Few subjects can make an audience as uncomfortable as sex. Religious beliefs, age, experience, and even politics inform not only people’s views about sex but also the degree to which they are willing to discuss sexual matters publicly. In many cases, for example, it is unthinkable for Muslims to discuss sexual practices, especially with strangers or in public (El Ahl & Steinvorth, 2006). And in many villages in South Africa, sex is a taboo many women do not—or are told they should not—discuss (le Roux, 2006). And even in cultures without such restrictions, talking about sex is often considered impolite and can make listeners feel embarrassed or uneasy. In diverse populations like the United States, speakers—including health care providers, educators, social workers, and policymakers—must be responsive to the sensitive nature of sexual openness when they speak to audiences.
Some people are already learning how. One of these individuals is Heba Kotb (Raman, 2007), whose weekly television program offers information on sex to women throughout the Middle East. Kotb, who has a doctorate in human sexuality, clinical sexology, and pastoral counseling and is a devout Muslim, remains respectful of her audience’s—and her own—religious beliefs by framing her discussion in a religious context, accompanying scientific information about the body with explanations of how Islamic texts address the subject at hand. Indeed, both medical experts and Islamic clerics participate in her show. She also pays careful attention to nonverbal communication: she wears the traditional Muslim headscarf and speaks in a serious tone and uses serious facial expressions. Kotb’s sensitive approach, taking cultural taboos, norms, and beliefs into account, seems to allow her to talk more freely about this once forbidden topic.