Sexuality Happens

Has anyone else noticed how many Jews are in the fields of sexology and sexuality? Like ridiculous numbers. I just finished reading a book by Judith Levine (Harmful to Minors), and she’s not the only Jew’s book who I’ve read in the past few month.

When I went to my program’s orientation, everyone kept asking me if I was the “big Jewish dyke” – after my inital confusion, it was revealed that someone’s email address on all the group emails was bigjewishdyke@….com. Well, we still haven’t figured out whose address that is, but I know at least 3 self identified queer Jewish women in the program whose address it is NOT (myself included), so that means there are at least 4.

I have a friend who works for a sex toy company. Also Jewish. Also queer.

Some I don’t know for sure, as they don’t promote their cultural or religious background, but seriously, there is a disproportionate number of Sarah’s, David’s and Rachel’s out there (not to mention a bunch of other Katz’s).

Joanna Angel is Jewish too for that matter.

So what draws Jews (myself included, for I am an Agnostic Jewish Humanist) to the field of sexology and sexuality? Are we just that much hornier than the rest of the population? Better in bed? Super kinky (much like the curls that adorn many of our heads)? Maybe we’re more open minded and liberal? Or have had a few too many glasses of wine? (I wonder how many more stereotypes I can throw in here) It just seems strange to me that these fields seem to hold a larger proportion of Jews than there are in the general population…similar to the sterotype of doctors and lawyers.

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? Answers?

-Essin’ Em