and keep relationships strong and growing in later assignments. In this assignment we tour the physical makings of the male sex organs, both externally and internally. You will discover how hormones effect male sexuality and how myths and dif-ferent cultural beliefs color the way we view men. There is also a wealth of helpful and useful information about sexually related health issues as well. What you read about cancer may well prevent cancer in your life if you are male or in some male's life you are con-cerned about and care for. Understanding the male sexual body and how it works is interesting and most useful. It is vital to know one's body, since throughout human evolution, as writer Robert Hinde has astutely noted, "Men seek to propagate widely, whereas women seek to propagate wisely." Accordingly, while sexuality should always be a thoughtful and purposeful process, it must always be based in sexual knowledge and understanding.

Assignment Overview

The purpose of Homework Assignment #4 is to provide you with an appreciation and understanding of the "Male Body." Another purpose is to provide you with hands on experience in learning about the male body and its relationship to the discipline of human sexuality.

Caution - Please keep in mind, that while minimum length is suggested for each task assignment, a length of several times the minimum is generally necessary to obtain good to exceptional grades. Always be sure to weave in solid scholarship, as evidenced from the text and website readings. Be certain to "compare and contrast" what you have learned. This will help to assure me that you in fact are learning each week. Thank you.

In our first link we look at how sperm is made. It takes around 72 hours to produce one healthy sperm. In the second link we take a whimsical look at conception from the point of view of one creative movie-maker.

How Sperm is Made

Conception - Whimsical

Book icon.gif 4.2 - The Internet and Human Sexuality

Male Anatomy and Physiology

Task - In this exercise demonstrate a clear and concise understand of male anatomy and physiology.

The following "YouTube" links deal with male anatomy and physiology from several perspectives---the serious and informative to the playful and whimsical. They are only a few minutes each. So take the time to review them all if your schedule allows. As you watch "As Boys Grow" parts 1 & 2, one is almost stunned by how shallow sex education was in the mid-20th century. I grew up with those videos! Is it any wonder so many Americans grew up so ignorant about matters sexual?

Requirements - In a tightly worded response, share what you have observed, learned, and appreciated in a lively and thoughtful response. Education is not meant to be boring, so have some fun.

Have better links? Let me know. If I use them I'll give you extra credit. Send me the info in an email not in your task submission. You may also use links other than the ones provided below for your discussion. However send me the link so I may review it.

The Story Of Onan - Song Lyrics

As Boys Grow (1957) Part 1

As Boys Grow (1957) Part 2

Anatomy - Male Reproductive System

Reproduction with a "beat"

Human Reproductive System MRI Images

Male Reproduction

Book icon.gif 4.3 - Human Sexuality Based Websites

Using Internet Tools To Learn About Human Sexuality

Task - Using either Google.com or YouTube.com as your search engine, choose a website or video clip that relates to this module’s topic and theme. Report back what you learned from exploring either. Explain in tightly worded writing, what you learned. Always try and weave in textbook reading, learning, and research data.

Book icon.gif 4.4 - Sexual Themes and Variations Textbook

Reading Assignment - Chapter 4

Overview - Your assigned textbook is Sexual Themes and Variations This custom edition textbook was written and prepared exclusively for Santa Rosa Junior College by your professor ---- Mannino, J. D. (2015). Sexual Themes and Variations. San Francisco, CA: TeddyBear Publishers.

Task - Chapter four

Book icon.gif 4.5 - Head Candy - Online Mental Gymnastics

Human Sexuality Tests, Exercises, Activities, and Self-Help Inventories

Overview - Over the years, I've found that students love taking psychological mental tests, quizzes, and self-help personality inventories, especially those online that provide nearly instant feedback after completing. While few are truly scientifically based "psychological instruments," complete with "reliability and validity" standards, they nonetheless provide us with helpful and often substantial insights into who we are. So with that caveat made, this section is devoted to mental tests, or head games, if you will. ALL of them relate to some important aspect of Human Sexuality

Task - In the weeks ahead, we will explore more serioius and professional exercises and activities related to human sexuality. While many of these activities will derive from our workbook Sexually Speaking, some will be web-based resources as well.

