Sexual Science
The Newsletter of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality
Winter 2000
Volume 41 - Issue 1
From the President
HOW DO WE MOVE INTO THE NEXT CENTURY?
Sitting down to write the President's column for the first newsletter of the year 2000 turned my thoughts to ways in which SSSS is moving and should move into the new century. The list of possible strategies is so extensive and multifaceted that it would probably take the whole newsletter and more to describe all of them. Given space limitations, let me settle for now on highlighting three initiatives that are especially important to us. More ideas will follow in subsequent issues.
Raising up the Next Generation of Sexual Scientists
A number of observers have noted the graying of our membership. The cohort of scientists who were turned on to sex research in the 1960s and 1970s is retiring or will contemplate doing so in the next 10 to 15 years. At the same time, we do not seem to be replacing ourselves at an equal rate. Young sexual scientists are entering the field, but not in sufficient numbers. If the current pattern continues, the consequences could be serious, including fewer advances in sexual science, fewer people with the training to teach college-level sexuality courses, and fewer persons with appropriate training in sex therapy.
We must turn the tide. President-elect Mike Ross and I agree that a major initiative of the Society over the next several years must be to ensure the raising up of the next generation of sexual scientists. Fortunately, efforts are already underway. A Task Force on Sexual Science, ably chaired by Ira Reiss for several years and now chaired by John DeLamater, is moving forward and appears to be obtaining some results (see article on Interim Report of the Task Force on Sexual Science, page 4).
Those who are not involved in graduate education but do teach undergraduates can contribute to this effort as well, by alerting students to the possibility of a career in sexual science and by guiding them into available programs. We have some fine ones now and, within a few years, should have some new ones that will dazzle!
Membership: Reaching out to Those in Related Fields
In response to declining membership and a belief that the membership of SSSS needs to be increased and revitalized, the Board of Directors voted to undertake a major membership campaign in 2000. Letters are being mailed to approximately 10,000 professionals from well-targeted lists from other professional organizations, including the National Council on Family Relations (sections on family therapy, family and health, family science), the Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR), the American Psychological Association (divisions on psychology of women, psychology of men and masculinity, and gay and lesbian issues), and the Canadian Sex Research Forum. Recipients will have the opportunity to activate a one-year guest membership in the Society for 2000. We trust that the benefits and services we provide -- including our annual meeting, regional meetings, continuing education, and The Journal of Sex Research -- will be so satisfying to guest members that they will want to continue as regular members in years to come.
Working Cooperatively with Other Sexuality-related Organizations
At the same time, we must reach out to other related sexuality organizations, including AASECT, SSTAR, SIECUS, and the Canadian Sex Research Forum. We must work cooperatively. I especially encourage you to attend the annual meeting of the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT), to be held in Atlanta, Georgia, May 12-14, of this year.
Janet Shibley Hyde
Email: JSHyde@facstaff.wisc.edu
The Board of Directors was saddened to receive the letter of resignation from Howard Ruppel, Ph.D., reprinted below. We accepted the resignation with regret, but at the same time we began planning a way to honor Howard at the Nov. SSSS meeting. We have also begun a search for his replacement. Howard has been a mainstay of The Society for nearly as long as anyone can remember. He promises to continue his contributions, only in a different way.
From the Desk of Howard J. Ruppel, Jr., Ed.D., Ph.D.
I have decided to resign from my position as Executive Director of The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality effective April 15, 2000 -- which will be the twelfth anniversary of my tenure as Executive Director.
I have enjoyed my 19-year affiliation with the Society's Board of Directors. During this time the Society has grown and it has expanded its publications, membership services, annual meetings and regional conferences, and developed a reserve fund in excess of 70 thousand dollars. I am happy and pleased to have been able to help facilitate these accomplishments.
The time has come for me to move on to new challenges. My future efforts will be directed toward building and developing the discipline of sexology through professional education, research, and public policy initiatives.
During the past six weeks the SSSS membership database has transferred to "GOLDMINE," a Windows driven system. The 1999 Membership Directory has been mailed, the 1998-99 audit has been completed, all year end financial reports have been filed with the appropriate governing authorities, the "2000 SSSS Membership Campaign" is underway, and the day-to-day activities of the Society continue to be addressed by the SSSS office staff. The office staff and I stand ready to work with the leadership of the Society to assure that the transition of the Society office to the next Director is smooth and trouble free.
I am pleased to extend my best wishes to SSSS for a successful and bright future. I look forward to continued involvement in the work of the Society ... in new and different ways!
