Would you be apprehensive about taking a Human Sexuality class taught by a conservative professor?

I wouldn’t be apprehensive, but there is a possibility her views affect the class. It should be ok. First, “conservative” politically doesn’t necessarily mean conservative sexually. Second, even people who are very conservative about sex, still can study the behaviors of those who are less prudish, and also, sex in marriage is just fine with them, and so sex inside or outside of marriage is still sex.

I really doubt politic leaning will be an issue for the class.

Yes. Just as I would be distrustful of a Young Earth Creationist teaching Geology, or a Nazi teaching Jewish history.

I am a gay man. I would be very leery of a right-wing ideologue teaching something like human sexuality, because right-wing individuals usually take a very negative view of my innate sexuality.

I do not know what you should do. If I were in this situation, I would try to get another professor if possible. If that weren’t possible, I would take the class, and I would talk to the dean beforehand and make my reservations known. In the class, I would speak up vociferously at the slightest hint of ideology interfering with truth.

Why not call the professor, or visit her during office hours if she’s teaching this term, and voice your concern, and see what she says? Are there reviews of professors you can look at?

Is the class taught under the psych department?

Do you attend a public university? It’s not some sort of Christian college is it?

Take the course, unless you fear for your grade end term. There are things to be learned from those with whom you disagree. In fact, you might find it the most interesting of your classes.

What good is taking course that merely affirms everything you thought you already knew.
Education is supposed to be, at least occasionally, thought provoking.
Sometimes, it is sort of exciting to be able to say “Gosh, I never thought about it that way”

Just take it, get the credit, and move on. I think it would be a lot more interesting than taking a course with someone who exactly shared my views.

And @rockfan, what do you mean by “toned down”? You’re a grown up. You already know what human sexuality is about.

@Dutchess III

What I mean by toned down is that she might just simply teach about sex (the stuff I already know) without sparking genuine conversations about gender roles and the exploration of sexual identity

@josie

My fear is that the class isn’t going to be thought provoking.

Well, that can happen anywhere. As long as you get the credit under your belt, that’s the main thing. You can have discussions elsewhere. Like here! Or, you could start one in class.

Anyone dumb enough to vote for Trump probably doesn’t have much to teach in a college classroom. You might learn a skill, trade or life advice from a Trump voter, but anything based on research and rigorous intellectual integrity is fundamentally incompatible with someone who would vote for Trump.

Oh God. I can’t get away from it.

I wouldn’t take the class. I would be afraid she would be talking about abstinence and anti-homosexuality or transgenders and not tolerant of other viewpoints. I would drop it or look for another professor.

Would that not be a form of not tolerating her viewpoints? So what if she doesn’t agree with us? So whatif she talks about abstinence and anti-homoxesuality? It’s not like it’s going to change our minds. You can’t run away from everything that doesn’t agree with you.
Not only that, it might give the students a chance to discuss after class.
...I’d be interested how the OP knows she voted for Trump, though.

@Dutchess_III, read the details. It’s there.
The student is paying for the course. It is not incumbent on her to be tolerant of the professor’s viewpoints. Unless it’s billed as a conservative viewpoint about human sexuality, she has a right to expect a balanced view of this rather complex subject.

@rockfan, I, too, would be concerned about this, and maybe approach the university (department head, perhaps?) about my concerns. Maybe this person can teach in a balanced, multi-perspective way, but I would like to be sure before wasting my time.

If a student it paying for the class they should only be exposed to professors with their own POV? What about a conservative student who doesn’t want to be “exposed” to a more open, tolerant view point? They should just run away?

I would start the class. If it started turning viscous, homophobic, hate-filled lectures (which somehow I doubt,) I’d take it to the dean and drop out. Until then, I’d be curious as to what she had to say.

Since I was enrolling at a Lutheran based college I had to take a religion class. I dreaded it. I figured it would be a never ending serious of preaching…but to my pleasant surprise, it wasn’t. It was much about the history of Christianity, and why Christians believe what they do today. The professor hinted that he didn’t agree with much of it. It was enlightening.
I’d go, see what there is to see.

I agree with @Dutchess_III. As well, make sure you know the last day you can drop the class and add something else without penalty. Give the class a chance. All you might lose is two or three days.

You know, a professor’s job is to instruct and teach, not to convert or preach. If she gives signs of attempting to convert people, and refuses to allow discussion, she needs to be reported.

I need to clarify that I don’t think the instructor is going to come across as anti-gay or anything like that in the classroom

Well, that’s good. I’ve had some crappy instructors. I’ve had some great ones. That’s life.

