Hannibal Lecter (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sharp_man) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2024-09-09 11:55 am
sharp_man) wrote in fandomhigh2024-09-09 11:55 am
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Sex and Sexuality, Monday 3rd period
"Today," Hannibal began, "we'll be starting with some of what sex and sexuality are. It is a varied and complex topic which could occupy the entire semester and still be argued about."
And despite the instructors' attitude toward each other, they were not actually here for arguments.
"We'll mostly be talking about modern Western concepts of it," Jon put in. "Because honestly, that's what we're most qualified to speak about. It doesn't mean other concepts are any less valid. We'll try to expose you to them, too, but it's all a bit...well, a bit fraught. More than the whole thing in general, even, because then you get into questions of colonization and appropriation and what the concepts actually mean, and -"
"And that's a topic for another day," Hannibal interrupted smoothly. Jon scowled at him, but allowed it. "Today, we will simply be defining some terms. It's useful when discussing anything to ensure that everybody using the same words means the same things. Modern Western civilization tends to see sex, gender, and sexuality in terms of binaries, although we are slowly coming around to the idea that everything exists upon a spectrum."
"Or even a...a sort of cloud of meaning," Jon interrupted in turn. "Any number of features in various degrees can make up someone's identity. But, um. So just keep that in mind."
"So, to clarify our terms," Hannibal said, "Sex refers to two things - on the one hand, the physiological differences between what this society calls male and female. Sex characteristics such as genitals, fat distribution, and so forth. On the other hand, it also refers to the act of intercourse. We'll be discussing both at different times. Gender can often be associated with sex, but does not have to be. It refers to social and cultural distinctions. The roles we assume and the identity we perform. In tradition over the last few centuries in the west, genders have been assigned based on sex, but they are not the same thing."
"And sexuality is something else entirely," Jon broke in again. "That's the idea of who you're attracted to sexually and romantically. There honestly should probably be an entirely separate section for romanticality, but they sort of get lumped together. So whether you're attracted to people of your sex and gender, other genders, no genders, or all or none of the above. Whether you want to sleep with them or be romantic with them, that all falls under sexuality."
"We'll go into more specifics later," Jon said, "but are there any questions so far, or can we just get onto the debates?"
And despite the instructors' attitude toward each other, they were not actually here for arguments.
"We'll mostly be talking about modern Western concepts of it," Jon put in. "Because honestly, that's what we're most qualified to speak about. It doesn't mean other concepts are any less valid. We'll try to expose you to them, too, but it's all a bit...well, a bit fraught. More than the whole thing in general, even, because then you get into questions of colonization and appropriation and what the concepts actually mean, and -"
"And that's a topic for another day," Hannibal interrupted smoothly. Jon scowled at him, but allowed it. "Today, we will simply be defining some terms. It's useful when discussing anything to ensure that everybody using the same words means the same things. Modern Western civilization tends to see sex, gender, and sexuality in terms of binaries, although we are slowly coming around to the idea that everything exists upon a spectrum."
"Or even a...a sort of cloud of meaning," Jon interrupted in turn. "Any number of features in various degrees can make up someone's identity. But, um. So just keep that in mind."
"So, to clarify our terms," Hannibal said, "Sex refers to two things - on the one hand, the physiological differences between what this society calls male and female. Sex characteristics such as genitals, fat distribution, and so forth. On the other hand, it also refers to the act of intercourse. We'll be discussing both at different times. Gender can often be associated with sex, but does not have to be. It refers to social and cultural distinctions. The roles we assume and the identity we perform. In tradition over the last few centuries in the west, genders have been assigned based on sex, but they are not the same thing."
"And sexuality is something else entirely," Jon broke in again. "That's the idea of who you're attracted to sexually and romantically. There honestly should probably be an entirely separate section for romanticality, but they sort of get lumped together. So whether you're attracted to people of your sex and gender, other genders, no genders, or all or none of the above. Whether you want to sleep with them or be romantic with them, that all falls under sexuality."
"We'll go into more specifics later," Jon said, "but are there any questions so far, or can we just get onto the debates?"