Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex

In what ways does Bonk reveal the tension between scientific objectivity and human intimacy? Discuss how Roach balances emotional, ethical, and physiological perspectives in her portrayal of sex research.

Consider the historical progression of sex research described in Bonk. How do figures like Masters and Johnson, Kinsey, and Shafik reflect changing cultural attitudes toward sexuality and gender?

How does Roach position curiosity (both scientific and personal) as a force that challenges repression, stigma, or cultural silence about sex? Include textual evidence.

Analyze Roach’s use of narrative voice and self-insertion throughout Bonk. How does her presence as a curious, sometimes self-deprecating narrator affect the book’s credibility and relatability?

How does Bonk interrogate the boundaries between science and voyeurism? Consider Roach’s depictions of laboratory observation, human subject research, and the ethical lines that separate study from spectacle.

Examine how cultural context influences scientific inquiry in Bonk. What do the settings (from Cairo to American research labs) reveal about global attitudes toward sexuality, gender, and modesty? Cite textual evidence.

Compare Roach’s treatment of male and female sexual physiology. How does she highlight gender bias in research design, interpretation, or language? In what ways does Bonk contribute to a more balanced understanding of sexual science?

Discuss how Roach transforms the traditional clinical language of anatomy and physiology into a literary form. What rhetorical and stylistic strategies does she use to humanize or demystify scientific discourse? Include textual evidence.