Sex-Positive Social Work, by SJ Dodd, Columbia University Press, ISBN 9780231188104, 2020, 288 pages, $35.00, paperback.
In Sex-Positive Social Work, Dodd offers readers clarity about the philosophy of sex-positivity, specific information on how to integrate this approach into work with clients, and education about a broad array of sexuality and gender-related topics.
The book’s introduction provides a compelling explanation for the need to end the “conspiracy of silence” surrounding sexuality in social work education and practice. Dodd explains the barriers this creates for many clients and centers the importance of acknowledging sexuality as a part of the larger ecosystem of human experience. The book is organized in 10 chapters that each explore relevant information and interventions that can aid social workers in engaging sex-positivity in practice.
The first three chapters provide practical and specific suggestions for “Creating a Sex-Positive Environment for Clients,” including developing self-reflection and awareness around individually held beliefs about sex, establishing awareness of the most effective ways to communicate with clients about sex-related topics, using inclusive intake forms, and setting up one’s office in a way that creates a sense of inclusivity and openness for a diverse group of clients. Dodd also offers an introduction to “Anatomy, Physiology, and Arousal,” including descriptions of the “reproductive characteristics” of “male” and “female” bodies.
Chapters 4 and 5 provide information about “Sexual Identity” and “Gender Identity” based on research conducted in the field, followed by chapters on “Sex Across the Life-span,” “Communicating About Love and Intimacy,” “Alt Sex,” “Sexual Dysfunctions and Disorders,” and “Ethics and the Sex-Positive Social Worker.” These chapters are particularly helpful in encouraging readers to acknowledge myths and stereotypes associated with gender and sex that negatively impact marginalized populations, as well as enhance the reader’s understanding and vocabulary for a variety of sexual identities, practices, and experiences.
Dodd’s experience as an educator is evident throughout the book. She often uses case examples to illustrate the usefulness and application of the information provided in each chapter. She demonstrates humility by acknowledging the variability of experience and possibility that some terms and descriptions in the book may become “outdated” over time, and she writes with clear, concise, and accessible language that holds space for readers who might be encountering the concepts presented in the material for the first time.
Throughout the book, Dodd provides descriptions of how each section is related to the National Association of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics, clearly outlining the importance of the information provided and, subsequently, the necessity for social work curricula to engage and embrace the philosophy of sex-positivity in order to improve students’ capacity to enter the field prepared to meet clients as whole people (sexual identity included).
As a current student in an MSW program, I am grateful to have read this book. It fills many gaps in the human behavior realm, as well as increased my education in “cultural competence and humility,” and has strengthened my ability to connect with clients in practice. Whereas the specific content of the book is generally focused toward a micro-oriented audience with little knowledge/experience in sex-positivity, the information and wealth of resources provided in the text are likely to enhance the competence of social work professionals, students, and educators across the board.
Reviewed by Danie Brawand (he/they), MSW candidate at NYU (2021), intern at The Institute for Human Identity.