Sexual Attitudes: Myths & Realities

by Vern L. Bullough, Bonnie Bullough

In Sexual Myths and Realities, internationally acclaimed sexologists Vern L. Bullough and Bonnie Bullough take readers on a guided tour through the many assumptions and misconceptions we harbor about our own sexuality, as they bring us up to date on a variety of sexual and related issues. How did masturbation evolve from being regarded as a cause of insanity to being a normal part of sexual development? When did the medical profession stop viewing homosexuality as a sin or sickness, and accept it as a valid form of sexual expression? How did abortion move from being an illegal act, performed in secrecy under dangerous conditions, to a constitutionally protected right? The authors highlight the ways in which social, moral, and religious attitudes have dramatically changed from being founded on myths to relying on more science-based realities.
The Bulloughs argue that accepting new knowledge need not undermine morality even though it challenges entrenched, often unfounded, assumptions about our sexual behavior. They contend that our traditional attitudes about sex must be continuously rethought and updated rather than shrouded in mystery and myth. Moral values can still be maintained even while acknowledging the existence of vastly more accurate information about the physiology of sex and the many ways in which we choose to express our sexuality.

Genres: History, Philosophy

281 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Vern Leroy Bullough (July 24, 1928 – June 21, 2006) was an American historian and sexologist.

He was a distinguished professor emeritus at the State University of New York (SUNY), Faculty President at California State University, Northridge, a past president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, past Dean of natural and social sciences at the Buffalo State College in Buffalo, New York, one of the founders of the American Association for the History of Nursing, and a member of the editorial board of Paidika: The Journal of Paedophilia.

Until her death in 1996 he was married to Bonnie Bullough

Reviews

[Terry Wrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is rather disturbing how little we know of what should be common knowledge compared to the amount of half truths, untruths, and inaccurate ``medical`` data we have at our disposal surrounding sexuality. Worse that some of these ``medical`` truths are passed on by mothers and grandmothers.
One can find surprising amount of data (which many elsewhere is wrong) on contraception for example. OR STDs. Amount of data one does not know and is hard to get from some OBGs. Certainly not if you don`t explicitly ask for data. This book is not so medical as I make it sound, and not so historical as it looks at first. But it is what it is because it uses data very well.
Every time authors chose to leave unbiased objective voice and voiced an opinion, I put the book down to applaud and think about what I just read. Tracing humanity`s attitudes to anything related to sexuality is interesting, gut wrenching, and a bit sad journey.
A really good book for everyone.

[Center for Sex & Culture Library + Archives]

Collection notes:

HISTORY.Sexual Customs
HISTORY.Ethics.sexual ethics
PEOPLE.Author.Bonnie Bullough
PEOPLE.Author.Vern L. Bullough