Sex and History

The Project

Dr Rebecca Langlands and Dr Kate Fisher co-direct the Sex and History project, working with museums, schools and young people throughout the South West.

16th Century Chastity Belt

Chastity belt
Credit: Wellcome Images

The project uses their research into sexual knowledge and the history of sex to empower people of all ages – and especially young people - to talk more openly about sex and discuss the issues that really matter to them in a supportive but thought-provoking environment.

At the heart of the project is a methodology developed by Langlands and Fisher that uses museum objects from past cultures such as ancient Rome or China as a starting point for discussion, debate and creative responses.

Such museum collections have proved ideal for stimulating discussion about sex and reflection on contemporary issues. They showcase global cultural diversity, provide historical distance that makes the discussion more impersonal and less intimidating, and demonstrate that sex has been a concern to people for centuries.

The distance of history combined with the immediacy of thought-provoking objects make the experience less personal, helping to encourage young people to open up about the issues that concern them – whether it be puberty, the power dynamics of sexual relationships, sexuality or sexually transmitted infections etc.

Activities

Impact Award Winners

L to R: Dr Kate Fisher, Louise McDermot (Royal Cornwall Museum), Dr Rebecca Langlands, Professor Nick Talbot (University of Exeter), Julian Vayne (Museum Consultant) and Rachel Vowles (Project Co-ordinator) celebrate success at the University of Exeter Impact Awards

Activities have included workshops and creative projects in dance, drama, film and art projects in schools and charity groups, a well-received sex education resource for schools, Talking Sex, and numerous events and museum exhibitions including a successful exhibition ‘Revealing Collections’ at the Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro.

2013 will see a major exhibition at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter of erotic objects from the Collection of Sir Henry Wellcome. The project enhances the role of regional museums in the South West in social change and well-being in the wider community, and also makes a lasting contribution to policy on sex and relationship education. The project recently won an Award for Outstanding Social and Cultural Impact.