Cordially, Howard J. Ruppel, Jr., Ed.D., Ph.D., Executive Director
At the 1996 annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, an Open Forum was held to discuss ÒTraining the Next Generation.Ó Participants identified the need for programs to train the next generation of scholars/researchers in this field as critical. At the 1998 joint meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and the American Association of Sex Educators, Counsellors and Therapists, a Symposium addressed the question ÒHow to Proceed?Ó At that joint meeting, the Boards of both organizations authorized the formation of a Task Force to promote the development of post baccalaureate educational opportunities in sexual science/human sexuality at one or more major universities.
The preparation of persons for careers in teaching, research, and therapy in the field of human sexuality has never been a priority of educational institutions in the United States. Primarily as a result of individual interests, researchers and scholars trained in disciplines such as biology, psychology, sociology, medicine, psychiatry and law turned their attention to issues of human sexuality in the 1950s and 1960s. This Òsecond generationÓ has created the discipline of sexual science, broadly defined. Its members have founded scientific societies and professional associations, such as the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (organized in 1957), the American Association of Sex Educators, Counsellors and Therapists (1967), and the International Academy of Sex Research (1974). They founded scientific journals, including The Journal of Sex Research, The Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, and Archives of Sexual Behavior. Their efforts have created a body of theory, research methods and principles of professional practice that delineate a distinctive field.
Like all disciplines, the continued existence and growth of this field depend on the training of the next generation in basic theory and research. In various discussions since 1996, more and more experts have come to the conclusion that the recruitment and training of the "next generation" is not occurring. One compendium, Educational Opportunities in Human Sexuality: A Sourcebook (5e, 1999) lists only two programs that provide doctoral education, The Institute for Advanced Study in San Francisco, CA, and the program in Health Education at New York University. Only five institutions offer Master's degrees, two in the area of family and two in the area of counseling/education. None of these programs focus specifically on research. The lack of such training becomes more critical as many founders of the discipline retire. This crisis is reflected in part in membership declines being experienced by professional organizations.
In this context, this Task Force was established in November 1998. Our goal is to encourage the development of at least one nationally accredited, multidisciplinary PhD program, with an emphasis on the priority of the scientific approach for the understanding of human sexuality. The program should involve faculty who are experts in the key disciplines, including sociology, psychology, biology, anthropology, and education. A major obstacle to the development of such programs is that no single university in the United States has faculty in each of these disciplines engaged in the study of human sexuality.
There are basically two ways to provide an education with sufficient breadth of participating faculty. One is to establish a program in one institution with a core of relevant faculty, and supplement via summer institutes and visiting faculty. Our initial efforts, under the able leadership of Ira Reiss, were focussed on this model. An obvious potential site for graduate education in sexual science is the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University. Following a conference call and other preliminaries, five members of the Task Force (Ira Reiss, Frank Farley, Stephanie Sanders, Bill Yarber, and John DeLamater) met with Kinsey Institute Director John Bancroft, and Professor Cindi Graham on May 24-25, 1999. At the end of the meeting, John Bancroft affirmed that the Institute will seek to establish a PhD program in Sexual Science at Indiana University. The faculty at Indiana, who represent several disciplines, will be supplemented by holding a summer institute that will be staffed by nationally known visitors. The Institute plans to proceed in two steps. First, it will rejuvenate and become the key administrative unit for the graduate minor in Human Sexuality, a 15-credit program for resident doctoral students. Much of the administrative work needed to accomplish this goal has been done. The Institute is preparing a grant application to secure funds for a summer institute in 2001. Second, once this program is in place, and assuming sufficient demand, it will be expanded into a PhD Program in Sexual Science.
The Task Force met via conference call on October 6, 1999, followed by a meeting during the 1999 joint meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and the American Association of Sex Educators, Counsellors and Therapists, on November 6. We reviewed our work during the first year and agreed that we wanted to continue our efforts to establish educational programs. The Kinsey Institute program will offer degrees in Sexual Science. We believe there is also a need for programs that lead to degrees in traditional disciplines, that is, programs that provide training in sexuality as part of the work toward a PhD in psychology, sociology, etc. At the meeting on November 6, John DeLamater became Chair of the Task Force and we agreed to pursue this goal. An alternative model for organizing comprehensive graduate education involving nationally known faculty is to identify a group of schools which collectively have the necessary quality and breadth of resources. Current efforts are focussed on developing a cooperative program involving several universities, the University of Chicago, the University of Minnesota, the Medical College of Wisconsin, and the University of Wisconsin. John DeLamater has talked with four faculty at Chicago: Edward O. Laumann (Sociology), Martha McClintock (Psychology), Robert Michael (Public Policy) and Linda Waite (Sociology/Demography). All have expressed a willingness to participate by providing access to courses they teach and opportunities for research. At the Medical College of Wisconsin, Jeffrey Kelly (Psychiatry and Behavioural Medicine) is willing to provide research training and experience with intervention programs targeting sexual behaviour. At the University of Minnesota, Eli Coleman (Family Practice and Community Health) can provide training in clinical research in the Human Sexuality Program. At the University of Wisconsin, Janet Hyde (Psychology) and John DeLamater (Sociology) will be the participants. Access to these resources for graduate students is facilitated by the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (Big Ten plus Chicago) Visiting Scholars program. This program allows a graduate student at any CIC member university to take courses or work in residence at any other CIC campus for full academic credit at his/her home institution, for two semesters. Thus, students pursuing a PhD in Psychology at Chicago can study at, for example, Wisconsin for one year. CIC officials are encouraging programs such as the one envisioned here. A document describing the program is being drafted.
