Scholars on sexology and sociology from the Renmin University of China and other institutions today unveiled the "top 10 sex-related news pieces in 2003" selected out by public votes.

The news pieces are about the ruling of the nation's first sexual harassment lawsuit in Wuhan; Beijing's first harassment case; a dispute between a local police station in Shaanxi and a couple who watched obscene movies at home; the Zhuhai massive sex scandal by Japanese tourists and Japanese students' obscene performances in Xi'an; the first sexual culture exhibition in Beijing; the nation's new regulation on marriage registration; Sichuan Province's regulation that male leaders cannot be assigned female secretaries; the entry of first sex textbook into middle-school; a lawsuit in Chongqing between a college and parents of a pair of student lovers who were dismissed from school upon the girl's pregnancy; the state's consideration of a scaler system in film censorship; and Shenyang policemen's smashing up of a "club for exchanging lovers".

The news pieces are assessed not according to their sensations caused but their social and cultural values, said organizers. The aim is to direct the public's attention to the social and cultural meanings behind these news stories, enhancing sex awareness of the masses and advancing studies on sex-related questions.

Experts of the appraisal panel are from the branches of sociology, social gender studies, law, medicine, psychology, V. D. and AIDS prevention, ethics and literature, 11 of them being females. They hope to reach a fair and complete appraisal result from various perspectives.

The event will be held annually from now on, organizers said.
 
(Xinhua News Agency November 14, 2003)