Isadora Alman, askisadora@aol.com
Sexuality Forum: www.askisadora.com
    Users of an online Sexuality Forum are perennially interested in certain topics which come up again and again and almost always provoke long and heated discussions.  Some examples are: monogamy vs. open relationships, finding a partner, the other sex's true feelings about any number of things like who pays on dates to preferences in body shape, and the all time  list toppers - penis size and cybersex.

Daniel J. Alonzo, M.A., M.F.T., dalonzo@pgi.edu
Dancing in the autumn light: Gay men, sexuality, and the mid-life transition
    Middle-aged gay men, the first post-Stonewall generation, created a celebratory “dance” focused on masculinity and sexual excitement.  Trying to keep up with this dance is exhausting, but letting go of the dance can feel worrisome and depressing.  How do aging gay males come to terms with AIDS-related losses, fewer dating opportunities, and the loss of sexual pioneering while also being invisible to a younger generation not appreciative of their trail blazing efforts?  Many clients in therapists’ offices deal with isolation and depression, leading to a further splitting of sex from intimacy and resulting in a divorce from the partnership with one’s body.  This presentation examines a model to assess a gay male client’s adaptation to age and a changing sexuality.  The presentation also suggests several directions that clinicians may follow to help clients construct a new sexual life that is both satisfying and developmentally appropriate.

Michele Angello, Ph.D., Susan Kaye, Ph.D., William R. Stayton, Ph.D., Th.D., mmangello@yahoo.com
Sexuality, spirituality and body work
    We are sexual in all the dimensions of life, that is, in our relationships with our self, others, the things in our life, and with our spiritual* connection, however, one describes what is outside of their physical self that gives them meaning. This workshop is one model of a team effort to help clients to integrate their sexuality and sexual behavior with their spirituality or search for meaning.  Occasionally clients come in and it becomes apparent that there’s a spiritual void that no amount of talk therapy can fill.  This team integrates other therapeutic modalities, such as bodywork and yoga, as supplementary therapy. Through the use of film, lecture, experiential exercises, and discussion participants will experience and understand the model used by this team.
*SPIRITUALITY is defined here as a sense of connectedness with self, and for some with a Higher Power or Creator.
Learning objectives:
In this workshop participants will:
1. Identify the various dimensions of their relationships and how these dimensions relate to their spirituality;
2. Learn about various therapeutic modalities for increasing the quality of their relationships; and
3. Discover their own depth of understanding about themselves and their spirituality.
Assessment:
1. What are the dimensions of a person’s relationship?
2. How does bodywork help a person to access their quest for meaning?
3. How does yoga open up the spiritual dimension of life?

Linda Banner, Ph.D.  llbanner@earthlink.net
Imaging the brain during sexual arousal -- Two perspectives
    Despite the brain's central role in sexual function, little is known about relationships between brain activation and sexual response. I am part of a team that employed functional MRI (fMRI) to examine relationships between brain activation and sexual arousal in a group of young, healthy, heterosexual males. Each subject was exposed to videos of erotic, relaxing, and sports segments. Data on penile turgidity was collected using a custom-built pneumatic pressure cuff. Strong activations specifically associated with penile turgidity were observed in several clearly delineated parts of the brain. Smaller, but significant activation was observed in the right hypothalamus. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of examining brain activation/sexual response relationships in an fMRI environment and reveals a number of brain structures whose activation is time-locked to sexual arousal.
Learning objectives: To understand more about the relationships between brain activation and sexual response.
Assessment: Name one way in which sexual response is demonstrably linked with brain activation.

Vern Bullough, Ph.D., R.N., vbullough@adelphia.net
An historical overview of the age of consent from the Greeks to the Twenty First Century U.S.
    What constitutes the age of consent has in recent years become a matter of some debate. An overview of the age of consent from the ancients to twenty first century America indicates that legally it ranged form 12 to 14 years. Court cases, however, indicate it could have been as young as nine. It began to increase in the late nineteenth century, a rise that continued during the twentieth century to reach sixteen years in Europe and elsewhere. Still some states such as the Vatican have kept it at 12 while others, including some U.S. states, retain 14. This twentieth century change in age of consent has implications for therapists involved in child sexual abuse, which are discussed in the paper
Learning Objective:
To set the current discussion over the age of consent in its historical background.
Assessment:
Give at least two possible explanations for the reluctance of many to accept the younger ages of consent in the past

Carol Cassell Ph.D., coc6@cdc.gov
Mature sexuality: Not an oxymoron.
     What are the sexual physical and emotional changes as we age from “baby boomer” to "middle- age" to "senior" status? This prevention reviews and synthesizes 4 major surveys about the sexuality of  "mature" Americas (ages 45-80): The Association of Reproductive Health Professions (ARHP) 1999; Harris Interactive/PRIME PLUS/Red Hot Mamas (HI/PP) 1999; National Council on Aging (NOCA) 1998; and the American Association of Retired Person's (AARP) 1999.  Topics include understanding ”who is doing what,” e.g. sexual activities-- from kissing to a ‘night of passion’ to sexual thoughts and desires. In addition, we discuss sexual differences between men and women over time and what contributes to sexual satisfaction.
    Recommendations are given for the improvement of providers’ ability to identify and respond to issues of sexuality among middle-age and older adults.
Learning Objective: To understand the sexual experiences of men and women ages 45-80.
Assessment: Identify two major findings related to the sexual activities of men and women ages 45- 80.

Michael Castleman, M.A., michael@mcastleman.com
Penis size: Sex educators lose important educational opportunities by saying “it doesn’t matter”
    When sex educators say, “Size doesn’t matter,” we alienate men who are obsessed with this issue, and squander an opportunity to present important sex information. Sex educators can provide a valuable service by telling men the science behind penis size, and sharing the healthful approaches that make penises as large as they can naturally be, approaches that optimize blood flow into the organ, including: not smoking, eating a low-fat diet, and managing stress (including anxiety about penis size).  This workshop also presents a detailed critique of the surgical approaches, weights, and other nostrums touted on the Internet for penis enlargement. Once sex educators present the “secrets” of penis size, then men are ready to listen to other message sex-educators hope to communicate, for example, that size doesn’t matter to the vast majority of women, and that intercourse is not the key to most women’s sexual satisfaction

Joe Catania, Ph.D., Janet Lever, Ph.D., Charles Moser, M.D., David Weis, Ph.D.
Methodological issues in sexological research
    Each member of the panel is a successful sex researcher with many funded projects and published results. Panelists will first address a group of questions about sex research: What are the typical methodological stumbling blocks? How can we design research to elicit the most accurate results about sexuality? How can researchers deal with the media's presentation (and distortion) of their work? How can meaningful research be done without enormous grants and institutional backing?
    There will also be a Q/A period.
Learning objective: to understand the advantages and limitations of various sex research methodologies
Assessment: name one advantage and one disadvantage of a common sex research methodology.

