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SMF 205The Dark Side of Sexuality

Units
0.50
Faculty
Arts
Subject
Sexuality, Marriage and Family Studies

Not in the current Undergraduate Calendar. Shown as it appeared in 2024–25.

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 0 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

As with all profound and meaningful human activities, sexuality has the potential to involve harm, manipulation, and abuse. This course offers a theoretical and empirical examination of the dark side of human sexuality. Topics may include sex work, pornography, sexual violence and abuse, incest, compulsive sexual behaviour, and paraphilias.

Prerequisites

  • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
    • PSYCH236 - A Psychological Analysis of Human Sexuality (0.50)
    • SMF204 - Introduction to Human Sexuality (0.50)

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Reviewed on UW Flow

80% liked it17% easy75% useful

From 10 ratings and 5 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Not an easy course.

    Mar 2013 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • The course content felt repetitive as an SMF student but would likely be interesting for people to take as an elective. Except the prof had terrible, confusing slides which were not posted so you had to attend every class. Course consisted of 3 m/c tests. If I was not required to take the course, I would have likely dropped it.

    Jan 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Challenging midterm but not heavy readings

    Nov 2018 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • You must thoroughly read the assigned articles as they are tested in detail.

    Jul 2016 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • With Burris & Rempel. Terrible slides, you have to come to every single class and try to write down as much as they explain because there is no textbook and limited articles on the dark side of sexuality. The tests will be very difficult if you don't do the readings and don't come to class, I did both and still struggled. But I learned a lot.

    Dec 2015 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

5 posts and comments in 5 threads mention SMF 205, November 2015 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Spring 2021

Winter 2020

smf courses 4 points, 4 comments

“saw this sexuality marriage and family courses. is it easy to get high marks as electives or? thank you, plz, anyone know.”

u/anfleming: “… SMF 205 was pretty good too - midterms, a paper - no final!! It was interesting! In SMF 212 now - two midterms, one small & 2 long papers and no final! …”

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Fall 2018

SMF 240 - Sexual Pleasure 26 points, 18 comments

“Soooo... apparently sexual pleasure is an eligible elective that counts towards my degree. Does anyone know what you even do in this course?”

u/Hagglegoose: “The course probably won't be offered for a while, but SMF 204 (Introduction to Human Sexuality) is offered this Winter, and SMF 205 (Dark Side of Sexuality) is offered in the Fall”

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Spring 2018

Fall 2015

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar