Sexual Science
The Newsletter of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality
Summer 1999
Volume 40 - Issue 3
From the President
When I was a young researcher, the topics in which I was most interested -- passionate love and sexual desire -- were deemed by the Powers that Be as "taboo, frivolous, and intrinsically unscientific." Today, of course, the prestige of SSSS and sexual science research has dramatically increased. Nonetheless, scientists should have realistic expectations in judging their own successes and failures.
It is easy to be deceived into believing that if we were just brilliant enough, worked hard enough, did everything right, we would reap the adulation of the crowds or of our colleagues. (Short of that, that they might have at least some vague idea of what it is that we do!). That is probably expecting too much. There is an old saying: "When we're 20, we worry about what people think of us; when we are 30, we don't care what they think; by the time we're 40, we realize they're probably not thinking of us at all." I would argue that if you can find a few colleagues who admire what you do, a few graduate students who are interested in your research, a few undergraduates who like what you teach, you should count yourself very lucky. As for the other 99%, I'm afraid we just have to take massive indifference and censure in stride.
In the interests of "truth in advertising," I thought that in my role as President of SSSS I'd share some of my favorite "awful" letters with you to remind us all what anyone who deals with the public can expect -- on a good day.
Letter #1:
Letter #2:
When Senator Proxmire (D, Wisconsin) denounced the National Science Foundation for encouraging researchers to study passionate love and sexual attraction, the Senator blasted me with a series of press released that were, alas, painfully witty. Hence, I received bags of mail, mostly critical. A Chicago tabloid -- The Chicago Tribune -- ran a contest. People could call in and vote: Who was right -- Proxmire or me? Why? Three University of Chicago Nobel Prize winners wrote in to say "Hooray!" but massive numbers of readers (and even a few friends!) wrote in to say I was "naive" to think love and sex could be studied scientifically, or to say: "If she can't even manage her own love life how can she advise other people what to do?" and to present their academic or clinical view. I lost the "election:" Proxmire 87.5%, me 12.5%.
Even my mother's bishop got into it:
Dear Faithful in Christ:
Years later, in the 1990s when Hawaii began to debate the question of same-sex marriage, I provided testimony in support of such marriages. Now I wasn't surprised at the telephone calls and bagloads of letters I received -- including from the UH President's office. This time, however, I saved all the letters. This time I used all the letters in a novel I was writing: rosie@hawaii.edu. rosie@ is the story of a young Sexual Science researcher who finds herself taken up as the bete noir of the Religious Right (it will be published by Sterling House in 2000). I'm sure that then I'll receive many more "love letters!"
The point? My suspicion is, that in psychology as in life, the prerequisites for "success" are not talent but enthusiasm and endurance. That -- and a large dose of self-mocking humor. A thick skin might also help. The rewards of a successful career must be intrinsic: the pleasure of saying what you can't help saying and doing what you can't help doing. If one casts one's fate to the adulation of colleagues or the crowds,well then -- good luck.
Warmest Regards,
Elaine Hatfield, Ph.D.
Email: elaineh1@aol.com
Report from Ira L. Reiss, Chair of the Task Force for Sexual Science
At the 1998 Joint Meeting of SSSS/ AASECT the Boards of both organizations authorized the formation of a task force to promote the establishment of a degree program in sexual science at one or more of our major universities. Ira Reiss agreed to chair the task force and in May of 1999 several members of the task force (Stephanie Sanders, William Yarber, Frank Farley, John DeLamater and Ira Reiss) met at the Kinsey Institute to discuss the possible development of a PhD program at Indiana University. Reiss, after consultation with the task force and others, had developed an overview of how such a PhD program could be organized. That model stressed several dimensions:
For two days the task force held very detailed discussions of the above PhD program and the other issues related to the possible development of a PhD program in sexual science at Indiana University. It was suggested that such a program be administered by the Kinsey Institute. Reiss also reported on his findings concerning sources for grant funds to possibly pay for faculty and students to come to the summer institutes. The Kinsey Institute invited an Associate Dean of the Graduate School at Indiana University to talk with us about administrative issues that might be involved in a new PhD program in sexual science. Cindy Graham of the psychology department who teaches in te area of sexuality also attended our task force meetings.
