Preparation

Preparation

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, Anthropology

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology opened my mind to a world filled with many different people with different ideas and traditions.  How we think of our sexuality here in the United States is very different from how people think of their sexuality in different countries.  He shared with us of his field experience in which this village had a sex dance during which they would have sex and how it was regarded much differently than here.  As well as a country in which many brothers are married to one woman because of the need for family units to have many workers to help agriculturally.  Learning about other cultures and their view of sexually also helped me identify how our culture values and is so driven by sex especially through our media.  I still feel that sex is a very valued gift from God that is to be saved for marriage.

Biochemistry and Society, Biochemistry

In Biochemistry in Society I had the opportunity to present on birth control with a group.  We looked at the many different kinds and shared about their effects and how they worked.  However, we also looked at the number of people having sex throughout the life span and it gave me a greater understanding of how young people are engaging in sex and many times without protection.  Sex is not something to be taken lightly and has the potential to create a human being no matter what measures you are taking the only 100% measure is abstinence.

Introduction to Human Sexuality, Family Studies and Human Services

Introduction to Human Sexuality taught me how our sexuality plays into our identity.  We learned all about the stages of sex, conception, how to have a child, and how it is so much more than a physical act, but an emotional one.  We wrote out our entire sexual script which included our physical, emotional, and cognitive experiences with sex and how it impacted who we are today.  This was very valuable to understand because each person has a sexual script and it is one factor that plays into who they are and how they think of themselves.  Sex is such an intimate process that it only makes sense that it would intimately be a part of individuals identities.

Prevention Violence, Family Studies and Human Services

Prevention Violence looked at perpetrator and victim especially in the case of sexual violence in a new light.  The reality is that most perpetrators were once victims and so they need help too.  Many times they had a sexual act done against them which does not make it okay, but does mean that they need healing as well as the victim that they also caused harm to.  When looking at sexual violence it is easy to play the blame game when what really needs to happen is for healing, the prevention to occur.  Sexual violence is very damaging, and as someone who will at some point in my life be working with people likely dealing with hurts from sexual violence, healing needs to occur.  It is a process, but talking about it, listening, and directing to counseling are all important steps that need to be taken.

The Homestead is a house for women from the sex industry.  These women have already been through some therapy or rehab and are choosing to join this rehabilitation program.  The Homestead surrounds these women with supports, training for a job or education, and Bible studies all to reach their personal goals.  I am a volunteer and have been trained both through their online educational videos and their day long seminars.

Freedom Alliance is a Kansas State University club that raises awareness for sex trafficking and how it is happening not just in other countries, but here in the US, as well as here in Kansas.  I have learned so much about how women are coursed into believing that they have no other options than to sell themselves or are forced and out of fear give up their bodies.  This is a sad reality that I had to face was happening and now want to share because it is such an injustice.

I guided a facilitation during one of my leadership studies courses over the sex industry and its injustice to those that are being enslaved.