Martin Cole (sexologist)
Encyclopedia
Martin John Cole is a British sexologist, sex education pioneer and campaigner for abortion law reform, dubbed "Sex King Cole" by the press for his sex education films and books.
on 1931. He went to Southampton University for a BSc in Botany
and a PhD in Plant Genetics
. After a period in Africa, in 1964 he took up the post of lecturer in Genetics at the College of Advanced Technology which became Aston University
. In 1984 he left the university, to work full-time at the Institute for Sex Education and Research which he had set up. He has been married four times and has five children.
Group of the Abortion Law Reform Association
and involved in the setting up of clinics for advice on sexual matters, contraception and abortion. Following the Abortion Act 1967
he was a founder of the Birmingham Pregnancy Advisory Service (which later became the British Pregnancy Advisory Service
) which assisted women to get legal abortions, initially using the front room of his home for consultations in 1968. He also set up an Institute of Sex Education and Research in 1966 which included the use of female therapists acting as surrogate partners to treat men with erectile dysfunction. In 1972 the Conservative MP for Edgbaston Jill Knight accused him of running a brothel.
In 1971 he produced what was then said to be "the most explicit and frank film ever made for use in schools", a thirty minute sex education film called "Growing Up
". This attracted condemnation by Mary Whitehouse
, Lord Longford and Margaret Thatcher
. The same year he produced a book "Fundamentals of Sex" which caused particular comment because it contained explicit photographs of the subject matter.
By 1993 though, the Institute of Sex Education and Research had only two therapists still working there from a peak of ten; Cole's approach to resolving sexually problems had been affected by the onset of AIDS
.
Life
Cole was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 1931. He went to Southampton University for a BSc in Botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and a PhD in Plant Genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
. After a period in Africa, in 1964 he took up the post of lecturer in Genetics at the College of Advanced Technology which became Aston University
Aston University
Aston University is a "plate glass" campus university situated at Gosta Green, in the city centre of Birmingham, England.Established in 1895 as the Birmingham Municipal Technical School, Aston was granted its Royal Charter as Aston University on 22 April 1966...
. In 1984 he left the university, to work full-time at the Institute for Sex Education and Research which he had set up. He has been married four times and has five children.
Work
Apart from his academic work in genetics, he was Chairman of the BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
Group of the Abortion Law Reform Association
Abortion Law Reform Association
The Abortion Law Reform Association is a former advocacy organisation which promoted access to abortion in the United Kingdom. It campaigned effectively after World War II for the elimination of legal obstacles to abortion and the peak of its work was the Abortion Act 1967.In Autumn, 2003, ALRA...
and involved in the setting up of clinics for advice on sexual matters, contraception and abortion. Following the Abortion Act 1967
Abortion Act 1967
The Abortion Act 1967 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom legalising abortions by registered practitioners, and regulating the free provision of such medical practices through the National Health Service ....
he was a founder of the Birmingham Pregnancy Advisory Service (which later became the British Pregnancy Advisory Service
British Pregnancy Advisory Service
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service is a British charity whose stated purpose is to "[support] reproductive choice by advocating and providing high quality, affordable services to prevent or end unwanted pregnancies with contraception or by abortion."...
) which assisted women to get legal abortions, initially using the front room of his home for consultations in 1968. He also set up an Institute of Sex Education and Research in 1966 which included the use of female therapists acting as surrogate partners to treat men with erectile dysfunction. In 1972 the Conservative MP for Edgbaston Jill Knight accused him of running a brothel.
In 1971 he produced what was then said to be "the most explicit and frank film ever made for use in schools", a thirty minute sex education film called "Growing Up
Growing Up (1971 film)
Growing Up is a sex education film for schools, 23 minutes in length, first shown in April in 1971, which was made by Dr Martin Cole. It is now available as part of The Joy of Sex Education DVD and was described by one critic as "the most famous and controversial inclusion", and by Peter Bradshaw...
". This attracted condemnation by Mary Whitehouse
Mary Whitehouse
Mary Whitehouse, CBE was a British campaigner against the permissive society particularly as the media portrayed and reflected it...
, Lord Longford and Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
. The same year he produced a book "Fundamentals of Sex" which caused particular comment because it contained explicit photographs of the subject matter.
By 1993 though, the Institute of Sex Education and Research had only two therapists still working there from a peak of ten; Cole's approach to resolving sexually problems had been affected by the onset of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
.