Kinsey Institute planning for 50th anniversary of landmark study on female sexuality

Input being sought for next year’s ‘Women’s Sexualities’ series

By Jayne Spencer

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“When the decade of the fifties began,” Halberstam wrote, “sex was still something of an illicit subject in America.”

To honor the 50th anniversary of the date of publication of Kinsey’s book, to honor the pioneering efforts of the IU professor and to look forward to future relevant work regarding the role of sexuality in modern life, the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction is planning a series of events next year to address issues surrounding women’s sexualities, their diversity and their relation to gender and to reproduction.

“Women’s Sexualities: Portrayals and Perspectives” is in the planning phase and individuals and IU units university-wide are being asked to submit proposals for activities, events or courses that will foster interest in furthering interdisciplinary knowledge within the university community and beyond.

Events will be sponsored by the Kinsey Institute and presented collaboratively with other organizations. Activities on the theme that are independently planned and sponsored by other organizations also may be offered in affiliation with the Kinsey events.

Possible offerings include but are not limited to lectures, panel discussions, performance and exhibitions. Activities and sponsorship will be included in published schedules and promotions of the 2003 schedule of events. Affiliated activities may be scheduled for presentation any time throughout the year 2003.

A few of the events already planned for 2003 include a public address by a nationally known keynote speaker, an art exhibition and gallery talks presented by the IU School of Fine Arts (SoFA) Gallery in Bloomington and the Kinsey Institute; forums on topical issues of women’s sexualities; a public lecture series presented by various IU organizations and the Kinsey Institute; and a film festival presented by the IUB Department of Communications and Culture, the Kinsey Institute and the Ryder Film Series in Bloomington.

A national conference, “Women’s Sexualities: Historical and Interdisciplinary Perspectives,” sponsored by the Kinsey Institute and the IUB departments of Gender Studies and of History, is being planned.

Additionally, academic courses planned for the spring or fall semesters of 2003 with relevance to the theme of women’s sexualities will be listed in publications about the year-long commemoration.

Proposed activities, events or courses may be submitted to the Kinsey Institute by April 30. Proposals may be submitted to Dara Eckart, Kinsey Institute, Morrison Hall 313, Bloomington, IN 47405; E-mail deckart@indiana.edu, telephone 812-855-7686.

http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/services/2003/index.html