, CHAPTER 1
Perspectives on Sexuality
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. Though sexuality in general may be difficult for some people to talk about, why is it almost impossible to
ignore?
a) People are always trying to force you to talk about sex.
b) There are many social and cultural messages out there about sexuality, including very subtle ones.
c) It is far too commonly found in the public school curricula.
d) The internet is full of porn.
2. Maria believes that people should only have sex inside committed relationships, and that anyone who has sex
outside of these relationships is a slut or a whore. Maria's beliefs about what is good and bad are a ________.
a) social exclusion, likely informed by religious beliefs
b) social confusion, likely informed by uneducated caregivers
c) social construction, likely formed by media
d) social refusing, likely informed by peer groups
3. What role do media play in shaping our beliefs about sexuality?
a) It provides a balanced and objective perspective on sexual norms.
b) It creates and dictates societal norms, including norms about sexuality.
c) It illustrates the wide diversity of sexual scripts available for people today.
d) It conveys the importance of openness and honesty in non-monogamous relationships.
4. During the Victorian era, media often conveyed messages about sexuality in subtle, hidden ways, such as
advertising vibrators for medical reasons. This was primarily driven by ________.
a) religious censorship
b) poor advertising strategies
c) high consumer compliance
d) lack of interest in sex
5. Lady Mary went to see a physician in the 1890s because she was distressed. The physician treated her with a
vibrator. What was the likely diagnosis?
a) hysteria
b) marital infidelity
c) depression
d) ADHD
6. Why did scholar Thomas Malthus argue that sexually explicit material should be suppressed?
a) Original sin by Adam and Eve had horrible consequences.
b) The only sexual thoughts a person should have should be towards their partner in a Christian marriage.
c) Children's schoolwork could be negatively affected if they were thinking about sex.
d) Sexually explicit material would lead to an increase in the population that would overtax diminishing natural
resources.
7. In which decade did advertisers first begin to increase the use of sex in their campaigns?
,a) 1920s
b) 1930s
c) 1940s
d) 1950s
8. Why do advertisers use scantily clad women in advertising?
a) to exploit women's insecurities about their appearances, leading them to buy products so they can appear more
like the "sexual ideal"
b) to arouse women sexually, which has been linked to increased willingness to spend money
c) to create associations between the product and a pleasurable activity (sex), making them more likely to buy the
product
d) to make women feel beautiful so they will "treat themselves" to new products
9. The 1950s brought about greater openness in advertising related to sexual content. This included at least three
major 1950s ad campaigns: Maidenform's "I dream," Revlon's "fire and ice," and Clairol's "Does she or doesn't
she? (colour her hair, that is!)". This shift is largely attributed to ______.
a) the Shere Hite Report
b) the Speculum Doctrinale
c) Hugh Hefner
d) the Kinsey Reports
10. Television in North America has the potential to raise concerns over what should and shouldn't be permitted in
terms of sexual content. What question does this raise?
a) Who is allowed to have sex on television?
b) How explicit can sexual content be?
c) Should sexual violence be shown?
d) all of the above
11. What type of scene resulted in an American television company being fined $3.6 million?
a) two men kissing
b) a teenage orgy
c) topless adult women
d) a lesbian couple raising a child
12. Sam and Donald are in a same-sex relationship. They met a few years ago online. Why were they more likely
to meet online than most mixed-sex couples?
a) They were three times more likely because, on average, people attracted to the same sex hold fewer notions of
taboos associated with online dating.
b) They were ten times more likely because same-sex couples rarely go on dates or associate with other
non-heterosexual people.
c) They were twice as likely because the "gay villages" are not as popular as they once were since the advent of the
internet.
d) They are not more likely to meet online than anyone else.
