The Kinsey Institute staff and faculty are saddened by the passing last month of Ruth Ann Beasley in Bloomington, Indiana. Ruth was born on October 25, 1942 and died peacefully in her home, October 2, 2023. Ruth was a beloved friend, mentor, and colleague of our staff and faculty and made extraordinary contributions to the Kinsey Institute over several decades. (more…)
Challenging Misconceptions About Sexual Assault and the Myth of “Real Rape”
Recent high-profile sexual assault allegations against celebrities like Donald Trump, Danny Masterson, and Russell Brand have become focal points for a recurring narrative that challenges survivors based on their perceived reactions: the notion that their reports are less valid because they did not fight back or scream at the time of the assault, or came forward after a significant delay. These misconceptions reinforce the need to confront again the deeply ingrained biases that plague discussions surrounding sexual assault.
We spoke with Dr. Zoë Peterson, Senior Scientist at the Kinsey Institute and one of the foremost experts on sexual aggression, about the public commentary that has followed accusations against these public figures. (more…)
Interview: Rachel E. Gross and “Vagina Obscura”
We recently had the opportunity to speak with award-winning science journalist Rachel E. Gross and ask a few questions about her new book, Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage.
Published by W.W. Norton & Company in 2022, Vagina Obscura tells the story of how early anatomists mapped our lady parts—and how a new generation is wresting them back.
_ _ _ _ _
What was the biggest challenge or surprise you encountered when writing this book?
I set out wanting to take readers on a wonder-filled journey to the center of the female body — a Magic School Bus ride that would enthrall and empower people about their own biology. But I quickly learned that our knowledge about the female body was filled with holes, myths, and misconceptions. So instead, I had to write, in a way, a book about why we don’t know what we don’t know. That turned out to be a much more difficult challenge, but also much more rewarding. (more…)
Dr. Amanda Gesselman to Direct Postdoctoral Training at Kinsey Institute
The Kinsey Institute is pleased to announce that Anita Aldrich Endowed Research Scientist Dr. Amanda Gesselman has accepted a new administrative role at the Kinsey Institute, effective July 1, 2023. In addition to her robust research program, Dr. Gesselman will now oversee the training and mentorship of the Institute’s postdoctoral scholars.
Do Fetal Development Markers Influence People’s Attitudes toward Abortion?
In a recent study, Kinsey Institute researcher Dr. Kristen Jozkowski and her colleagues examined whether the inclusion of language around fetal development influences people’s support for legal abortion across a variety of circumstances and sociodemographic factors.
This article is part of a series sharing research by Kinsey Institute researchers and their colleagues on a variety of factors affecting the public perception of abortion in the United States. (more…)