50 Shades of Grey as COLLEGE Class?

"Now class, please turn to page 197 and read out loud about Ana's first blow job."

That would make for a pretty entertaining and red-faced college class! However, Professor Stef Woods' spring class at American University, entitled "Contemporary American Culture: The Fifty Shades Triology," is not about titillation. Some students may be disappointed to find out that the course has a heavy reading load and much analysis and critical thinking about sexuality, gender, sexual health, addiction, and domestic violence in American society, as well as lessons in writing, editing, marketing, advertising, and public relations.

News of her class has been picked up internationally in the media, with comment sections flooded by attacking remarks. I've noticed that people love to get on their high horses about "what we pay for our children to learn," or "what our tax dollars are used for." Don't get your panties and boxer shorts in a bunch, folks. Much of the valuable role of college is guiding teenagers into adulthood and offering skills in business, critical thinking, relationships, and the world. A course like this creates a context for real life learning...learning and navigating the media-saturated and sexuality-saturated world that these students inhabit.

I have personal experience teaching a class like this. Back in 2004 and 2005 I taught a course at Cal State San Marcos about Eve Ensler's play "The Vagina Monologues." We decontructed sexuality, gender, race, and bodies. There was also a strong experiential component, as students wrote their own personal monologues and presented a Vagina Fest with three performances of the play. They learned critical thinking skills, public speaking, personal reflection, and compassion.

I know Stef Woods personally; I interviewed her in 2011 for my In the Den with Dr. Jenn video series and also presented with her at the 2012 Momentum Conference in Washington, DC. Gratetfully a recent interview on MSNBC allowed Stef to speak to the academic content and media skills development that are foundational to her class. Take a look at the MSNBC video below:

~Dr. Jenn Gunsaullus, San Diego, CA -- Sex Coach, Sociologist, Sexuality Speaker, Sexologist

New Year: Change Your Relationship

From: http://www.salon.com/2012/01/04/the_sexual_resolution/It’s a few weeks into the new year – have your resolutions already fallen by the wayside? Did you swear off fatty foods, cigarettes, and excessive drinking, or commit yourself to lose weight, eat healthier, and keep a budget, only to find yourself slipping into old habits? These are all worthy intentions for the new year, but I think a different approach, especially when applied to improving sex and relationships, can keep you on track this whole year long.

Choose one relationship or sexual improvement goal this year, and continually work towards developing that. For example, do you and your partner struggle when it comes to communication? If so, each month create a small plan about how you’re going to work on that. Perhaps you could start in January with each writing a list of your needs, irritations, and resentments and kindly discuss them with each other. Then in February you can each choose two needs and present a plan on how they could be better met in your relationship. Each month you can add on a new component or communication mode. There’s no right or wrong way to do this; just keep plugging along.

Of if your goal for the year is to learn more about your sexual pleasure, desire, and arousal, choose a different aspect of this to explore each month. You could start with reading through Amazon reviews on books about sexual pleasure, and find one that piques your interest. Next month you could take a class, have a vulnerable conversation with a friend, purchase a new sexual toy, try a lubricant, etc. Anything that builds towards your big picture goal of sexual pleasure knowledge.

One of the most important ways to stay true to your new year’s goals is to have a plan and review it regularly for sustainability and accountability. Set your phone alarm for every Sunday evening as a reminder to review your intention and reflect on whether you’ve taken steps towards or away from that. Then write down ideas for that week of how you’re going to take a step in the right direction. Intentions are a work in progress, so continue to identify what works and what doesn’t for you, and apply that feedback to create success.

~Dr. Jenn Gunsaullus, San Diego, CA -- Sociologist, Sex Coach, Sexuality Speaker, Sexologist

How to Be More Vibrantly You!

What does it mean to live "vibrantly?" I looked up the formal definition recently, and read that "vibrant" means vigorous, lively, and vital, or pulsing with energy. This Friday, January 18, 2013, I will be speaking at a women's symposium on women's health, called Vibrantly You: Women's Wellbeing Symposium. This event is about helping women feel more alive both inside and out.

Gratefully women's health has been getting much greater attention in recent years, and there is a lot of research about how to be our most healthy and vibrant selves. This women's health symposium is founded by Dr. Diana Hoppe, who will share her inspirational story, and also speak about what women need to know about heart health and overall wellness. Dr. Jane Bening will clear up myths about women's hormones and hormone replacement therapy, and Dr. Tess Mauricio will speak about developing beauty on the inside and outside.

I will be wrapping up the lectures with an interative presenation about bringing mindfulness into your life for more fulfilling sexuality and greater passion! We'll complete the event with a parel discussion, fielding questions from the audience. I think when it comes down to it, the moments that we feel most alive are the most exciting and the most meaningful. However, it can be difficult to get out of the ruts and resentments of every day life. This event promises to stir things up and give women knowledge and tools to pulse with energy!

Vibranty You, Friday, January 18, 2013, 8am - 12:30pm, La Costa Resort, Carlsbad, CA.

As a friend of Dr. Jenn, you can receive a $22 discount with this "R & D" code. Register at the Vibranty You website, and I'll see you this Friday!

~Dr. Jenn Gunsaullus, San Diego, CA -- Sociologist, Sex Coach, Sexuality Speaker, Sexologist

Sex: Mind full or Mindful? TEDxWomen AFC

"We don't talk about the complexity of sexuality. What happens when we don't talk about it is that sexuality ends up on the shadows, and that is where we have shame, embarrassment, exploitation, abuse, and fear." ~Jennifer Gunsaullus, PhD

SEx: Mind Full or Mindful? TEDx Talk by San Diego Sexologist Dr. Jenn Gunsaullus.

I was thrilled to speak at America's Finest City's TEDxWomen* event in San Diego on December 2, 2012, about my favorite topics of sex, female sexuality, and mindfulness.

Growing up as a girl in American society means that you likely learned a lot of negative and shameful messages about your body and sex, and received poor sex education. In this TEDx Talk, I discuss the state of affairs around female sexuality in the U.S.

Also, you can check out 10 of the Sexiest TED Talks about Sex. Thank you for viewing and I'd love to hear what you have to say about sex, female sexuality, and mindfulness!

*(Due to a music copyright infringement claim, all of the videos from that event were removed from the TEDx YouTube page in May of 2016. This pretty much sucked, because there were so many great comments, likes, and interactions around sex, mindfulness, and this talk! So, I removed the musical intro and am now posting to my YouTube channel. I hope you enjoy it!)

~Dr. Jenn Gunsaullus, San Diego, CA -- Sociologist, Sexuality Speaker, Mindfulness Speaker, Sexologist

Updates on Mammograms & PAP Smears - Dr. Diana Hoppe on the Dr. Oz Show

How often should you get a PAP smear? How about a Mammogram? Dr. Diana Hoppe, the co-author of my sexuality ebook for women, was recently interviewed on the Dr. Oz Show about these topics. Hear what the OB/GYN has to say!

~Dr. Jenn Gunsaullus, San Diego, CA -- Sexologist, Sociologist, Sexuality Speaker, Sex Coach

How Common is Infidelity? Dr. Jenn interviews Dr. Neil Cannon

How common is cheating or infidelity in relationships? What's the best approach to treating the concerns around cheating? Dr. Jenn interviews sex therapist Dr. Neil Cannon to get his sex expert views on infidelity.

~Dr. Jenn Gunsaullus, San Diego, CA -- Sex Coach, Sexologist, Sexuality Speaker, Sociologist