Why Human Sexuality?

While working on my Personal Statement (or avoiding working on it, I should say), I am constantly berated with the question "what drew you to want to research human sexuality?" Of course there is the obvious answer any junior high student can say: "Duh, its SEX". But while this is an interesting topic to many, I am one of few that actually dedicate my work to the study of sexuality. Staring at the blank paper in front of me, I am still struggling to find where my passion for sex (so to speak) began.

As a child, I remember being somewhat enlightened on the topic of sex- at least compared to my peers. Of course, with an older sister, I cannot take all the credit for my sex education. After her "Girls-ONLY" class in Middle School, my sister and her friend were so inspired, they gave me an impromptu on what it means to be a "woman". As a second grader, I was wide-eyed and unbelieving about the female anatomy, and don't even get me started on the males. After their teaching session was over, I remember feeling excited that I now was informed on such topics like anatomy, menstruation, and intimacy- even if I still wasn't sure how THAT fit in THERE! Leaving my sister's room, with instructions on how to "be safe" in one hand and a new hand-held mirror in the other, I was a woman of the world. However, my mother was not as excited with my sister's teaching lesion. I believe she got a week of solitary confinement in her room, without probation.

In Junior High and High School, I remember always gravitating towards things with a sexual undertone. For an art class, I remember asking my professor permission to draw a picture of two naked angels. Today that may seem tame, but in a class full of 12 year olds, this was somewhat of a revolutionary request. In high school I chose my English "present an argument" project to be on female circumcision, which, of course, raised a lot of eyebrows. I just felt it was an interesting topic that needed to be address. At the time, I never felt that I was creating waves, or addressing sexual ideas in a public school (gasp!). Looking back now, I could see why my teachers never really knew what to do with me. What can I say, I create my own current.

In college, my first semester I took the "Human Sexuality" class offered. I remember the male students dropping like flies when the professor talked about topics such as "sexual intercourse while the woman is menstruating" and "same-sex couples", but I was even more intrigued by the class as we delved into the controversial topics that made most people uncomfortable. When the professor brought up people who are intersexed (having both male and female bodies), I thought I found my passion. I felt that this was a group that was underrepresented in our society, and I could help be their voice! Of course, later, I gave up on that quest, and looked into other topics in human sexuality (and now, close relationships) that intrigued me, and had more of an audience to present to. So yet again, I had not found my moment of inspiration, but yet still felt as passionate as ever about the study of sexuality.

So while I am sure that I want to study human sexuality and romantic relationships, I do not know if I ever had that "light bulb" experience, where I said "Yes! Because of this experience, I am confident that I want to be a Sexologist!". And, to be honest, I am not sure that you need one. As for me, I think that I always was intrigued with the obscene, the controversial, and the unmentionable. Human Sexuality just kind of grew on me. But, sadly, this still leaves me with a blank personal statement ;)