@Dutchess_III

On her Facebook she mentions how proud she is of voting for Trump. So it’ll be interesting to see how she teaches the section on sexual assault and harassment and the ramifications of it on our society.

I’ll provide an update in August after a few weeks in the class.

It will be very interesting. Very. I’ll look forward to hearing from you. She may wind up with everyone in the class arguing with her!

I find it shocking that there is an assumption a professor would have a serious slant and bias in their teachings about sexuality. I don’t even care if they share their opinion, I would expect and assume they would also show the other ways of thinking on the topic.

Pretty damn disappointing if at the university level there can’t be open discussion anout varying opinions.

If it’s part of a psych class there will be guidelines to learn about regarding what the psych establishment considers normal and abnormal. It’s also likely to study the sexual behaviors of various groups.

I find this thread a little upsetting. I have no idea the sexual or voting habits of most of my professors, including the professor I took Human Sexuality class.

@JLeslie

Last year in my Comparitve Religion class, my professor routinely criticized Trump.

There are some out there, @JLeslie. If they’re too radical they don’t last long.

If FB had been around when I was taking college classes, I would have looked mine up too. I’d be distressed by any one “bragging” that they’d voted for a particular person.

@rockfan Did he do it in a constructive way?

I would take it just to see how many euphemisms they could come up with for “penis” and “vagina.”

@rockfan If someone disagreed with him was he respectful, and willing to carry on a debate?

He usually mentioned how insane Trump’s foreign policy is and how he has religious fanatics in his cabinet. He asked us what we thought, but no one disagreed with him, and if some students did, they didn’t speak up.

He asked what you thought. That is very good. Some people are afraid to speak up. I was never one of them!

^^I’m with you on this.

Anyone dumb enough to learn a subject like that in college shouldn’t be too worried about a watered down version. Judging from my experience, courses not related to stem fields are filled with professors that are biased, sensitive, and petty. The nature of the subject allows for it. I learned that the hard way. I’m a right-winger who went to a predominantly leftist university. I wasn’t worried about the biases because I was majoring in a stem field, however, I was stuck with a couple of these compulsory classes. I had to retake them because I didn’t tow the line. When I retook the courses I spoke and wrote like a communist, earning myself an A.

Learn the subject outside of college. If the class is compulsory, then when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Meaning, if the professor is a conservative, then act like one, or in your case, stay silent.

Maybe the professor qualified at Trump University?

What a goofy question. You don’t know who people vote for and it doesn’t matter. Take your class and learn the material. Don’t worry about the professor.

@maxomite Isn’t Human Sexuality a Science? Isn’t Science the “S” in STEM?

It can be when you learn it from an actual science course like general biology, physiology, or biochemistry which would offer deeper knowledge. But if you learn it from a course like human sexuality, then it isn’t based on science. It is based on pseudosciences like the social sciences. This is the arena where you get bright ideas from professors claiming, for example, men can be women – sex and gender are malleable. While those who learn basic biology knows that how a man identifies as or what biological alterations he does to himself, he will always remain a man.

^^ Thereby proving the point of why it could be a mistake to take with this teacher.

It would be mistake to take this course with any professor because the actual problem is the discipline. The best choice is to take general biology courses or related subfields.

I don’t agree. I would take the course simply to hear a conservative approach to explaining human sexuality. The very fact that this woman can survive on a college campus with an open admission of voting for Trump makes me want to enroll in the class myself. Is this one of those backwater bible colleges?

Where’s the offense? I don’t see it. Seems to me that if this professor is a credentialed individual meriting employment at this school, she’s entitled to the benefit of a doubt. If the OP can sit through a week of lectures and find his suspicions justified, the crisis in confidence should extend to the school itself.

So @rockfan Have you come to a decision? I hope you do take it with her. Other points of views are always interesting, and not all republicans are obnoxious, stupid assholes. There is something to be taken away from every encounter with every human.

I think what people may be disregarding is that a classroom is an unequal situation – the professor has the power to express their opinions freely, the students are working for a grade. There are subjects in which I would not consider the teacher’s politics to be relevant; unfortunately, in these polarized times, I would not even consider most sciences to be potentially accurately taught by a conservative Republican. Perhaps math would be safe from politicizing. But a subject like Human Sexuality? She may feel that women can’t refuse sex or are sluts for enjoying it. I would not want to be in that class.