Will Doherty, M.B.A., wild@eff.org
Sex and the Internet: What’s happening? What can we expect next?
    This presentation focuses on challenges to free expression of sexuality on the Internet, including "filtering" requirements for schools, safe-sex links removed from government sites, and other online censorship.
    Exploring the virtual terrain of sexuality resources, the presentation covers both how diverse communities of people have sex online and how people communicate about sexuality online, including recent Internet legislation and legal challenges related to free speech, privacy, and sexuality.
    The session discusses unfair bias, discrimination, and defamation related to sexual content and communities online and assesses online service providers' treatment of sexual content and communities, along with strategies for strengthening civil liberties to ensure the full expression of sexual information.
Learning Objective: To understand challenges to free expression on the internet
Assessment: Name three challenges to free expression on the internet

Dossie Easton, M.A.  mzdossie@earthlink.net
Shadowplay:  a Jungian approach to understanding S/M
          This workshop will present a comprehensive psychodynamic theory of S/M that can be used to inform and guide therapy with clients whose lifestyle involves sadomasochism, dominance and submission, sexual fetishes, and eroticised role-playing.
        Participants will learn about the realities of S/M play, and how to determine physical and emotional safety, look for the narrative in S/M fantasies, explore the meaning of preferred roles, and to understand as well as accept their S/M clients. How do people create physical and psychological containers for these experiences?  How much containment is possible?  What about the boundary between fantasy and reality? We will examine why many healthy people are drawn to these practices.
        We will use a theoretical perspective based on the notion that we can reclaim parts of ourselves that have been lost or banished to the Shadow by eroticizing them, so that the S/M interaction becomes a sort of sexual psychodrama. Thus, desires for an S/M sexuality might actually be based on a healthy drive toward integration. Implications of specific kinds of role-playing will be discussed, including playing out family roles, regression play, and so on.

Fredelina Legarde Espedilla, M.D.  fredelyne@yahoo.com
The real sexual issues of men in their 40s and above
    Is there sex after 40? This is the phase of life that something is changing in almost all aspects of the human body physically and psychologically. What is really SEXUAL life then after 40?
    As one advances through age, it is inevitable that many conditions and diseases are beginning to appear in their bodies and these would start affecting this new phase in their life – and their sexual life, leading to their sexual issues.  But what are their real sexual issues? Is it related to their bodies, their body images, their conditions, their attitudes, or much more than that? By knowing their most common sexual problems, and possibly their root causes, we will be able to focus on managing these concerns using sexology and sexual medicine.
    The focus of my study is on approximately 200 men or more, 40 and above in all walks of life. I wanted to know their present real sexual issues. I wanted to know if the situations today are changing and all the other factors around them and with them that could have been related to their present sexual issues.

Maria Yepiz Flaherty  Ph.D.  maria_flaherty@hotmail.com
eSexual Health Education and Research in the Hispanic community
    The media and internet offer the opportunity to communicate faster, more widely and more directly with the public. www.doctoramaria has allowed the delivery of sexual health information to populations that are underserved in this country and in 24 other Spanish speaking countries, where sexual health care may not be readily accessible or where beliefs and attitudes prevent individuals from openly seeking information in more direct ways.  We will discuss the demographics of the audience, the concerns, sexual beliefs, attitudes and points of view express in the Hispanic community.  A qualitative analysis of the questions asked will be reviewed and research designed and collected through the internet presented. Reservations, conclusions and implications media and internet sex education will be discussed.
Learning Objective: To gain better understanding of the sex education needs of the Hispanic community.
Learning Assessment: List two important features of the sex education needs of the Hispanic community.

Roe Gallo, M.A.   roe@roegallo.com
The mind, body image and the relationship to sexual pleasure
    How much is sexual pleasure tied into body image? How many people will not take off their clothes, in the presence of their lover, when the lights are on?  How many people, because of a poor body image, refuse to participate in sex?  Or, participate in sexual activities, with restriction, and do not fully enjoy having sex?
    It seems that whether a person is fat or thin or ugly or beautiful has nothing to do with their body image.  The mind controls our concept of self and it appears that it is the mind that is controlling our sexual pleasure.
    How do we change our body image?  Changing the concept of self is not an easy task. We’ll look at three ways to change body image while enhancing sexual pleasure.

Christine Glover, M.A., clglover@midway.uchicago.edu
What women want: The role of the social environment on romantic partner preferences
    This study investigates the influence of social support on women’s expectations about their romantic partners.  Predictions derived from attachment theory (AT) and evolutionary psychology (EP) are tested.  AT predicts that women with greater social support are more likely to desire long-term partners who invest heavily in their marital relationship and child rearing than are women with lower social support.  In contrast, EP predicts that women with greater social support are less likely to desire resources, particularly parental care, from their partners, and these women are more willing to accept short-term relationships with attractive men who only provide ‘good genes’ than are women with lower social support.  Survey data from 130 women ages 22 to 47 is examined.  The survey explores various areas in women’s lives, which enables a comparison between the predictions from both EP and AT.  Of particular interest are developmental variables which are rarely investigated by researchers in these fields.

Jamison Green, M.F.A.   jamisong@earthlink.net
Sexual function, desire, and orientation in transsexual people
    Even after nearly a decade of increasingly visible transsexual activism and research, misapprehension and misunderstanding of transsexual experience still proliferates in society at large.  This presentation discusses transsexual experience as it is lived by both men and women, comparing it to the myths and assumptions about the sexual orientation, desire, and sexual functioning of pre-and post-operative transsexual bodies.  This presentation is based on experiential analysis, not on quantitative research.  Suggestions for research will be offered and time will be reserved for discussion and questions.

Jon Harvey, Ph.D., jon_psyche@hotmail.com
Attitudes of the general population toward transsexuals
    A scale was designed by the author to assess attitudes of the general population toward transsexuals.  The questionnaire was designed utilizing 1) a thorough search of  all literature on transsexualism, 2) a comprehensive search of scales previously done on the attitudes towards transsexuals, and 3) a focus group comprising transsexuals, both pre-operative and post-operative, was conducted.
    The study revealed that, overall, females were more accepting of transsexuals than males. In all cases there was no significant difference in attitude between younger and older people. The study’s findings indicate that, overall, an attitude of acceptance of transsexuals in the general population is prevalent with females being somewhat more accepting than males.
    The presentation of the paper will include a summary account of transsexualism throughout history, as well as a slide presentation of photos of transsexuals as they are represented in a number of varying cultures throughout the world.  The  present study, to the author’s knowledge, is the first to address these questions in a sample of the general population in the United States.

