Joanne Marrow

Joanne Marrow (January 22, 1945 – June 24, 2014) was an American clinical psychologist, author, feminist, and advocate of LGBT rights. She was a tenured professor of psychology at California State University, Sacramento (CSUS), where she taught the psychology of women and human sexuality for 30 years. Marrow was a tenured professor of the psychology department at California State University, Sacramento (CSUS), where she taught classes on the psychology of women and human sexuality for three decades. She concurrently ran a private practice as a clinical psychologist. In 1997, she published the book Changing Positions: Women Speak Out on Sex and Desire.

December 1994 guest lecture

In December 1994, Marrow delivered a guest lecture on human sexuality to an undergraduate psychology class at CSUS, in which she discussed female masturbation, sex toys, and her own sexual experiences; made jokes about male genitalia and penis size; presented slides featuring images of female children's genitalia; and showed images of a vulva before and after childbirth. He also stated that the presentation affected him to the point that he sought counseling from his pastor.

The course's regular professor, William Westbrook, reportedly prepared students weeks in advance for the lecture, and Marrow herself informed them that she uses "very blunt and direct language" and for students to leave the classroom if they felt they would be uncomfortable. Rogers initially left, but returned after learning that some of the material would appear on their final exam.

Personal life Marrow was a lesbian, and married her wife Itara O'Connell on September 30, 2008. In 1995, Marrow stated that she was no longer a practicing Catholic, adding "My spirituality has evolved and transformed into something much more universal." She had an interest in Tibetan Buddhism, and was a devotee of the Hindu spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi. Marrow's hobbies included watercolor painting, gardening, backpacking, kayaking, science, and reading.

Death Marrow died on June 24, 2014, in Grass Valley, California, after living with metastatic renal cell carcinoma for 12 years.