The Task Force on Sexual Science is pleased to see the progress being made in the development of the Program in Sexual Science at the Kinsey Institute, and looks forward to the creation of the CMW (Chicago, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) Consortium Program.
Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award
This award was developed to honor a professional for outstanding scientific contributions to the field of sexology, including such activities as, educational programs, publishing research or developing new medical practices. The award honors those whose careers reflect a continuing contribution to sexual science. Nominees need not be members of The Society. To nominate an individual, send the nominee's CV and a paragraph explaining why they should receive the award to the Awards Committee Chair listed below.
Distinguished Service to The Society Award
This award is presented to a member of The Society for outstanding and extensive service to The Society. Examples of such service include, extensive participation on committees, the holding of positions or offices, and the developing of new local regions or chapters. Two letters of nomination by members of The Society are required and should be sent to the Awards Committee Chair.
Public Service Award
The Public Service Award is presented to individuals whose service has had a major impact on The Society in general. Such service includes: outstanding achievement or major impact in such arenas as public awareness of sexual issues, political advocacy, professional practice by educators, therapists or health specialists or public policy formation. Two letters of nomination by members of The Society should be sent to:
Awards Nomination Chair
c/o SSSS
P.O. Box 416
Allentown, PA 18105-0416 U.S.A.
Fellows Program
The SSSS Fellows Program honors members of The Society who have made unusual and outstanding contributions to the scientific study of sexuality. Nominees mustt have been a SSSS member for three years, have five years of professional experience in sexual science since earning their advanced degree, and must be actively engaged in the advancement of the scientific study of sexuality. For a list of application materials see the SSSS website (www.SexScience.org) or contact the Fellows Program Chair:
Bill Fisher, Chair
Email: fisher@julian.uwo.ca
SSSS Officers
The Nominating Committee is soliciting nominees for SSSS office. The Nominating Committee will collect solicited names and make recommendations to the Board of Directors for approval. Suggestions for office should be sent to:
Elaine Hatfield
Email: elaineh1@aol.com
SSSS Regional Officers
Send nominations for regional office to the various regional nomination chairs:
Eastern Region:
Elizabeth M. Casparian
Email: tcasparian@earthlink.net
Western Region:
Janis Epp
Email: drjanice@aol.com
Midcontinent Region:
Terri Fisher
Email: fisher.16@osu.edu
Wired
Sexuality Related Websites of Interest . . .
Foundation for the Scientific Study of Sexuality
The Foundation (FSSS) now has a home on the World Wide Web:
American Society for Reproductive Medicine
ASRM seeks to inform the public about infertility and assisted reproductive technologies. The Society has a number of publications, including the monthly journal, Fertility and Sterility. The URL:
Briefly Noted
New Resource Available
Women's Sexualities:
Generations of Women Share
Intimate Secrets of Sexual Self-Acceptance
By Carol Rinkleib Ellison, Ph.D.
2000 (March) / $15.95 US
New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
ISBN: 1-57224-196-9
"Carol Ellison lights the way towards a new model of women's sexuality. Her insight, compassion, and broad experience are finally available to a wide audience. Every woman, whatever her situation, will learn something of lasting value from this book. I strongly recommend it both to patients and colleagues."
