SEXUAL ETIQUETTE, An Introduction

Visiting Maryland last summer, we stopped by Ron's colleague from Morgan State University, Carol Perrino (the still-working psychology professor). Reviewed the state of the world, of course.  I told her about our Gray Panther meeting in NYC, "Sex, Seniors, & the HIV Crisis."  And knitting Condom Amulets to get out the safe sex message. Would they catch on, we wondered.  Was this quirky approach to sex ed too far ahead of its time?  Carol was very familiar with that issue.

In 1992, she and another psychology professor developed an educational game called Sexual Etiquette: a game of manners.  Attractively packaged, it was a box of question-cards plus instruction booklet. Its goal--Role Play how a man or a woman would answer a particular question.  Here is one, "As a recent widow/widower, you find yourself sexually attracted to your dead spouse's best friend.  How soon after your spouse's death would it be appropriate for you to begin dating this person?"

If the players differ in their answers, the dealer announces "Discussion," and serves as referee, usually allows 5 minutes before moving on to the next question.  Players can answer a question as if they were the opposite sex. If one player disagrees with a response, then  a challenge takes place; the role-player has to answer as if the other sex.  Group consensus determines scoring from O=Awful Sexual Etiquette all the way up to 3=Excellent who wins.  Winner gets to pose any sexual etiquette question to the players.

What are your thoughts about the game?  Should Carol and her co-creator pull all those boxes of Sexual Etiquette out of the closet--and offer them for sale?   

                                                                                                                  

Comments

[Bethene LeMahieu]

I say, "Yes!" These topics will benefit greatly from conversation and from shared points of view. The format is supportive and fun.

[Dale]

Yes! Luckily I haven't had to "date" anyone other than my partner of 19 years, but I do sometimes wonder what it would be like out there for me, a 50-something woman. A game like this would almost certainly bring up issues I might not even consider otherwise.