“I think what people may be disregarding is that a classroom is an unequal situation – the professor has the power to express their opinions freely, the students are working for a grade.”
This. Exactly this. Well said, @janbb, 100 GAs if I could.
@stanleybmanly unless we know at which school @rockfan is planning to take this course, we can’t really fault the school if the staff isn’t totally balanced. So many schools have dramatically varied types of professors, as academic politics plays such a latge role in the hiring of “qualified” personnel. The schools of lesser funding and lesser prestige don’t necessarily have the same levels of choice as, say, the Ivies.

Guys, I asked Rocket Guy for her name in PM. He gave it to me. I looked her up on FB. Yep, looks like she voted for Trump, and she has some inane conservative memes up, but she also expresses support for the LGBT community. She also seems to have a commitment to her class, and it sounds like she is open to communication.
I think you guys are guilty of over generalizing here with your assumptions.

Oh, good grief, @Dutchess_III, we were not “overgeneralizing”. We were working with the information we were given.

Well, let’s see:
“She may feel that women can’t refuse sex or are sluts for enjoying it. I would not want to be in that class.”

” I would be afraid she would be talking about abstinence and anti-homosexuality or transgenders and not tolerant of other viewpoints. ”

I’m surprised by the turn of this conversation. I don’t understand how any of you with an interest in the subject matter of the course would be discouraged by the woman’s obtuse politics. If anything, I would be chomping at the bit for the opportunity to watch her reconcile her views with the requirements of her profession. I mean how can you resist the urge to observe “the creature” at work? At least, curiosity should demand a closer look (by the way, nice work Dutchess). Why not dig up her published work or transcripts of past lectures?

Depends on how you view college. If the goal of college is a high-paying job or an education, then the course is a waste of time. If it’s curiosity, then the issue is with cost. Do you have the financial means to waste money on courses for the sake of curiosity? The total yearly cost of attending uni for me was $60,000. Curiosity would be very costly.

@maxomite I wish I had spent the money on classes I was just curious about. I regret not taking more classes to explore more possibilities. I was lazy and felt bad about spending the money. Both were foolish on my part in retrospect. The money was not as pricey as $60k a year, but it was expensive for back then. $60k is crazy to me. I assume it’s a very good school with an excellent reputation.

Did anyone read what @Dutchess_III wrote. The prof supports the LBGT community. I’m pretty sure everyone who is being so negative would not have assumed that.

If the OP takes the class I hope she comes back to let us know what the class was like.

Me too @stanleybmanly! I’d be really curious too!

Sounds like you’re going into this with a chip on your shoulder. Terrified that the professor may sat something you don’t already know to be true. If your wrong and the professor only tells you what you already know, you learn nothing. If your right and the professor challenges any of your predetermined beliefs, you’re scarred for life. My advice, don’t take the class, it’s too scary.

@Jaxk

Did you the read the additional info I provided? I’m hesitant about taking the course because I’m afraid it’s going to be a class with no in-depth discussions and debate.

Your question belies that statement. Without differing perspectives, there is no debate.

If you had never visited her FB page you would have never known. As it is, you’re developing assumptions based on that, and you may very well be wrong.
So what if she doesn’t have in-depth discussions and debates? Sure, they’re more fun, but you still get credit. That’s the bottom line.
You can always have in depth discussions and debates with other students who have taken her class.

Me thinks you think too much.

My class starts tomorrow and my teacher sent this email out today:

“Hello and Welcome!

I am super excited to have a number of you from the WGS class, as well as FAM 252Wink…I expect a lot from you guys, so you better be ready to talk. This has great potential to be a fun class (well, I hope)

Although these may not be “so important,” we will definitely talk about some pretty interesting and important facts and issues related to sexual development, attitudes and beliefs!”

So this class will definitely be interesting.

@rockfan Keep us updated as the class proceeds, please.

I can’t wait to hear about it @rockfan! Remember to be open and cool if someone starts carrying on about homosexuality is evil and stuff. Just be cool.

Well, the first few classes have gone really well. She’s an extremely passionate teacher and cares deeply about the subject she’s teaching and also prefers to have classroom discussions instead of simply lecturing for 2 hours.

And I wasn’t particularly surprised by some of her comments. One of the first things she said to our class was: “If you’re a precious snowflake, you probably won’t enjoy this class.”

She also told us outright that she’s a libertarian and hates big government. She also criticized Margaret Sanger for her support of Eugenics. Didn’t bother me at all though.

And it was funny to see some students be taken aback by her frankness. We were going over the syllabus and she mentioned “Yep we’re going to talk about masturbation techniques. Guys, you might learn a thing or two, certain masturbation techniques makes you last longer in bed.”

I was JUST thinking about this earlier, wondering if you started class! Thanks so much for touching base.

Masturbation techniques! LOL! Will the guys be all ears, I wonder?