Sexuality and Our Diversity: Integrating Culture with the Biopsychosocial by Marcus Tye explores, with an integrated approach, the complex dimensions of biology, culture, psychology, sociology, history, and philosophy that explain human sexual diversity.
While this text is primarily focused on the present, it also explores selected aspects of history to lend perspective to students that contemporary controversies have deep historical roots.
Sexuality and Our Diversity: Integrating Culture with the Biopsychosocial boasts the following areas of content emphasis and organization:
Global Issues
Sexuality and Our Diversity features several pressing global health issues. One example is vaginal fistulas, a topic left out in many texts despite the fact that more than 100,000 women in developing countries each year experience this debilitating and easily treatable condition. Marcus takes the time to explain how there are parallel relationships between gender roles, economic circumstances, and health in many countries, including the U.S., so as to make material relevant to students.
Streamlined
Marcus took special care in his text to avoid redundancy in readings. For example, rather than discuss sexual attraction and orientation in different chapters, they are covered in a single integrated chapter as orientation is a significant part of attraction for most people. Likewise, hormonal cycles and contraception are covered in a single chapter because of the strong overlap in content. Eliminating redundancies has allowed for greater cultural and historical depth, enabling Marcus to include research from a wider range of relevant disciplines. Although the text has fifteen chapters, it is comparable in total length to texts with eighteen or nineteen chapters. Marcus also has an innovative philosophy for sexual orientation and gender issues. LGBT research is presented in an integrated manner, in multiple relevant chapters, rather than being confined to a "special" chapter on sexual orientation.
Flexible Organization
Many of the fifteen chapters in Sexuality and Our Diversity are organized in an innovative format using two or three "Parts." This provides an easy breaking point for those instructors who wish to spend multiple classes or weeks on certain topics and prefer a single class on others. Having logical breaking points within chapters gives instructors additional flexibility to remap readings to a new semester’s calendar. This is especially useful if an instructor teaches both accelerated and regular terms or is switching from a text with a different organization. Flat World Knowledge's innovative Editor permits customization at the chapter, section, and even sentence level.
Core Concepts and Depth
As human sexuality is an important component of many different curricula, this text does not assume that students have had introductory psychology or introductory biology. Explanations of essential psychological and biological constructs are provided where necessary. Sexuality and Our Diversity is written at a sophomore to junior level and is designed for courses where students may have a wide range of skill or interest levels. Each section begins with a foundation of core concepts and builds to content and topics appropriate for advanced students. Research is explained so that less prepared students can understand complex material.
Integrative Approach
Marcus Tye believes that a full understanding of human sexuality requires integrating the breadth of culture, psychology, and biology. It requires exploring disparate disciplines, from anthropology to genetics, written in a contemporary style that keeps an eye on what is trending on Twitter without forgetting the importance of historical context.
He knows that understanding social and religious differences in sexuality from an international perspective is vital in an integrated world, and better informs both U.S. and international students. It is with this understanding and belief that he birthed Sexuality and Our Diversity: Integrating Culture with the Biopsychosocial. Review the text online now, or request review materials to judge if this integrated perspective is suited for your course and students.