Here we go again! This time we turn our attention to male and female bodies. The first link is pretty clear. The second one is also pretty clear. Give them both a try and see if you can learn something. Both "PlayBuzz" and "Cracked" are respected and fun websites ---though the science may be iffy. So enjoy the links and explore!

Provide a written reaction paper regarding what you learned from this overall exercise. Be sure to consider how valid and reliable you believe the test to be from a scientific point of view. Consider some of your thoughts about men's sexuality and why there is often a perception that there is a "clashing of beliefs" between male and female sexual issues.

How Good Are You in Bed?

27 Sex Myths You Need to Stop Believing!

Book icon.gif 4.6 - Sexually Speaking Workbook

Reading Assignment - Chapter 3

Overview - Your assigned workbook Sexually Speaking, is loaded with readings, exercises, and activities all geared to enhancing your learning of human sexuality. This national workbook is written by your professor. It was published by McGraw-Hill Publishers [Mannino, J. D. (2007). Revised edition is: Mannino, J. D. (2015). Sexually Speaking. San Francisco, CA: TeddyBear Publishers].

Sexually Speaking, your assigned workbook, is organized by chapters. Activities and exercises are selected from various chapters to enhance weekly assignments, topics, and lecture material. It is also important to remember that certain assignments will be required from Sexually Speaking. Therefore, always review each week's Sexually Speaking assignments carefully.

Task - Read and Review thoroughly the male anatomy and physiology aspects found in Chapter 3: "The Body Beautiful: Male and Female Anatomy and Physiology."

Book icon.gif 4.7 - Course Discussion Board

Module #4 - Thought Provoking Question (TPQ) or Article

Overview - The purpose of a course discussion board is to allow students and professor an opportunity to interact about topics of common interest. A discussion board is also a fine tool to share commonly asked questions, answers, and concerns.

You are urged to use the discussion board, when you have questions that you think others may wish to know; when you have technical questions or answers that others may wish to know, and to share other useful tidbits with each other. I want each of you to become familiar with the message board system.

Once you have composed your thoughts and written them down in a word application program [i.e., Microsoft word] --- with grammar and spell check---you follow through with posting (copy and pasting) them. Remember, to be sure you also post your comments in the appropriate place in the task boxes that links later in this assignment. You only do this if you are also submitting this ENTIRE assignment as one of your required four online assignments for this course.

Task: In each class module, there will be one thought-provoking course related question or article for which discussion is expected from students. While not always directly related to assigned readings, they have important course-wide implications. You are expected to respond to each TPQ by the end of each class module's deadline Be sure to place the question/article module number (#) in the "subject line" so your classmates will know which module topic you are addressing.

Since there is only one "thought-provoking question or article " (TPQ) due per module during the regular semester, a minimum response of 250 to 500 words is required for each message board TPQ posting. Also, students need to post a TPQ for EACH of the 15 online assignments.

This Assignment's Thought Provoking Question (TPQ) or Article #4

The following link is a graded assignment for the TPQ. (1) Click on the link below, (2) read the TPQ or article, and then (3) respond in the student posting area provided at the end.

Thought Provoking Question #4

Book icon.gif 4.8 - The Human Sexes Film Series

Video #2: The Human Sexes - The Language of The Sexes

Task: After reviewing this film module, report back what you have learned. Explain in a clear, conciise, and tightly worded reaction report.

Overview: The following link is to a six-part instructional video series for teaching Introduction to Human Sexuality for college level students. Each hour long program covers some major component found in a typical undergraduate Introduction to Human Sexuality college course.

This film series offers the college learner an overview of historic, cultural, and current theoretics of human sexualty. Famed Oxford University zoology professor and author Dr. Desmond Morris narrates as the series probes the mysteries and cultural aspects of human sexuality. Based on extensive investigation and authoritative scholarship, this film series is always scholarly, interesting, and entertaining.