John Bancroft, Director of the Kinsey Institute, attended our meeting for several hours. The task force composed a list of a large number of key faculty around the country in sexual science who could serve as a National Advisory Board for consultation on the development of a PhD program in sexual science. It should be clear that our task forceÕs role is to be a catalyst for encouraging the establishment of a degree program. It would have no role in the actual development of such a program. The specifics of any PhD program in sexual science would ultimately be decided upon by the relevant faculty and administration at the University.
John Bancroft and Bill Yarber, chair of the IU Interdepartmental Graduate Committee on Human Sexuality, reported that the Kinsey Institute and the committee is already looking to expand the PhD minor in human sexuality offered at Indiana University. They will - at the same time - explore possibilities for providing summer institutes paving the way for certification programs, combined degrees, and ultimately a PhD in sexual science. This will take time; the first possible time for a summer institute will be 2001.
More will be forthcoming directly from the Kinsey Institute as it moves along in its efforts. Reiss will report further to the Boards of both SSSS and AASECT at the joint meeting in St. Louis, this November.
Robert Francoeur, PhD
The Awards Committee was unanimous in its recommendation that Robert Francoeur receive the Public Service Award. In fact, there was some discussion of naming Dr. Francoeur for the Distinguished Science Award. The general view of the committee was that Francoeur's work in the field better met the criteria for the Public Service Award. In addition to more than 30 years of teaching university students, Francoeur has authored or edited 30 books. Many of these, such as Becoming a Sexual Person (college textbook), Taking Sides (college reader), and the International Encyclopedia of Sexuality (reference book for professionals) were designed to meet the needs of different audiences. Moreover, he has published books, such as Hot and Cool Sex, directed at the general population. He has contributed to 77 books edited by others, covering a dizzying array of topics and audiences. He has served as a visiting professor at 14 universities. He has written more than 120 articles in popular magazines. He has appeared on radio and/or television more than 280 times. He has been an invited speaker more than 250 times, appearing at universities, corporations, government agencies, and even, church groups. Few academics have ever taken the commitment to educate the general public more seriously than Robert Francoeur. And finally, Francoeur has served as the president of SSSS, Eastern Region. He stands as an exemplary model of service to the public and a truly deserving recipient for this award.
1999 SSSS Distinguished Service Award RecipientVern Bullough, PhD, RN
Vern Bullough is the recipient of the 1999 SSSS Distinguished Service Award. A member of the Society since the early 1960s, Vern has been actively involved in the work of the Society, in one way or another, for more than 35 years.
He is a Fellow of the Society, and he has served as a member of or chair of numerous committees and task forces of the Society including the Executive Committee, Publication Committee, Nominations Committee, Awards Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Annual Meeting and Program Committees, and numerous task forces and ad hoc committees. He served as President of the Society for two terms (1981-83), and he served as a member of the Board of Directors at a critical period in the development of SSSS.
Vern's enthusiasm for the work of SSSS might at best be characterized as a kind of missionary zeal for the promotion of sexual science and the discipline of sexology. As a member of SSSS he encouraged the formation and development of the Midcontinent Region, he launched the first major membership development initiative by the Society, and he encouraged diversity among the membership of the Society. He is also the author of a history of SSSS. Vern Bullough is a most deserving and appropriate recipient of this award which recognizes outstanding involvement and service to the Society.
Wired
Sexuality Related Websites of Interest . . .
