The two videos place sex in the context of psychology and sociology and distinguish between gender and biological sex, and their contents find various implications for personal life. The sources educate the audience on sexual diversity by explaining intersex conditions, some common stereotypes of masculinity and femininity, and transgender people’s experiences (CrashCourse, n.d.a; CrashCourse, n.d.b). They review the biology of sexual relationships, including sex hormones’ influences on the spikes of sex desire (CrashCourse, n.d.a). Psychological aspects of sex, including culture-specific sexual scripts and the influence of one’s individual imagination and imposed sexual stereotypes in the media, are also explored (CrashCourse, n.d.a; CrashCourse, n.d.b). Another notable theme includes the purposes of sexual intimacy beyond procreation. Specifically, an individual’s satisfactory sex life leads to reductions in stress hormone levels, better interpersonal relationships, and building social bonds (CrashCourse, n.d.a). As for facts, the first interesting fact is that ovulating women’s presence can increase testosterone levels in men (CrashCourse, n.d.a). Secondly, no significant links between environmental factors and a person’s orientation have been established yet (CrashCourse, n.d.b). Thirdly, in humans, the so-called sexual response cycle consists of four stages, ranging from excitement to resolution (CrashCourse, n.d.a). The first fact is the most interesting as it sheds light on how the two sexes exchange olfactory cues to maximize the chances of successful conceptions. As for connections between the videos and my life, the discussion of heteronormativity explains my family’s perspectives on the only acceptable form of attraction (CrashCourse, n.d.b). Whenever my older relatives learn that our acquaintances are looking for partners, they automatically assume that this person must be heterosexual, which stems from their experiences in religious and traditional communities. Therefore, aside from citing interesting findings regarding human sexuality, the videos support the audience in reinterpreting some everyday experiences.
References
CrashCourse. (n.d.a). Let’s talk about sex: Crash Course psychology #27 [Video]. YouTube.
CrashCourse. (n.d.b). Sex & sexuality: Crash Course sociology #31 [Video]. YouTube.