Lawrence E. Hedges, Ph.D.   lhedges@pacbell.net
Sexuality in transference, resistance, and countertransference
    Relational Psychotherapies today recognize sexuality in both erotic and non-erotic forms to be an essential aspect of the intersubjective field in which personal growth and transformation occurs.  Taking a developmental approach to an array of relatedness possibilities from more fundamental to more complex levels of desire and fear, Dr. Hedges will discuss how sex and sexuality are a ubiquitous part of transference, resistance, and countertransference development.  Springboarding from Michel Foucalt’s position that sexuality is inevitably infused and fused with social and interpersonal power and that sex itself is an elusive myth, Dr. Hedges will offer a series of case vignettes that pose questions for our understanding of sexuality in psychotherapy.
Learning Objectives: To learn seven levels of relational desire and fear manifest in transference, resistance, and countertransference.
To learn Michel Foucalt’s basic arguments regarding power and sexuality and the mythological function of sex.
Assessment Question: T or F
1. Psychotic or organizing level transference and countertransference demonstrate how two people can connect—even if in seemingly strange ways.
2. In borderline or symbiotic transference the fear is of abandonment while with psychotic or organizing level transference the fear is connecting.

Jennifer Isham, M.A., NCC, LCPC, CS,  jennifer@thesexcoach.com
Sex coaching
 Coaching is a relatively new profession embraced in growing numbers by individuals, couples, groups and businesses around the world.  Coaches are providing personal and professional development services once reserved for traditionally trained and societally accepted consultants, therapists, doctors, lawyers, mentors, ministers to name just a few.  Sex coaching offers a niche within the larger field of sexology that can provide sexologists with a myriad of professional opportunity.  This workshop will identify and interactively discuss the principles of coaching and how they can be applied and incorporated by sexologists, particularly as they relate to sexological interventions in the treatment of sexual problems.   Attendees will learn how they can develop themselves as sex coaches and include sex coaching within their present professional environment.

Mary Jacobson, M.D.  maryj@stanford.edu
Gynecology for sexologists
 The gynecologist's practice contains a wide variety of sex-related issues. These include fertility and infertility, menarche and menopause, vulvar and pelvic pain, endometriosis and fibroids, sexual desire and satisfaction. How do various body systems (including the endocrine, vascular, and neurological) interact to facilitate or hamper sexual arousal and response? And how do cultural considerations affect sexual function in these areas? This workshop will help participants understand the physical side of female sexual function and dysfunction.
Learning Objectives: To understand the organ systems that together create or block sexual function
To understand how menopause affects women, and how it can be treated
Assessment: Name 2 organ systems and their contribution to sexual function.
Name 2 current treatments for symptoms of menopause.

Doug Kirby, Ph.D.   doug@etr.org
Characteristics of effective sex education and HIV prevention programs
    Educators and policymakers in the U.S. and elsewhere have had decades of experience with both sex education and HIV prevention programs. While there is plenty of emotional debate surrounding the value of various programs, scientific evaluation is often missing or merely given lip service.
    ETR Associates now has several decades of program evaluation experience across the country. In this session I will present data that shows clearly what works, what doesn’t work, and what circumstances seem critical in program implementation. We will also examine the political process that affects the way outcome data is used—and abused.
Learning objective: To understand the characteristics of effective sex education programs
Assessment: Name two characteristics of effective sex education programs.

Marty Klein, Ph.D., mklein@SexEd.org
Ten clinical mistakes I've made
    Experience is what we get when we don't get what we want. As a therapist, much of what I've learned has come from interventions that I thought were appropriate--and observing results that I didn't expect, didn't want, or didn't understand.
    In this presentation I'll talk about ten clinical truths that I've learned the hard way--by making mistakes, sometimes the same one repeatedly. The subjects will include boundaries, transference, the media, humor, and politics--of gender, age, race, and our own profession. I'll also talk about dealing with the mistakes of other therapists--from a patient's past as well as those currently involved in a case.

Michael L Krychman M.D., CM.   Eydeliver@aol.com
Living with cancer: Influences on sexuality and sexual expression
    Sexual function is a crucial facet of the life experience; this human pleasure is tainted when one is diagnosed with a malignancy. After initial therapy and adjunctive therapy, one moves towards a position of survivability and sexual thoughts and feelings may return.  Sexual morbidity following therapy for malignancy is frequently viewed as a concealed health issue.  Patients frequently are hesitant to initiate discussions regarding sexual health and health care workers are often ill equipped to deal with their complex problems. Proper assessment of the unique physical and psychological concerns and the implementation of effective medical and psychological techniques are fundamental to improved quality of life for the patient.
    The presentation will expand upon the dynamic sexual needs of the cancer patient, and their sexual complaints. Case studies will be used to illustrate the complex nature of this special and ever growing patient population. A multidisciplinary methodology for the management of the sexual health for the cancer survivor will be presented.

Peter Lehman, Ph.D.   plehman@imap3.asu.edu
Male Sexual Display in Cinema and Evolutionary Theory
   An interesting fact of human evolution is the dramatic increase in penis size between chimpanzee and human. Many evolutionary theorists argue that walking upright, the founding event in evolved human culture, resulted from males assuming a position that would most display their long penises. We’ll use Oliver Stone’s film "Any Given Sunday" (1999) as a springboard for discussing evolving concepts of masculine display and penis size. These are also reflected in a century of professional and popular medical literature, and cultural and racial stereotyping. In Stone’s film, gender is central to both plot and character interactions. Stone could easily have edited his film so that we did not see genitals.  Instead, like Freud, Mapplethorpe, and evolutionary theorists, Stone is enamored with the male body, penis size, sheer physicality and brute force.

Nava Lerner M.A., Nava@navalerner.com
The sex pyramid: A new tool for adolescent sexuality education
    Inspired by the popular use of the USDA Nutritional Pyramid, the Sex Pyramid offers a concise view into the multi-faceted world of sexual pleasures. The Sex Pyramid is a guideline, rather than a rigid prescription, and it attempts to do away with “shots in the dark” sexual behavior. Like the nutrition pyramid, the Sex Pyramid provides a model that suggests the relative emphasis various sexual activities deserve.  It presents the prerequisites to positive sexuality; it offers a multitude of suggestions for sexual variations. It removes the orgasm-as-goal orientation as the most prized objective in sexual pleasure.   Based on a pilot study and reviews by sex educators, the Sex Pyramid can be adapted to a number of sex education settings with adolescents

