Author Description

Taboo and Genetics: A Study of the Biological, Sociological and Psychological Foundation of the Family is the work of authors M.M Knight, Iva Lowther Peters, and Phyllis Blanchard. This book is a study of sex from the perspective of the three different scientific fields referred to in its title. The format of Taboo and Genetics is fairly straightforward. The book is divided into three parts, opening with the work of Dr. M.M. Knight, a biologist. Titled The New Biology and the Sex Problem in Society this portion of the book tackles sex from a mostly biological perspective, describing what acts are classified as sex, and exploring sex across the animal kingdom in order to draw comparisons to humans. Part two, The Institutionalized Sex Taboo, is the work of Dr. Iva Lowther Peters, and approaches the subject sociologically. Peters' section primarily discusses a woman's role in sex culture, including a history of how the sexuality of women has been interpreted throughout the ages. The book concludes with the work of Dr. Phyllis Blanchard, a psychologist. Blanchard explores modern sexuality from a psychological perspective, focusing on the sometimes unconscious sexual impulses of men and women. Taboo and Genetics is an interesting read and one that provides a variety of perspectives on sexuality. The authors take a controversial stance on some issues, including race and sexuality, but provide the reader with some historical perspective on how the issues discussed were interpreted by medical professionals at the time of writing. Attitudes towards sex have changed a great deal in recent times, and this book is certainly evidence of that. If you are a student or professional involved in sexual health, Taboo and Genetics is a worthwhile read. The book offers three different perspectives on sexuality, and provides the reader with a wealth of information on the history of the study of sex. About the Publisher