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Students given opportunity to ask questions about sex
By Geoff Higgins/Contributing Writer
SCSU students were given a frank, no-holds-barred talk about sex Tuesday in the Atwood Theater as part of Out Proud Week 2002.
Tracy Ore, professor of sociology, gave her talk in a question and answer format. Note cards were given out to each person in the audience and the audience was asked to write down any questions they might have about any sexual topic. Ore tried to give an answer to each question but she encouraged the audience to express any feelings they might have about the topics that were discussed.
Ore said that most people have not actually had sex education. Children in school, she said, are actually given reproductive education instead. This teaches people how to reproduce and how to avoid reproduction, not about sex.
Another topic that Ore and the group talked about was intimacy and how to establish and create different kinds of intimacy. Ore defined intimacy as anything partners find intimate together. She said that this could be as simple as going bowling and that being intimate does not just involve sex.
Ore said that the best way to start different kinds of intimacy in a relationship is through good communication between partners.
"We use sex as a measure of love," Ore said. "After a certain period of time when couples are not having as much sex they need to define new ways to be intimate with each other."
Intimacy in friendships was also a topic that the group discussed. Those attending were curious on how to separate friendships from non-platonic relationships. Ore suggested that friends find alternative ways to be intimate with each other just like people that are emotionally involved would.
"People need to find new ways to be intimate with one another other than just sex to separate friendships from emotional relationships," Ore said.
Ore also talked about how sex is a forbidden subject for people to talk about, especially women. Ore said that she feels our society would be a lot more free if people discussed sex with one another.
She also acknowledged that sex education is not growing in schools, the trend continues to be reproductive education even with all of the media attention that sex demands.
"I don't feel that sex education is growing, because there is still a feeling that if we talk about it, kids will do it," Ore said.
Students who participated in the discussion felt that Ore had answered some good questions and helped them understand that sex education is an important topic for everyone to learn.
"It is good to know that people are making kids more aware of sex education, and that it is alright for them to be comfortable with their bodies," said Candice Zamudio, sophomore.
Zamudio encouraged others to take part in Out Proud Week activities.
"I think that this type of speech is good for people that are not aware and as comfortable with their sexuality," said Zamudio, who is majoring in Biomedical Sciences.
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