Janet Lever, Ph.D.     drjlever@yahoo.com
“Don’t Fish in the Company Pond”: Are Taboos Against Workplace Sex Real or Myth?
    The workplace has already replaced neighborhood, school, and friends as the number one place where people can date and mate.  Because of the convergence of several trends, rates of workplace romance will continue their rise.  Recent surveys confirm that Americans believe that seeking love or sexual pleasure from another coworker—especially a boss-- is risky business.  Yet only an estimated 13% of corporations have any written policies that address consensual sexual relationships, and most Americans agree that no policy is the best policy.
    I designed the Elle/MSNBC.com Office Sex and Romance Survey to learn more about this growing phenomenon, and to see whether dating a colleague really is “like playing with fire.”  31,207 respondents (2/3 male) completed the 44-item survey. One conclusion: workplace romances are more like playing with matches than fire—there may be serious consequences but that’s not a likely outcome.  I also draw from over 7,000 narratives submitted by respondents to illustrate the good, the bad, and the ugly.  We will also discuss the prevalence and seriousness of office flirtations, current office fashion, and whether women are still subject to gossip that they probably are “sleeping their way to the top.”
Learning objective: To understand the dynamics of workplace romance
Assessment: Name two reasons corporations should have policies about workplace romance

Ron Levine, Ph.D.   RLevine216@aol.com
The nature and nurture of sexual desire in human relationships
    The nature and nurture of sexual desire has fascinated humankind since the beginning of time. This presentation will explore some conceptions of sexual desire and how they affect our approaches to patients. A brief look at the Bible will be followed by a discussion and comparison of the ideas of five modern thinkers in this area: Helen Fisher, Otto Kernberg, Marty Klein, Pat Love, and David Schnarch. At the end of this portion, we will dialogue together to arrive at our own conceptions. Using the above information as a theoretical framework, we will then turn our attention to clinical interventions. How do we precisely diagnose lack of sexual desire in our patients? What questions do we ask? What specific solutions do we propose? How do our own personal experiences restrict and/or constrict our clinical communications?
Learning Objectives: To increase understanding of the theoretical framework of sexual desire.
To expand clinical approaches to diagnosing low or no sexual desire
To understand and be able to use a variety of clinical approaches in the treatment of low or no
sexual desire
Assessment: Name three authors and provide a one-sentence summary of each author’s concept of sexual desire.
List three questions you would ask to help you diagnose low or no sexual desire.
Name three clinical approaches to the treatment of low or no sexual desire.

Ron Levine, Ph.D.   RLevine216@aol.com
Religion and the soul of sexuality
    The religious right has commandeered the topic of religion and sexuality. Preaching a  regressive and suppressive message, it totally neglects the positive role that religious belief and practice can have in promoting  healthy sexuality. This discussion will focus on varieties of  religious experience that can positively affect sexual experiences.  We will look at the phenomena of soul, prayer, community and other issues. Andrew Newberg's recent book "Why God Won't Go Away:  Brainscience and the Biology of Belief" will also be discussed. In all, we will explore unorthodox answers to orthodox questions.

Bill Lyon, M.S.     lyon@freespeechcoalition.com
The Courts and Private Sexual Expression
    Over the past few years, there has been a gradual shift toward conservative positions in a number of Federal Court districts.
I will discuss current law and court decisions that provide examples of government intrusion into individual privacy. Examples will include hyper-selective, unconstitutional zoning ordinances, supported by scientifically flawed Secondary Effects studies.
    I will also discuss the recent Ashcroft vs. Free Speech Coalition, known as the “virtual child porn” case. When we won this in the Supreme Court, it was heralded as the most important First Amendment victory in decades. Within weeks of the high court’s decision, the Ashcroft Justice Department introduced new legislation to reinstate all of the over-broad restrictions of the previous law. This time the FSC was able to work with  Congress to develop legislation that would criminalize real child porn while confronting and debunking Ashcroft’s false arguments regarding the participation of the adult entertainment industry in any form of child pornography.
Learning Objective: To understand how the courts attempt to regulate private sexual expression.
Assessment: Name one way in which the courts have recently attempted to regulate private sexual expression.

Carol Marks, M.A.   ronmarks@pacbell.net
Effectively interfacing with other professionals in child abuse investigations
    Often, therapists are asked to interview children for alleged child sexual abuse or provide therapy for them and/or their families.  In both cases, they will inevitably have to interface with other professionals involved in the case. Since it is now widely accepted that there are large numbers of false allegations of sexual abuse, therapists need to have expertise in these matters.
    This presentation will highlight how to properly interview children, how to understand and assess the factors in the case, how to intervene to create the least amount of harm to the child and to the accused, and how to interface with other professionals involved in the case.

Carol Marks, M.A.    ronmarks@pacbell.net
Therapy-induced false memories
    Members of our professional community, in their zeal to help their clients recover what they believe to be long buried memories of childhood sexual abuse, have, instead caused them to create "false memories" of events that never happened. These clients are usually pressured by their therapists, influenced by the literature they are given to read, find comfort, support, and validation from their inclusion in "incest survivor groups, and are encouraged to "adopt a family of choice" and abandon their "families of origin."
    This presentation will examine the therapy, the influences, the current literature, and the severe damage that is done to the patients of RMT, and their families.  It will also examine the iatrogenic disorder of MPD.
    Family members of RMT patients may be included in this presentation. Their compelling stories should enlighten those therapists who are still practicing or believing in recovered memory therapy (RMT).

Ken Maravilla, M.D.  kmarav@u.washington.edu
MRI for Assessing Genital Sexual Arousal in Women
    The evaluation and treatment of sexual arousal disorders in women has been limited by the lack of a simple, objective, quantitative method for monitoring  physiologic sexual arousal. Thus, we need to better understand both the physiologic and cerebral components involved in normal and abnormal female sexual arousal.
    If the genital vascular response could be imaged non-invasively it might be possible to quantitatively assess these changes for
diagnostic purposes. We thus undertook a series of studies to determine the feasibility of MRI for this purpose. We used rapid 3-D, high-detail, serial imaging of the external genitalia. This provides excellent visualization of major anatomical components of the external genitalia including the clitoris, labia, vestibular glands and vagina. Serial MR images were acquired over approximately 45 minutes while subjects viewed erotic video material, as we tracked clitoral volume and other apparent changes.
    We observed that dynamic genital MRI is a robust and reproducible technique for assessing the arousal response in functional women. This technique should be useful for improving our understanding of the physiology of female sexual response, as well as testing future therapeutic methods.