--Leanore Tiefer, Ph.D., author, Sex is Not a Natural Act
Educational Opportunity
Syracuse University is offering ÒHuman Sexuality in EuropeÓ June 17 - July 13, 2000. Travel from London to Amsterdam to Stockholm to meet and learn from various authorities in the field of human sexuality and learn how these countries deal with teen pregnancy, contraception, abortion, sexuality education, AIDS, homosexuality, prostitution and pornography. Six credits are also available for graduate and undergraduate students. For an application contact:
DIPA/Syracuse University
119 Euclid Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13244
Ph. 315-443-9420 / 1-800-251-9674
Email: DIPAsum@summail.syr.edu
Webpage: http://sumweb.syr.edu/dipa/summer
Application Deadline: March 15, 2000
Contraceptive Technology, March 29 - April 1, 2000. San Francisco, California. Contact: Contemporary Forums, 11900 Silvergate Dr., Dublin, California 94568 USA. Phone: 925-828-7100 / Email: hlth@cforums.com
SSSS Western Region Annual Conference: The Prism of Eroticism -- Passion, Art, Threapy, Science, April 6 - 9, 2000, San Diego, California USA. Contact: Mary Bontorin, 9408 Twin Trails Dr. #104, San Diego, CA 92129. Phone: 619-484-2535. Email: MaryBcats@aol.com / Website: http://www.sssswr.org/
SSSS Twenty-Third Eastern Region Annual Conference: Speaking of Sex: Sexuality over the Lifespan, April 14 - 16, 2000, Philadelphia Airport Marriot, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Contact a Conference Co-Chair: James C. Achtzehn, Ph.D. Phone: 301-322-9164 / FAX: 301-322-3313 / Email address: ssss_jim18@yahoo.com OR Marcy Vogel, Ph.D., R.N. PH 610-262-8618 / FAX 610-261-3551 / Email: vogel@ot.com
The Annual National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity Conference: Turning Sexual Tragedy to Triumph, May 4 - 6, 2000. Sheraton Colony Hotel, Alanta, Georgia. For more information: Email: ncsac@mindspring.com / Webpage: http://ncsac.org/conference_2000/conf_intro.htm
Fourth International Congress on Crossdressing, Sex and Gender Issues: Gender Variance -- Beyond 2000, May 4 - 7, 2000. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Contact: Congress, c/o Renaissance, 987 Old Eagle School Road, Ste. 719, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087 USA. Phone: 610-975-9119 / Email: congress@ren.org / Webpage: http://www.ren.org/4thCongress.html
AASECT Thirty-Second Annual Conference: Sexuality and the Millennium: Integrating Tradition, Technique and Technology, May 10 - 14, 2000, OMNI Hotel at CNN Center, Atlanta, Georgia. Contact a Conference Co-Chair: Helen "Ginger" Bush, M.S.W., Phone: 561-736-1340 / FAX: 561-737-0756 OR James Huggins, Ph.D., Phone: 412-441-9786 ext. 223 / FAX: 412-661-0603 / Email: JAMESHUG@aol.com
SSSS Midcontinent Region Annual Conference: What is Sex?, May 19-21, 2000, Little Rock, Arkansas. Contact a Program Chair: Michael Young, Ph.D., Program in Health Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701 USA. Email: meyoung@comp.uark.edu OR Molly Laflin, Ph.D., School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43402 USA. Email: mlaflin@BGNET.BGSU.EDU
Annual Guelph Conference and Training Institute on Sexuality, June 19 - 21, 2000. Guelph, Ontario, Canada. A Sexual Attitudes Reassessment workshop is offered June 17-18, and an Intensive Sex Therapy Training Institute June 12-18. Contact: University of Guelph. Phone: 519-824-4120, ext. 3412 / Email: kmaki@open.uoguelph.ca / Webpage: www.open.uoguelph.ca/sexconf/
26th Annual Meeting of the International Academy of Sex Research, June 21 - 24, 2000. Paris, France. Contact: Ken Zucker (Secretary-Treasurer, International Academy of Sex Research), Child Psychiatry Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health--Clark Division, 250 College St., Toronto, Ontario M5T 1R8, Canada. Phone: 416-535-8501, ext. 4040 / FAX: 416/979-4668 / Email: Ken_Zucker@camh.net
The 42nd Annual Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality: Sexual Science: Interdisciplinary Synergy, November 9-12, 2000, Orlando, Florida. For more information contact a Program Chair: Charlene Muehlenhard, Ph.D., Dept. of Psychology, University of Kansas/426 Fraser Hall, Lawrence, Kansas 66045-2160, USA. Phone: 913-864-4121 / Email: charlene@stat1.cc.ukans.edu
XV World Congress of Sexology: Back to the Future: Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Educational Progress in Sexology, June 24-28, 2001, Paris, France. For program and registration information contact: Scientific Secretariat: Parisexo, 17 Rue de Seine, 92100 Boulogne, France. Phone: 33-(0)-1-49-10-09-10 / FAX: 33-(0)-1-49-10-00-56 / Email: parisexo@regimedia.fr / Website: http://www.parisexo-2001.com