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CORVALLIS, Ore. - An author and historian who studies 20th-century sexuality will give a talk, "The Making of Modern Impotence," on Thursday, April 6, at Oregon State University as part of the 2005-06 Horning Lecture Series.

The free public lecture begins at 4 p.m. in Memorial Union Room 206.

In his lecture, Angus McLaren, a professor of history at the University of Victoria, will discuss new sexual norms and expectations that began surfacing in marital guides in the early 20th century, focusing on how husbands should provide pleasure for their wives - a rather new concept to many.

Though liberating to some couples, it raised concern among some men that a failure to meet these expectations could have serious consequences. And concerns about male potency are still alive today.

McLaren has been on the faculty at the University of Victoria since 1975. He is the author of 10 books that encompass such fields as the history of birth control, abortion, eugenics, sex crimes, and gender and law.

His text, "History of Contraception: From Antiquity to the Present Day," is widely use and has been translated into five languages.

The Horning Lecture Series focuses on "Marriage, Reproduction and Sexuality."