Ken Maravilla, M.D.    kmarav@u.washington.edu
MRI for Assessing Cerebral Sexual Arousal in Women
        We performed fMRI studies in a subset of our subjects undergoing genital MRI who had documented good arousal response to the erotic video stimulus. Two sets of group “activation” maps were generated. The first compared sites of increased BOLD signal activation during the arousal video segment compared with control neutral video. The second analysis looked at sites of decreased BOLD signal. Sites of robust activation during sexual arousal included many different parts of the brain.
        BOLD fMRI appears to be a viable method for assessing cerebral sites associated with sexual arousal in normal women, and holds promise for future study of female sexual arousal disorder. From this study, we find not only sites of increased activation, but also some specific sites of decreased activation. The hypothesis for decreased BOLD signal during the erotic video video is that they may represent brain areas displaying a reduction in active inhibition.
        These results suggest that MR imaging is capable of visualizing the genital changes and cerebral activation changes associated with sexual arousal in functional women. MRI may one day prove invaluable for improving our understanding of the physiology and brain function associated with the female sexual response.
Learning objective: To understand more about the relationships between brain activation and sexual response
Assessment: Name one way in which sexual response is demonstrably linked with brain activation.

Joseph Marzucco, Ph.D.   jmgk@attbi.com
The Savvy Sexologist: Blending Medicine and Psychology
    Sexual Medicine is taking center stage with sex therapy. With the boundary between psychology and medicine blurring, the medicalization of sexology is becoming a reality. Rather than treating this reality as a threat, sexologists can see it as a challenge to learn more about the medical aspects of sexuality.
    This workshop will give you information on sexual medicine that you can use immediately, including material on the sexual side effects of drugs, infertility treatments, medical history-taking, and important co-morbidities of common diseases and illnesses.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this hour of instruction the participant will be able to discuss the negative sexual side effects of at least two categories of medicines used for common problems.
At the end of this hour of instruction the participant will be able to discuss the ways infertility treatments can affect patients sexually.
Assessment: Name two sexually negative side effects of beta blockers in men.
Name two ways infertility treatments can affect patients sexually.

Norma L. McCoy, Ph.D., San Francisco State University; mccoy@sfsu.edu, Winnifred B. Cutler, Athena Institute for Women's Wellness, Chester Springs, PA; Joan Friebly, Ed.D., Harvard University.
Human sex-attractant pheromones
    This paper provides an overview of placebo-controlled behavioral studies investigating the use of pheromones as sex attractants in humans.  In 1986, the first successful studies used non-odorous extracts from axillary excretions of sexually active, apparently fertile men and women. Based on this earlier research, Cutler, a coauthor, developed and synthesized one male and one female formula.  Three double-blind, placebo-controlled experiments were conducted using these formulations as additives to each individual's chosen fragrance.  Experiments in Philadelphia (38 men, ages 26-42), in San Francisco (36 menstruating women, ages 19-48), and in Boston (44 postmenopausal women, ages 47-75) required daily recordings of behavior for pheromone compared with placebo users.  Each study revealed that a significantly higher proportion of pheromone than placebo users experienced increases over baseline in sociosexual behavior with heterosexual partners during the 6-week experimental period.  The consistency of these findings allows a lifespan consideration of the therapeutic possibilities for these formulations.

Jack Morin, Ph.D., jmorinphd@yahoo.com
Eros and depression: a paradoxical perspective
    Sophisticated clinicians increasingly recognize the complex interplay between mood and other aspects of health as far-ranging as sleep, eating, creativity, substances use and abuse, family and social functioning--and, of course, sexuality. Yet our ideas about the role of depression in erotic life are surprisingly one-dimensional; we see it almost exclusively as an inhibitor of desire and functioning. In this workshop, we’ll explore a more nuanced, paradoxical view, in which depression can also serve as an aphrodisiac, and eroticism can be depressing. Combining theory and clinical examples, we’ll focus especially on two neglected areas: (1) how a person’s “Core Erotic Theme” can breed depression at the same time it generates sexual intensity, and (2) how depressive states and their associated emotions--such as anxiety, guilt, and shame—can produce ultra-high levels of arousal. We’ll examine the profound clinical dilemmas posed by these dynamic interactions, and how we can address them more effectively.
Learning Objective: To be able to identify ways in which depression and can serve both as a sexual inhibitor and as an aphrodisiac.
Assessment: Name two ways that depression can intensify sexual arousal.

Jack Morin, Ph.D., jmorinphd@yahoo.com
Clinical Aspects of “Kinky” Sex
    Unconventional fantasies and consensual activities are frequent sources of erotic stimulation and play. This workshop focuses on instances in which kinky interests emerge as concerns in psychotherapy, especially when: (1) they cause relationship conflict or disengagement, (2) they are fueled by or result in intrapsychic distress, and (3) they are experienced as incompatible with affection and closeness. We’ll explore how we can more effectively help individuals and couples to cope with these perplexing challenges, tackling such thorny clinical questions as:
Should we be “advocates for acceptance” or “agents for change”? How should we respond to requests to “cure” kinky interests? How can we tell if the erotic struggle is a diversion from more fundamental, yet unacknowledged problems? How do we handle our counter-transference reactions?
    Ample case material will be presented, with some opportunities for participants to raise their own clinical dilemmas.
Learning objectives:
1.    To be able to distinguish between problematic and non-problematic unconventional sexual interests.
2.    To more effectively help clients explore and cope with troubling sexual desires.
Assessment:
1.    Describe two ways in which unconventional sexual interests can be issues in psychotherapy.
2.    Describe two interventions for use with a couple in conflict over their sexual preferences.

Chris Moyers, Ph.D., cmoyers@pacbell.net,Katherine O’Connell, Ph.D.; Ruth Laird, R.N., M.A.; Diana Dietzman, M.F.T; Jeffrey Cormier, M.A.
Cultural issues in sexual education
    This panel will discuss topics important to sexual education today. These will include (but are not limited to) the sexual customs in cultures of new immigrants and Native Americans; sexual issues of the physically disabled; sexual experiences of inmates in jails/prisons; addressing Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, and Transsexual (GLBT) issues through education; educational concerns for K-College.
Learning Objective: To understand current issues of sexual education
Assessment:  Cite three issues important to sexual education at this time.

Lin S. Myers, Ph. D., lin@sol.csustan.edu, Beth Rienzi, Ph.D., & Janet Millar, M.A.,
Sexuality education of and the counseling of sexual issues by marriage and family therapists in California
    This panel will focus on sexuality education of MFTs and the practice of marriage, family therapy regarding sexual issues. Myers will focus on the political and educational aspects of sexuality education for marriage and family therapists (MFT) in the state of California, USA, including state regulation and results from an ongoing evaluation of training programs for MFTs. Rienzi will discuss her observations and experiences from over 20 years of teaching sexuality at the undergraduate and graduate level. An overview of the personal, political, and cultural issues that these students bring to the study of sexuality will be discussed along with recommendations about how to train MFT students to handle the sexual situations ethically, therapeutically, and appropriately. Millar, a practicing MFT, will present case examples of sexual situations that arise in therapeutic settings along with an overview of knowledge needed to respond in an appropriate, therapeutic, and ethical manner.
Learning Objectives: To be more aware of the personal, political, and cultural issues that MFT students bring to the study of sexuality.
To understand and be able to apply the of knowledge needed to respond to sexuality issues of clients in an appropriate, therapeutic, and ethical manner.
Assessment: Name three the personal, political, and cultural issues that MFT students bring to the study of sexuality.
Name two therapeutic and ethical issues that arise in addressing sexual issues of clients.

