Title: Doctor Hubbard's Sex Facts for Men and Women Author: Bob Berkowitz and Susan Yager-Berkowitz (Editors) Publisher: Harper Paperbacks Publish Date: 2009 Pages: 138 Genres:: History, Compilation, Gender Studies, History, How-To Guide, Humor, Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Sexual Health/Men Reviewer: B.I. Laureano

Rating:

How did you learn about sex? How do you think your grandparents learned about sex? Whether it was watching television shows, listening to music or our parents, we know the conversations that have occurred over the past several years are nothing like what was going on 30 years ago let alone 75 years ago! Doctor Hubbard’s Sex Facts for Men & Women helps us recognize how far we have come by publishing brochures that were released in the 1920s.

Partnered sexologists Bob Berkowitz and Susan Yager-Berkowitz, have compiled four brochures by Dr. Hubbard and include: Sex Facts for Young Men, Sex Facts for the Adolescent & Matured Woman, Facts About Marriage Every Young Man & Woman Should Know, and Facts About Parenthood. Now, if you pick this text up expecting to find medically accurate information, you are in for a big surprise. This text is more humorous and intriguing than informative and affirming. To say the text is outdated is an understatement. I can envision using this in a classroom to demonstrate how misinformation and “saving” women was masked at a particular time in history.

If you need more concrete information for how NOT to use this book as a reference, the diagram of male reproductive organs on page 14 excludes the actual penis! The chapter for women begins immediately with a discussion on venereal disease (VD); this was not the case with men where there was a much more lengthy introduction around health and wellness before jumping into discussions of VD. Plus, the focus of the reproductive female organs is the womb/uterus, with absolutely no discussion of any other part of the body in such depth. It makes sense, as some birth control methods that are available today were not even thought about at that time.

Does it need to be said that the chapter on marriage is heterosexist? The conversation about marriage is limited. The author actually mentions how over-indulgence in sexual activity early in a marriage can cause damage to the nervous system (p. 71)! A section quickly follows that on when a couple should consider having children. Of course if you do want to have children Dr. Hubbard will quote the Bible if you have questions on how to discipline them (p. 105).

The two things I do appreciate about this text is that Dr. Hubbard encourages the reader to speak to an adult that they trust. This can be a parent, which is usually the person identified, but in general, an older adult. This is one part of the text that I wholeheartedly agree with and is something I still employ today, especially for youth. There needs to be someone in our lives who we trust and can give us good advice. I think this is especially true for youth who are experimenting or are sexually active. I also appreciated the 2+ pages that were devoted to reasons why a woman may want to seriously consider breastfeeding her child.