Month: August 2012

Atheists Talk: Jesse Bering on "Why Is the Penis Shaped Like That?"

Stephanie Zvan5 Comments

Researcher and science writer Jesse Bering delights in being provocative. From the description of his new book, Why Is the Penis Shaped Like That?: And Other Reflections on Being Human:

Why do testicles hang the way they do? Is there an adaptive function to the female orgasm? What does it feel like to want to kill yourself? Does “free will” really exist? And why is the penis shaped like that anyway?

In Why Is the Penis Shaped Like That?, the research psychologist and award-winning columnist Jesse Bering features more than thirty of his most popular essays from Scientific American and Slate, as well as two new pieces, that take readers on a bold and captivating journey through some of the most taboo issues related to evolution and human behavior. Exploring the history of cannibalism, the neurology of people who are sexually attracted to animals, the evolution of human body fluids, the science of homosexuality, and serious questions about life and death, Bering astutely covers a generous expanse of our kaleidoscope of quirks and origins.

With his characteristic irreverence and trademark cheekiness, Bering leaves no topic unturned or curiosity unexamined, and he does it all with an audaciously original voice. Whether you’re interested in the psychological history behind the many facets of sexual desire or the evolutionary patterns that have dictated our current mystique and phallic physique, Why Is the Penis Shaped Like That? is bound to create lively discussion and debate for years to come.

Join us Sunday as we talk to Jesse Bering about the range of human behavior tackled in his book.

Related Links

Listen to AM 950 KTNF this Sunday at 9 a.m. Central to hear Atheists Talk, produced by Minnesota Atheists. Stream live online. Call in to the studio at 952-946-6205, or send an e-mail to [email protected] during the live show. If you miss the live show, listen to the podcast later.

Atheists Talk: Jesse Bering on "Why Is the Penis Shaped Like That?"
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More Evidence on Why Women Participate Less

Stephanie Zvan5 Comments

I’ve previously talked about reasons given by women for not participating in the atheist and movement. The American Secular Census has previously given us survey data to help us figure out a problem. Now we have both in the same place. A couple of days ago, they released information on barriers to participation by women:

  • Most women respondents not currently active in the secular movement are aware of groups and events but do not participate. A smaller percentage were involved at some point but are now inactive. For both of these subsets, insufficient time is cited most often as the main obstacle to participation.
  • Other obstacles named by women outside the secular movement are inconvenient events; insufficient money; bad experience with group, person, or event; not a joiner; and lack of childcare.
  • A non-trivial number of women respondents admitted they are not really sure why they haven’t participated in the secular movement.
  • Although not the top response, lack of childcare was the one factor to emerge as a disproportionately women’s concern. Just 39.1% of all registrants submitting this Census form were women; yet women represented more than 61.1% of the “lack of childcare” responses. No other selection showed a gender imbalance this marked.

There is more information there, mostly about factors having to do with identity. There is also some good news. Go read it all.

More Evidence on Why Women Participate Less

Two Weekends, Two Conferences

Stephanie Zvan8 Comments

If you’re in Omaha this weekend for the Midwest Freethought Conference, keep an eye out for me and for Brianne. We should be easy to find on Saturday. I can’t say for sure what the plans are for Friday night and Sunday yet, though.

I wasn’t planning to go to Omaha for this, but then I ended up with Friday off of work. Brianne said, “Hey, whatcha doin? We got room, you know.” So I looked at the schedule and saw a bunch of speakers I hadn’t heard before. Cool. And Amanda Kneif was going to be there. That clinched it. Luckily, the conference allows registration at the door.

Of course, Amanda will almost certainly be in St. Paul next weekend for our very own American Atheists Regional Conference, which the Minnesota Atheists are cohosting. This is the big one. This is where the anti-harassment policy gets rolled out!

Continue reading “Two Weekends, Two Conferences” →

Two Weekends, Two Conferences

The Cost of Education

Stephanie Zvan60 Comments

As part of the ongoing discussion around Dan Fincke’s suggestions that the comment policy for his blog should be the general way arguments are conducted in the world, Crommunist posted a link on Twitter yesterday.

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/Crommunist/status/230382266134716416″]

A brief snippet from the post linked:

Let me tell you something: as someone who faces sexism on a very personal level, I have no interest in politely trying to educate misogynists when we live in a culture in which their misogyny has no repercussions. Our government is introducing bill after bill of offensive, woman-hating legislation, murder is still the leading cause of [death of] pregnant women, and rape is under-prosecuted at staggering numbers. Birth control is up for debate, governors are rolling back equal pay laws, and you think I have the energy to be polite to these people?

No.

Because it doesn’t do any good.

Daniel responded at some length, but there’s one tweet in particular I’d like to respond to.

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/CamelsHammers/status/230404479202250753″]

And one more tweet from Crommunist for context.

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/Crommunist/status/230408958001676289″]

Here’s the thing. I do educate, and I still disagree with Daniel on this. Continue reading “The Cost of Education” →

The Cost of Education