Lou Paget, office@loupaget.com
The consumer standards report on adult novelties
    A review of a wide range of adult novelties and general media marketed sexual enhancement products that will guide consumers and assist professionals who want to locate, select, introduce and incorporate adult novelties and products into their lives and relationships. Delivered in a tasteful, non-judgmental, often hilarious way by the best-selling author of three books with over 1.2 million in print worldwide, 19 languages and 39 countries,  Paget has the information about what "really works" drawn from thousands who have attended her internationally presented Sexuality Seminars over the past decade, as well as ‘the field researchers’ who were selected to test products.

Letitia Anne Peplau, Ph.D.   lapeplau@ucla.edu
Gender differences in sex and relationships
        Fifty years of scientific research has sought to separate fact from fiction about human sexuality. The accumulated scientific record identifies four consistent differences between men's and women's sexuality. First, men show greater interest in sex than do women.  Second, women are more likely than men to emphasize relationships and commitment as a context for sexuality. Third, a link between sex and aggression is more common among men than women. Fourth, there is growing evidence that women's sexuality is more fluid, malleable, and capable of change over time. These differences are pervasive, encompassing not only behavior but also thoughts, attitudes, fantasies and motivation. Several implications of this analysis will be considered including how we conceptualize and measure sexuality, how we understand sexual orientation, and how we classify women's sexual problems.
Learning objective: To understand some of the central differences between women's and men's sexuality, which have been identified by empirical research.
Assessment:  Describe four core gender differences in human sexuality.

Letitia Anne Peplau, Ph.D.,  lapeplau@ucla.edu, Emily A. Impett
Sexual compliance in intimate relationships
    In intimate relationships, partners often have differing sexual preferences and goals. Our research focuses on situations in which one partner voluntarily consents to sexual activity that he or she does not particularly desire, a pattern referred to as sexual compliance.  For example, instead of turning a cold shoulder to her amorous husband, a wife may respond warmly to his sexual overtures even though she is exhausted from work and not in the mood for sex. Our research addresses three questions.  Why do people engage in compliant sex? Why are women more likely than men to be the sexual compliant partner in heterosexual couples? What effects does this behavior have on the compliant partner and on the couples' relationship?

Thomas G. Plante, Ph.D., ABPP   tplante@scu.edu
Treating clergy who act out sexually
    Recent events regarding child sexual abuse committed by Catholic priests in the Archdiocese of Boston and elsewhere have yet again resulted in a tremendous amount of media attention and frenzy regarding this topic. During 2002 approximately 300 American priests including several bishops were accused of child sexual abuse.  The Roman Catholic Church has paid about a billion dollars in legal settlements regarding child abuse allegations and will likely pay much more in upcoming months and years.   20 years. Curiously, there still exist many myths and misperceptions about priests who sexually abuse children and their victims. The purpose of this presentation will be to discuss what we know about sex offending clergy and their victims and highlight issues associated with treatment and evaluation of both victims and perpetrators.
Learning Objective: To better understand the state of the art information about what we know about clergy sex offenders and their victims.
Assessment:  What percentage of Catholic priests have had a sexual experience with a minor and who are the likely victims of clergy sexual abuse?

Mary Lake Polan, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.   polan@stanford.edu
Nutritional Advances in Sexual and Reproductive Function
    The incidence of sexual dysfunction in the United States has been reported to be over 40% for women.  The definitions of sexual arousal disorder, desire disorder, and anorgasmia, have not allowed specific therapies to be developed for these areas of dysfunction.  However, nitric oxide (NO) has been well established as the key mediator for improved circulation and sexual function in men and has also been implicated as a potential therapeutic intervention in women.  Nutritional supplements have been used to improve sexual function in women, and specifically the presence of L-arginine, an amino acid, has been shown to improve sexual desire and reduce vaginal dryness in women reporting sexual dysfunction.
Learning Objective: 1. To differentiate the various types of sexual dysfunction reported by women: sexual arousal disorders, desire disorders, anorgasmia, pain disorders.
2. To understand the role of nitric oxide in sexual function.
3. To understand the risks and benefits of a number of components contained in nutritional supplements reported to ameliorate sexual dysfunction.

Paul Rapoport, Ph.D., rapoport@mcmaster.ca
Public nudity: Social art?
    “Performing nudity” in public environments provokes many questions, most fundamentally: What do naked bodies in public do? How may they act, and what may they accomplish?
    Nude performance art almost always subverts the notion of bodies as objects and targets of power or dominance. It also fuses roles of art and artist, material and space, private and public, even performer and spectator. It challenges received notions about sexual display and expression.
    Some public nude events have a foreground component that explores sexual identity and gender hierarchies, often challenging taboos and notions of narcissism and exhibitionism. Others question the basic connection between nudity and sexual expression, as well as the charientic judgement that public nudity must be indecent or obscene.
    One additional important question is why many nude performance artists are women: What may both the performers and women in general produce or experience in performances of public nudity?

Ira Reiss, Ph.D.  reiss001@atlas.socsci.umn.edu
Fantasies and fallacies in sexology: An insider's view.
    I am working on a book that covers my experiences in the field of sexual science over the past five decades, and this will form the content of my talk. I will evaluate areas such as: Chaos in SSSS; The politics of sex research; Establishing a discipline of sexual science; Irrational views from essentialism and social constructionism; Some anti-science conclusions from the John/Joan case; University degree programs in sexuality; Attempts to integrate science, values, and activism; and more.
Learning Objective: To understand how social science theory affects the practice of sexology
Assessment: Name one implication of social constructionism with negative consequences for sexology

Stella Resnick, Ph.D., StellaRes@aol.com
Sexual healing: A comprehensive approach to sex therapy
    Topics to examine will include the following: How are sexual pleasure and pleasure-inhibition critical avenues of exploration for achieving lasting results in psychotherapy as well as in sex therapy? How does integrating a somatic-experiential focus into a more cognitive-behavioral approach help to enhance a client’s capacity for emotional closeness, physical intimacy, and sexual gratification? Several methods will be offered to incorporate breath and body awareness into individual and couple’s sex therapy.

