World Association for Sexual Health Conference: Osunality for Sexuality Educators, Clinicians, Researchers and Advocates
Osunality is an empowering, post-colonial, sex-positive/critical, African-centered paradigm. Osunality supports diversity in sensuality and eroticism, inclusive of all forms of sexual pleasure (Nzegwu, 2010). Osunality education can inspire students to think critically, increase understanding of post-colonial sexualities, African sexosophy, non-phallocentric views of sex and empowering views of ethnic female genital modifications (EFGM) or “sculpting the erotic body.” The purpose of this research and osunality education is to increase sexual multiepistemic literacy. In other words, the purpose is to make available multiple ways of understanding knowledge and interpretations of topics surrounding sexualities.
(Auto)ethnographic data were collected in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, through direct observation of a ceremony for Oxum, and through reflections on 11 interviews with practitioners of Candomblé, an Afro-Brazilian religion.The decolonizing autoethnography (Diversi & Moreia, 2009) methodology was used in order to address the specific issues surrounding negative effects of colonialism relating to sexuality. This approach to research seeks to describe and systematically analyze personal experience in order to understand cultural experience.
The results of this decolonizing autoethnography are summarized through the process of auto-sexual-decolonization, or the utilization of self-love (autosexuality) to undo negative effects of colonialism which go through the following phases: (a) recognition (b) deconstruction and reconstruction (c) sexual decolonization (d) sexual praxis (e) empowerment (f) rebirth and (g) spiritualities. Ọ̀ṣunality served as a catalyst for emancipation from the bondage of cisheteropatriarchy and inspired sensual liberation. Implications of the findings include increased awareness of sexual colonialism, sexual decolonization, non-phallocentric views of “sex,” and autosexuality. Sexual pluralism without hierarchy can celebrate the diversity of sexual knowledge, without privileging one kind of knowledge system above another or asserting that one perspective is more valid than another.
Recommendations for sexuality clinician, educators and researchers include suggestions to decolonize their respected fields in order to ensure epistemic justice and diversity.
Keywords: Sexuality, Sensuality, Post-colonial
Goddard College Undergraduate Sexuality Studies Program: Decolonial SAR (Sexual Attitude Reassessment/Restructuring)
The Decolonial Sexual Attitude Reassessment (D-SAR) is a highly provocative, experiential, cognitive and affective experience that is designed to push comfort levels, elicit feelings and confront attitudes, beliefs and values about sexuality. Presentations can encompass media, (including contemporary film, television and art), along with presentations and panels of live speakers/demonstrations showing the potential range of human sexual expression. A SAR enables the participant to move emotionally, intellectually, spiritually and psychologically into a zone of greater knowing, acceptance, and tolerance of human sexuality in all of its possible dimensions.
Sex Down South Conference: Non-Phallocentric Views of Sex
The definition of sex does not need to revolve around a penis. Sex does not have to be limited by phallocentrism, gynocentrism, clitocentrism, and anthropocentrism. Sex does not even need to involve a penis or a vagina. Sex does not have to be limited to involving other humans. Conceptualizing sex as a whole body experience is key to expanding eroticism beyond the genitals. Genitals are not the only sex organs available to make love with. When one is open to beauty and pleasure in diverse forms, embodied knowledge can be the source of sensual experiences. For example, ecosexuals can experience sex without humans or the involvement of genitals. This workshop seeks to increase awareness of non-phallocentric views of sex through Ọ̀ṣunality, a sex-positive, African-centered paradigm that affirms the normality of sexual pleasure and erotic diversity. Ọ̀ṣunality provides a non-phallocentric narrative of "the devouring vagina" which assigns agency to the vagina and reminds us that sex does not have to be confined to Westocentric definitions.
(1) By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to name 3 non-phallocentric views of sex. (2) By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to list 3 other sex organs besides the genitals and brain.
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SSSS (The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality) Conference: Decolonizing Autoethnography for Sexual Science