Directions for using the "Human Sexes" video link

When you arrive at the "Human Sexes" website, you will need to scroll down until you arrive at a video screen. At the top of that video screen in the upper left hand side in capitals you will see "PLAYLIST: HUMAN SEXES." Simply click on the "PLAYLIST" word. You will then see a list of the videos. Simply scroll down using the little gray scroll bar at the right until you arrive at the assigned video --- click on it. There is a little learning curve here, but once you get it, these six great 30 minute videos are well worth it. Enjoy each video, take notes, and learn!

Assigned Video: #2 - The Language of The Sexes

Video Summary: How does boy meet girl? Is finding a mate ever easy? How do you send out a signal that you're available? There are as many ways to speak the Language of The Sexes as there are cultures.

The Japanese build shrines to the male phallus. Many Muslim women live behind veils. Ethiopian tribeswomen enlarge their lips with ceramic plates, and some Chinese used to crush women's feet to keep them tiny and delicate. Compare all this to America, where women practice gender amplification with silicone breast implants, collagen lip injections and tight high heels.

It's easy to see why the Language of The Sexes is so hard to understand.

The Human Sexes Video Series

Book icon.gif 4.8 - Assignment #4 "Blue Book" Responses

Composing Your Responses To Assignment #4 in Module #4 (Helpful Directions)

Overview - For each course module there is a major homework assignment that must be completed. Each of these module homework assignments has several tasks. Some entail reading, some include exploring and reviewing websites, reviewing videos, and still others involve written tasks --- work that must be submitted for review and/or grading.

Responses to "tasks" must be sent on time or you will either fail the assignment or be severely penalized. Late homework assignments are perceived as both a student who is "absent from class" and "late with work." Please always maintain a backup copy of all your written work. Glitches occur in online technology-based education, but ultimately it is your responsibility to maintain adequate backup of all work submitted. You are also encouraged to compose your work within a word-processing application and then "copy and paste" into "task boxes." This is so you may avail yourself of spell and grammar check options provided in most modern word processing software.

Please be aware that all submissions are automatically received by the course "gradebook," where they will be evaluated by your professor for acceptance, rejection, or acceptance with penalty. So make sure your work is received promptly. Much the same way that attendance is determined by you presence in the traditional classroom at the regularly scheduled class time, so too is attendance determined by your prompt submission of assignments while enrolled in an online course. Furthermore, arriving to class without homework or with incomplete homework is also perceived in the same manner with an online course. Accordingly, you are encouraged to submit you weekly work prior to deadlines, to avoid computer glitches, "downtime," and other "technological spills and inconveniences."

Directions - Each numbered task box listed below corresponds with tasks described in each module's homework assignment. Usually, tasks outlined on this webpage require written reactions and/or responses.

Be sure to follow directions carefully and precisely when completing each task. "A word to the wise!" Minimal work receives a minimal grade. For example, if a task asks that you provide a written paragraph or two, and you provide just that, then you have provided only minimal work. Simply said, minimal work is "C" work. Well thought out writing that exceeds both excellence and minimal length (word count) and quality requirements is, generally speaking, graded higher and indicative of a "good and solidly motivated student." However length in of itself does not assure quality either, so learn to strike a balance. Good luck!

Particulars - Remember this assignment (out of two required) is due by a certain date or will be penalized. Overly late assignments may NOT be accepted at all. The discretion of the professor rules in all such matters. Was your assignment "Online and Ontime?" Before beginning this first homework assignment be sure you understand the word count and quality requirements (1500 to 3000 words depending on grade desired). Also module assignments may not be submitted back-to-back. There must be at least a one assignment space between submissions. See Grading Policy in Course Basics at the Course Syllabus for further information.

While students need submit only two fully completed modules out of fifteen online assignments to choose from, ALL students are responsible for reviewing ALL 15 modules and having a moderate understanding of each. Don't cheat yourself out of a good education.

Module Assignment #4 - "Blue Book" Graded Responses Go Here

Assignment Feedback Form - Online Psych 3 [Module #4]

Dr. J. Davis Mannino - Revised August 8, 2016 7:16 PM