Student perceptions of connotations of reproductive physiology terms found in college human sexuality textbooks

The purpose of this study was to compare the difference in student perceptions of connotations of reproductive physiology in human sexuality textbooks. The intention of this study was to identify and document any gender bias that may exist in the wording of textbooks published between 2000 and 2002 that address reproductive function. Four processes necessary for reproduction were examined. 110 subjects (45 males, 65 females) rated terms on a Likert-type questionnaire. Independent t-tests were used to test differences between gender for positive versus negative connotations. The overall mean of the Male Terms was rated significantly more positive (p<.05) than the overall mean of the Female Terms by both male and female subjects. Further study in this area is necessary to determine if negative language has an impact on an individual’s self-image and body perception.