Stella Resnick, Ph.D., StellaRes@aol.com
The body and sexual pleasure: The somatic frontier in sexuality research, education, and therapy
    Sexual pleasure is always a key feature of any definition of healthy sexuality. Yet what  exactly does that entail and why can it be so elusive? This presentation will briefly review some of the multidisciplinary research data on the somatic roots of intimacy and other body-based factors in early experiences that can result in a learned inhibition of sexual pleasure. The evidence suggests that the interaction between physiological, psychological, social, and cultural influences at critical junctures of child sexual development lays the foundation to separate love from sexual pleasure in adult intimacy. These data help in understanding the high rate of low sexual desire in marriage and point to some potentially fruitful areas of investigation for research, education, and therapy.

Gayle Rubin, Ph.D.   gsr@plusnet.org
From perversity to diversity: Perversion, sexology, and social science, 1880-1980
This paper discusses the development of the concept of sexual perversion in late 19th-century sexology, situating the discourse of perversion within the larger context of late 19th-century scientific obsessions with racial taxonomies and social evolution. The presumptions of sexual pathology embedded in the early concepts of perversion were also already intellectually unstable, almost from the moment of their articulation. Empirical eruptions, such as 1) evidence of individuals who were demonstrably not degenerates, and 2) the presence of functional communities of perverts in the cities, were among the sources of these conceptual instabilities. Such ethnographic encounters have continually disrupted perversion models of sexual diversity, although their presumptions of pathology are constantly reconstructed.
Learning Objective: To understand how historical context affects social science theory.
Assessment: Name one way in which historical context has affected sexology's definition of "perversion" in this century.

Lydia A. Sausa, M.S.Ed. lydiasausa@hotmail.com
The health care and educational needs of trans youth
    The author will present findings from a qualitative study that examined the health care and educational needs of trans youth. The word trans was used in this study as an abbreviation, which included both transgendered and transexual people, and was defined as including people who reassign the sex they were labeled at birth, and/or people whose gender expression is considered by a broader society as nontraditional for their sex. This study focused on the distinct needs of trans youth related to health care services, HIV prevention, and education from their point of view, and gives specific recommendations for health service providers and sexuality educators.

Amy Selinger, M.P.T.; amy@backtolife.net Laura Fraser, M.P.T.  laura_fraser@hotmail.com
Physical therapy for pelvic pain
    Pelvic pain affects many men and women.  There are various forms of treatment including pharmacologic and surgical intervention. Physical therapy is a conservative treatment option for people who present with physical findings.  Pelvic floor anatomy and function will be reviewed. A variety of pelvic pain diagnoses, including vulvodynia, interstitial cystitis, and prostatitis, will be discussed.  We will present patient cases and explain specific treatment techniques.  This presentation will inform health professionals about how and when to make an appropriate client referral to physical therapy.

Chris Straayer, Ph.D.  acs1@i5.nyu.edu
Acting sex in "Boys Don't Cry"
   Brandon Teena's 1993 rape and murder received national media attention due to his female-to-male passing. On various talkshows, Brandon's ex-girlfriends testified to his extraordinary competence as a boyfriend. In the 1999 film “Boys Don’t Cry,” Hilary Swank presents a fictional Brandon who is believably masculine and charismatic. The real Brandon--promiscuous, troubled, delinquent--becomes the teen idol of a tragic love story in which his many real-life seductions are condensed into a short-lived, monogamous Romeo-Juliet romance. Despite his position as Romeo, the film’s narrative ultimately lesbianizes Brandon, whose "stone" lovemaking is superceded by idealistic lesbian reciprocity. Thus “Boys Don’t Cry” simultaneously convinces viewers of the plausibility of transgenderism, and confirms their (mis)understanding of gender inversion as homosexuality.

Louis H. Swartz, Ph.D., LL.M., R.N., swartz@buffalo.edu.
Defining sex and gender: The Kansas Supreme Court’s rejection of “Transsexual Marriage”
    Sex change medicine, asserting a scientific basis for sex reassignment of transsexuals that ought to be recognized by the community and by legal institutions, has been seriously confused concerning how contemporary science defines its terms and concerning how law should define its terms.  These terms include sex, gender, man, woman, boy, girl, male and female.  Examination of the Kansas Supreme Court’s decision in Matter of the Estate of Gardiner (2002), refusing to grant legal recognition to the marriage of a biological man and a post-operative male-to-female transsexual woman, offers an opportunity to clarify basic points concerning definitional theory that cut across law, science, medicine, sexology, and public policy concerns.  The paper describes the Gardiner case, distinguishes between instrumental, essential, traditional, charismatic, and conventional modes of defining terms, and discusses why the differences between them are important.

Robin Taylor, Ph.D.  robint@cnsp.com
Healing through tantric meditation
    In this experiential workshop we will introduce some basic concepts of Tantra, and how they can be used in a clinical setting. We had noticed that a number of sex therapy clients don’t respond to discussing sexuality, particularly declining enthusiasm and sexual performance. We extracted the essence of ancient Tantric practices into a simple process that can be used in conjunction with counseling. Our demonstration will show how this process is a combination of physical control and focused attention. The intention is to bring awareness into the body, allowing the mind to quiet. This opens a channel for other feelings and inspires a deeper connection with oneself and with a partner. Using a holistic approach that connects mind/body/spirit offers a client more possibilities in their healing process.

Tina Tessina, M.A.   tinatessina@compuserve.com
Correcting the effects of early family dysfunction on sex and relationship
    Hidden out of awareness, early learning creates mystery– Adults who have not examined the roots of their beliefs and behavior often find themselves acting and thinking in ways that don’t make sense.   These people feel frustrated, mystified, and to a large degree out of control of themselves, in sex and relationships.
    The good news is, early dysfunction can be healed,  therapy works; there’s even new research that says therapy can change brain chemistry.  You can change every bit of early “programming” that you wish to change, and take control over your own life.  In my counseling practice, I help clients do it every day.   We’ll explore how growing up in a dysfunctional family can block emotions and sexual energy, and I’ll share the exercises and guidelines I use to help my clients know how to make their lives their own.

Steven Tierney, Ph.D., Tom Coates, Ph.D., tcoates@psg.ucsf.edu, Doug Kirby, Ph.D.
HIV prevention in 2003 and beyond
    This program features three key participants in HIV prevention research and programming in California. Issues discussed will include: public resistance to facts about HIV incidence, transmission, and prevention; unexpected effects (both positive and negative) of HIV prevention programs; maintaining a sex-positive attitude in prevention programs; the pioneering work of the city of San Francisco's program, which keeps evolving to deal with the epidemic's many faces; what works and doesn't work in shaping public attitudes and behavior; current target groups for prevention programs; the legislative environment and political considerations involved in prevention programs; and what sexologists can do in their own communities to participate in prevention research and programming.
Learning objective: to understand the factors that make HIV education programs successful
Assessment: name two factors that make HIV education programs successful.

Lawrence G. Walters, J.D., Will Doherty, M.B.A., Bill Lyon, M.S.  lawrence.walters@gte.net
Political, judicial, and social issues in contemporary American censorship
    This panel features experts with a wide range of experience in censorship issues. They will discuss the key questions facing sexologists and other professionals regarding censorship. They will also answer questions from the audience. Issues under examination will include internet filtering, restrictions on commercial sex and adult entertainment, sodomy laws, and attempts to fight child pornography.
Learning objective: To understand how the culture attempts to censor sexual expression.
Assessment: Name a common technique that our culture uses in attempting to censor sexual expression.

Lawrence G. Walters, J.D.   lawrence.walters@gte.net
Government attempts to regulate sexuality
    The government seeks to regulate human sexuality using a variety of tools and methods. Historically, law enforcement has utilized the criminal justice system as a device to impose censorship of erotic expression. Topless bars, swingers clubs and adult book/video stores have all been subjected to criminal charges and civil complaints. More recently, the government has set its sights on regulation of online erotica, as it seeks to blame adult Websites for perceived moral decay. This session will critically evaluate the various governmental efforts directed at regulation of human sexuality, both in the private and commercial settings.
Learning objective: To understand how the government attempts to regulate sexual expression.
Assessment: Name a common technique the government uses in attempting to regulate sexual expression.

David Weis, Ph.D. weis@bgnet.bgsu.edu and Stephen M. Horowitz, Ph.D.  shorowi@bgnet.bgsu.edu
How stable is sexual orientation over time? A look at national data
    In recent years, the impact of sexual orientation on quality of life and mental health has become both a social and professional issue.  A literature has emerged that promotes the view that variations in sexual orientation are related to depression and reduced life satisfaction.  Horowitz, Weis, and Laflin (2001) recently compared four behaviorally defined sexual orientation groups (HET, BI, HOM, NOSEX) on 29 different social background, quality of life, and health behavior variables in a series of seven national data sets (n= 11,543).  They reported few differences. This presentation will report the results of a study with similar national data designed to test another recent question concerning the extent to which sexual orientation is stable over time or susceptible to change within one’s lifetime.

Beverly Whipple, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN, bwhipple@recomnet.net
Pleasure and satisfaction vs. function in female sexuality: A problem of paradigm
    Pleasure and satisfaction are reported as being very important to women. However, the International Classification of Diseases-10 and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) do not consider pleasure or satisfaction as criteria for female sexual and sensual interactions. The International Consensus conference on female dysfunction, definitions and classifications, did not include satisfaction or pleasure, although satisfaction was proposed as a diagnostic entity. This presentation will focus on the present classification system of female dysfunctions based on the heterosexual male linear model of desire, arousal and orgasm with no consideration of pleasure or satisfaction, or lack thereof. The flaws in the Consensus-Based Classification of Female Sexual Dysfunction calls into question whether researchers and clinicians will universally adopt this system. A proposal to consider a woman's subjective as well as physiological responses, which include pleasure and satisfaction as characteristics of normal sexual function will be offered. A new classification system will be proposed.

Cynthia Woodsong, Ph.D.   CWoodsong@fhi.org
“Natural,” “normal,” and “sacred”: Beliefs influencing the acceptability of pregnancy and STI/HIV prevention methods
    Ethnophysiological beliefs about sex and the reproductive system influence acceptance and use of methods to prevent pregnancy and STIs/HIV. Efforts to reduce resistance to prevention methods have focused on improving risk awareness, knowledge of method efficacy, and women’s empowerment.  In the U.S., little attention has been paid to traditional cultural and spiritual beliefs that potentially constitute significant factors in willingness to consider using products that interfere with normal body functions. This paper explores these beliefs, using data collected amongst African-American, Hispanic and Caucasian women and men in the southern region of the U.S.  Their views about nature, god and the human body intertwine to create a trusted sphere of beliefs about god’s natural order for the world, women’s place in it as childbearers, and the meaning and function of sex.  These views contributed to cultural norms for disregarding biomedical information and recommendations.

Leanna Wolfe, M.A., LAWolfe@aol.com and David S. Hall, Ph.D.  dave@davidhallphd.com
Jealousy and transformation in polyamorous relationships
    Polyamorous relationships, where one’s other lovers are openly engaged, deeply challenges the Western paradigm of the-one-and-only. Deciding to be polyamorous can transform the structure and function of marriage.  Marriage is no longer the bastion for sexual intimacy, companionate love, or pair-bonded identity.
   Drawing from quantitative surveys, in-depth interviews, and much participant observation, this presentation will examine the ways polyamorous people reframe their relationships and reinvent themselves.  We’ll explore strategies for averting jealousy including claiming that it doesn’t exist, that it’s an expendable cultural construct, that “evolved” people don’t experience it, and that it can trigger passion.  Ultimately, we’ll endeavor to assess the appeal as well as the challenges of open polyamory.  Does it afford more opportunities for intimacy, side-step “real intimacy,” or simply allow for the possibility to be both intimate and independent?

Linda R. Young, Ph.D., Lyoung@nu.edu
When the body says yes and the mind says no: The relationship between women’s ambivalence and reversals of sexual decisions
    Was she coerced, coquettish or conflicted?  There is still a gray area in our conceptualization of women who first refuse and then accept sexual overtures, or vice versa.  This session presents a study that assessed the relationship between women’s contradictory beliefs about themselves in relation to love and sex, and their sudden reversals of sexual decisions.  In a hypothetical written dating scenario, this form of ambivalence was shown to be a strong predictor of decision reversals in an ethnically diverse undergraduate sample.  Additionally, for women who drank before engaging in sexual activity, those who were high in ambivalence were almost twice as likely to have experienced rape or attempted rape in their lifetimes as those who were low in discrepancy.  Among non-drinkers, there was no relationship between self-discrepancy and history of rape or attempted rape.  Implications for counseling young women and men around issues of sexual decision making will be discussed.

Petra Zebroff, Ph.D., Petra@libida.com & Kathleen Van Kirk, Ph.D., Kathleen@libida.com
What sexual information and entertainment women are seeking in the privacy of their own homes
        A female-sexuality website was designed from a "woman's perspective." Data on this site is continually accumulated through polls,questionnaires, buying-habit analysis, and observation of movement around the site. Articles, charts, graphs, and how-to's educate women concerning the subject of sexuality. 300,000 people (75% women ages 18-75) are surveyed and monitored each month to determine what kind of information, erotica, or product interests them. Our greatest finding is that women are first and foremost seeking out visual erotica, followed closely by an interest in G-spot and clitoral vibrators.
        We have also explored: a) the most popular ways sexual information is presented; b) the most popular kinds of such information, erotica, and products; c) the most commonly asked information questions; d) which product information is requested most often; e) what topics get the greatest response.
        Finally, we have been looking at the validity of studying women online, and what possible uses this information could offer to sexology.
 

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Last update  3/25/03