13. What is lacking in most media portrayals of sexual activity?
a) safer-sex messaging
b) traditional gender roles
Human Sexuality: A Contemporary Introduction, Third Edition
© Oxford University Press Canada, 2020
, c) romantic portrayals of love
d) real-life scenarios
14. What is the main drawback to the "fantasy model" of sex portrayed in today's media?
a) Fantasies are not a good indicator of sexual behaviour and are unlikely to change someone's sexual practices.
b) Fantasies rarely include safer-sex messaging about unwanted pregnancies and STIs.
c) Fantasies are not real and have no place in sexual scripts.
d) Fantasies often include hypersexualized people, which may distort erotic attractions.
15. Jake is caught up in the heat of the moment of a sexual encounter with his current partner Pam. In the middle
of their sexual encounter, Pam asks Jake if they should use a condom. Jake is somewhat surprised that she asked
this question because this was not how he envisioned the sexual encounter progressing. What did Pam's question
conflict with?
a) Jake's self-efficacy
b) Jake's masculinity
c) Jake's sexual script
d) Jake's ability to read sexual innuendos
16. What percentage of television programs contain some form of sexual content?
a) 80 per cent
b) 70 per cent
c) 50 per cent
d) 40 per cent
17. Which of the following are credited for increasing demand for contraception in Mexico, India, and Kenya?
a) television shows
b) internet websites
c) movies
d) magazine ads
18. Showing scenarios on television where men contract syphilis from other men will likely result in which of the
following?
a) more men who engage in sex with men getting tested for syphilis
b) fewer men who engage in sex with men getting tested for syphilis
c) more men and women getting tested for syphilis
d) fewer men and women getting tested for syphilis
19. Hollywood films and other forms of televised media have historically depicted black male's sexuality very
differently than other races. Based on this situation, which of the following is NOT true?
a) Hollywood films tend to dehumanize black males by objectifying their bodies during sex scenes far more often
than occurs with white males.
b) Black males are often depicted as blue collar (manual labor) workers with greater muscular features, which
suggest greater sexual aggression.
c) Black males are often given roles in which sex without intimacy is the norm and sexual partners are
acknowledged through domination and for violence.
d) Black music videos are more sexualized than are white music videos.
Human Sexuality: A Contemporary Introduction, Third Edition
© Oxford University Press Canada, 2020
Perspectives on Sexuality
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. Though sexuality in general may be difficult for some people to talk about, why is it almost impossible to
ignore?
a) People are always trying to force you to talk about sex.
b) There are many social and cultural messages out there about sexuality, including very subtle ones.
c) It is far too commonly found in the public school curricula.
d) The internet is full of porn.
2. Maria believes that people should only have sex inside committed relationships, and that anyone who has sex
outside of these relationships is a slut or a whore. Maria's beliefs about what is good and bad are a ________.
a) social exclusion, likely informed by religious beliefs
b) social confusion, likely informed by uneducated caregivers
c) social construction, likely formed by media
d) social refusing, likely informed by peer groups
3. What role do media play in shaping our beliefs about sexuality?
a) It provides a balanced and objective perspective on sexual norms.
b) It creates and dictates societal norms, including norms about sexuality.
c) It illustrates the wide diversity of sexual scripts available for people today.
d) It conveys the importance of openness and honesty in non-monogamous relationships.
4. During the Victorian era, media often conveyed messages about sexuality in subtle, hidden ways, such as
advertising vibrators for medical reasons. This was primarily driven by ________.
a) religious censorship
b) poor advertising strategies
c) high consumer compliance
d) lack of interest in sex
5. Lady Mary went to see a physician in the 1890s because she was distressed. The physician treated her with a
vibrator. What was the likely diagnosis?
a) hysteria
b) marital infidelity
c) depression
d) ADHD
6. Why did scholar Thomas Malthus argue that sexually explicit material should be suppressed?
a) Original sin by Adam and Eve had horrible consequences.
b) The only sexual thoughts a person should have should be towards their partner in a Christian marriage.
c) Children's schoolwork could be negatively affected if they were thinking about sex.
d) Sexually explicit material would lead to an increase in the population that would overtax diminishing natural
resources.