ThriveOnline: Sexuality
The mission of this site is to promote positive sexual expression and to protect sexual and reproductive health among the general public. It is a subsidiary of Oxygen Media; a new multi-media corporation. The web site is produced by SSSS member and Sexual Science Editor, Erica Neuman. She (I) would love for you to visit and encourages you to share with her your ideas for future web and television programming. The URL is:
http://www.thriveonline.com/sex/
Resource Center for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (ReCAPP)
This site provides practical tools and information on reducing sexual risk-taking behaviors among teens. The URL is:
Social Science Research Council
This web site was designed to inform social scientists and students of social science about the activities of the SSRC. Scholars will find descriptions of fellowship programs, as well as information about SSRC publications. Their URL is:
The North American Menopause Society (NAMS)
The web site of the leading nonprofit scientific organization devoted to promoting understanding of menopause, thereby improving the health of women through mmidlife and beyond. The URL is:
American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy
This website includes information on finding a therapist, resources for practitioners, conference announcements and clinical archives on a variety of therapeutic issues. The URL is:
The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality
DonÕt forget the most important web site of them all: the SSSS home page. Learn more about SSSS; upcoming sexuality conferences; and send to colleagues and students to learn about membership benefits. Our URL is:
Briefly Noted
New Resource Available
From Diapers to Dating: A Parent's Guide
to Raising Sexually Healthy Children,
from Infancy to Adolescence.
By Debra W. Haffner
1999 (May) / $22.95/hard
A leading sexuality educator's warm, practical, step-by-step program for helping parents provide accurate information and communicate their own values to their children. Shows parents how to provide accurate, age-appropriate sexual health information. Published by Newmarket Press; ISBN: 155704385X.
Sex Research in the News
Public Support for Sexuality Education
Reaches Highest Level
A new poll released this summer reveals that an overwhelming majority of Americans support sexuality education that includes abstinence and contraceptive information.
Highlights:
5th Annual Clinical Conference of The World Foundation For Medical Studies in Female Health - A Global Overview in Women's Health, October 14-16, 1999, San Francisco, California. Co-Sponsored by The University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine. Contact: Phone: 415-896-1600 / FAX: 415-896-6177
The 1999 Joint Meeting of the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) and the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) - The Context of Sexuality: The 20th Century, November 3-7, 1999, St. Louis, Missouri. For more information contact a Program Co-Chair: Helen ÒGingerÓ Bush, M.S.W., 1515 N. Federal Hwy Ste 300, Boca Raton, FL 33432, USA. Phone: 561-736-1340 / FAX: 561-737-0756 OR Charlene Muehlenhard, Ph.D., Dept. of Psychology, Univ. of Kansas/426 Fraser Hall, Lawrence, Kansas 66045-2160, USA. Phone: 913-864-4121 / Email: charlene@stat1.cc.ukans.edu
1st International Conference on Sexual Disorders, November 4-5, 1999, London, United Kingdom. Sponsored by the Society for Investigation and Management of Sexual Disorders and Hospital Medicine. Health and Mental Health professionals are encouraged to attend. Contact: Email: ktorun@webster.co.uk
Talking Gender and Sexuality, November 5-6, 1999, Aalborg, Denmark. Contact: Paul McIlvenny, Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies, Kroghstraede 3, Aalborg University, DK-9220 Aalborg, Denmark. Phone: +45-9635-9169 / FAX: +45-9815-7887 / Email: paul@sprog.auc.dk
Annual National Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Parenting and Prevention Conference - Celebrating 20 Years of Work In Adolescent Pregnancy, Parenting and Prevention: Creating Programs for the Future, November 17-20, 1999, Washington, DC, USA. Contact: NOAPPP.. Phone: 202-234-4363
25th Annual Meeting of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR), March 2-5, 2000, Santa Rosa, California. The program will consist of current research and clinical presentations related to the evaluation and treatment of sexual disorders and sexual response, incorporating psychological, medical and interpersonal approaches. Contact: Cassandra Larkins, ACOG Specialty Society Services, 409 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC, USA 20024-2188, USA. Phone: 202-863-1648 / Email: clarkins@acog.org