Kinsey 2004

A professor specializing in zoology, particularly in insect biology, Alfred Kinsey struggles to understand his own nature despite his expertise with bugs. After marrying Clara McMillen, he soon realizes that human sexuality encompasses much more than merely observing insects in their mating rituals. His routine is disrupted when newlywed students pose a challenging question regarding human sexual behavior that leaves him perplexed.

Determined to uphold his scientific integrity, Kinsey begins an ambitious study into sexual behaviors, launching his inquiry with a questionnaire for his students. Clara wisely points out that students may not answer honestly on paper, preferring face-to-face interviews instead. Encouraged by her insight, Kinsey expands his research to encompass a broad spectrum of individuals across America, assembling a dedicated team of researchers at Indiana University, all funded by the Rockefeller Foundation.

During this period, the oppressive atmosphere of McCarthyism looms large, casting doubt and fear over Kinsey’s groundbreaking work, challenging the support he receives from both the University and the Foundation. However, undeterred, Kinsey publishes his revolutionary findings: the book on male sexuality in 1948 and subsequently on female sexuality in 1953. These works serve as pivotal contributions to a cultural shift in sexual attitudes, laying the groundwork for the sexual revolution of the 1960s. Throughout this exploration, Kinsey and his research team uncover a vast array of ‘acceptable’ sexual practices and grapple with their own evolving sexual identities, often with surprising and sometimes unsettling consequences.