7. In which decade did advertisers first begin to increase the use of sex in their campaigns?
,a) 1920s
b) 1930s
c) 1940s
d) 1950s
8. Why do advertisers use scantily clad women in advertising?
a) to exploit women's insecurities about their appearances, leading them to buy products so they can appear more
like the "sexual ideal"
b) to arouse women sexually, which has been linked to increased willingness to spend money
c) to create associations between the product and a pleasurable activity (sex), making them more likely to buy the
product
d) to make women feel beautiful so they will "treat themselves" to new products
9. The 1950s brought about greater openness in advertising related to sexual content. This included at least three
major 1950s ad campaigns: Maidenform's "I dream," Revlon's "fire and ice," and Clairol's "Does she or doesn't
she? (colour her hair, that is!)". This shift is largely attributed to ______.
a) the Shere Hite Report
b) the Speculum Doctrinale
c) Hugh Hefner
d) the Kinsey Reports
10. Television in North America has the potential to raise concerns over what should and shouldn't be permitted in
terms of sexual content. What question does this raise?
a) Who is allowed to have sex on television?
b) How explicit can sexual content be?
c) Should sexual violence be shown?
d) all of the above
11. What type of scene resulted in an American television company being fined $3.6 million?
a) two men kissing
b) a teenage orgy
c) topless adult women
d) a lesbian couple raising a child
12. Sam and Donald are in a same-sex relationship. They met a few years ago online. Why were they more likely
to meet online than most mixed-sex couples?
a) They were three times more likely because, on average, people attracted to the same sex hold fewer notions of
taboos associated with online dating.
b) They were ten times more likely because same-sex couples rarely go on dates or associate with other
non-heterosexual people.
c) They were twice as likely because the "gay villages" are not as popular as they once were since the advent of the
internet.
d) They are not more likely to meet online than anyone else.
13. What is lacking in most media portrayals of sexual activity?
a) safer-sex messaging
b) traditional gender roles
Human Sexuality: A Contemporary Introduction, Third Edition
© Oxford University Press Canada, 2020
, c) romantic portrayals of love
d) real-life scenarios
14. What is the main drawback to the "fantasy model" of sex portrayed in today's media?
a) Fantasies are not a good indicator of sexual behaviour and are unlikely to change someone's sexual practices.
b) Fantasies rarely include safer-sex messaging about unwanted pregnancies and STIs.
c) Fantasies are not real and have no place in sexual scripts.
d) Fantasies often include hypersexualized people, which may distort erotic attractions.
15. Jake is caught up in the heat of the moment of a sexual encounter with his current partner Pam. In the middle
of their sexual encounter, Pam asks Jake if they should use a condom. Jake is somewhat surprised that she asked
this question because this was not how he envisioned the sexual encounter progressing. What did Pam's question
conflict with?
a) Jake's self-efficacy
b) Jake's masculinity
c) Jake's sexual script
d) Jake's ability to read sexual innuendos
16. What percentage of television programs contain some form of sexual content?
a) 80 per cent
b) 70 per cent
c) 50 per cent
d) 40 per cent
17. Which of the following are credited for increasing demand for contraception in Mexico, India, and Kenya?
a) television shows
b) internet websites
c) movies
d) magazine ads
18. Showing scenarios on television where men contract syphilis from other men will likely result in which of the
following?
a) more men who engage in sex with men getting tested for syphilis
b) fewer men who engage in sex with men getting tested for syphilis
c) more men and women getting tested for syphilis
d) fewer men and women getting tested for syphilis
19. Hollywood films and other forms of televised media have historically depicted black male's sexuality very
differently than other races. Based on this situation, which of the following is NOT true?
a) Hollywood films tend to dehumanize black males by objectifying their bodies during sex scenes far more often
than occurs with white males.
b) Black males are often depicted as blue collar (manual labor) workers with greater muscular features, which
suggest greater sexual aggression.
c) Black males are often given roles in which sex without intimacy is the norm and sexual partners are
acknowledged through domination and for violence.
d) Black music videos are more sexualized than are white music videos.
Human Sexuality: A Contemporary Introduction, Third Edition
© Oxford University Press Canada, 2020
