2. Sexuality is an essential and integral part of all
stages of human life, yet the topic is still taboo in
almost every country. Talking openly about sexuality
is crucial for understanding sexual behavior, the
growth and development of our bodies, how we
experience our gender roles, what constitutes a
healthy relationship, how to have children when and
if we want to, how to communicate with our intimate
partners, and how to prevent health problems and
unwanted pregnancies. This chapter will allow each
one to understand and to communicate to others
their personal gender and sexuality.
3. LEARNING OBJECTIVES !
At the end of the lesson, the
students should be able to:
1. Understand Personal Sexual
Orientation
2. Identify different types of sexuality
4. Discovering Personal Sexual Orientation
Part of our being is one’s sense of own gender and we call it
as gender identity. It can correlate with a person’s assigned
sex at birth and can differ from it. Gender expression reflects
a person’s identity but may also include behavior, attitude,
and appearances consistent with a role. Gender identity was
coined by Robert J. Stoller in 1964
The term sexual orientation refers to the gender (that is, male or female) to which
a person is attracted. There are several types of sexual orientation that are
commonly described:
5. SEXUAL ORIENTATION
Describes to whom a person is sexually attracted. Some people are attracted to
people of a particular gender; others are attracted to people of more than one
gender. Some are not attracted to anyone.
1.Asexual - not sexually attracted to anyone and/or no desire to act on attraction
to anyone. Does not necessarily mean sexless. Asexual people sometimes do
experience affectional (romantic) attraction.
2.Bisexual - attracted to people of one’s own gender and people of other
gender(s). Two common misconceptions are that bisexual people are attracted
to everyone and anyone, or that they just haven’t “decided.” Often referred to as
“bi.” See also Pansexual/Fluid and Queer.
6. SEXUAL ORIENTATION
3.Gay - generally refers to a man who is attracted to men. Sometimes refers to
all people who are attracted to people of the same sex; sometimes “homosexual”
is used for this also, although this term is seen by many today as a medicalized
term that should be retired from common use.
4.Lesbian - a woman who is attracted to women. Sometimes also or alternately
“same-gender-loving woman” or “woman loving woman.” See also Gay.
5.Pansexual/Fluid - attracted to people regardless of gender. Sometimes also
or alternately “omnisexual” or “polysexual.” See also Bisexual and Queer.
7. SEXUAL ORIENTATION
6.Questioning - one who may be unsure of, reconsidering, or chooses to hold
off identifying their sexual identity or gender expression or identity.
7.Queer - traditionally a derogatory term, yet reclaimed and appropriated by
some LGBTQ individuals as a term of self-identification. It is an umbrella term
which embraces a matrix of sexual preferences, gender expressions, and habits
that are not of the heterosexual, heteronormative, or gender-binary majority. It is
not a universally accepted term by all members of the LGBT community, and it is
often considered offensive when used by heterosexuals.
8.Straight - attracted to people of the “opposite” sex (see below); also
sometimes generally used to refer to people whose sexualities are societally
normative. Alternately referred to as “heterosexual.”
8. Gender categories can serve as basis of a person’s self-identity in relation to
other members of the society. In the early days of the human society, there is
a basic division between gender attributes and assigned to male and female.
This gender binary system was adhered by many people however there are
some people who do not identify themselves within the system such as
transgender or genderqueer.
But how do people know their sexual orientation? Gender identity starts to
develop at three years old, but their sexual orientation becomes evident
during adolescence or young adulthood even without any sexual experience.
Homosexuals become aware of their thoughts and activities focus on people
of the same sex.
9. Why Are Some People Homosexual or
Bisexual?
Most scientists today agree that sexual orientation (including homosexuality
and bisexuality) is the result of a combination of environmental, emotional,
hormonal, and biological factors. In other words, there are many factors that
contribute to a person's sexual orientation, and the factors may be different for
different people.
However, homosexuality and bisexuality are not caused by the way a child
was reared by his or her parents, or by having a sexual experience with
someone of the same sex when the person was young. Also, being
homosexual or bisexual does not mean the person is mentally ill or abnormal
in some way, although there may be social problems that result from
prejudicial attitudes or misinformation.
10. How Do People Know Their Sexual
Orientation?
For many people, their sexual orientation becomes
evident to them during adolescence or young adulthood,
and in many cases without any sexual experience. For
example, homosexuals become aware that their sexual
thoughts and activities focus on people of the same sex. It
is possible, however, to have fantasies or to be curious
about people of the same sex without being homosexual
or bisexual, or choosing to act on these
impulses/attractions
11. Can a Person's Sexual Orientation Be
Changed?
Most experts agree that sexual orientation is not a choice
and, therefore, cannot be changed. Some people who are
homosexual or bisexual may hide their sexual orientation
and live as heterosexuals to avoid prejudice against
people who are homosexual and bisexual. They may live
as heterosexuals to avoid their own moral dilemmas when
their sexual orientation is incompatible with their personal
beliefs.
12. SEXUALITY is a natural and healthy part of life from birth
to death, which individuals express through a variety of
behaviors. This component includes masturbation,
kissing, touching, fantasy, and intercourse.
Sexual Health Sexual health includes having the
knowledge and attitudes and taking the actions necessary
to actively maintain the health of one’s reproductive
system and to avoid unwanted consequences of sexual
behavior. This component includes:
13. A. Contraception: The use of various methods to intentionally prevent
pregnancy; these methods include devices, agents, drugs, sexual
practices, and surgical procedures.
B. Abortion: Induced termination of pregnancy.
C. Reproductive Tract Infections, Sexually Transmitted Infections
(STIs), and HIV/AIDS: A range of infections that occur in the
reproductive tract (such as yeast infections or vaginitis), or that can be
acquired through sexual intercourse or intimate sexual contact (such as
gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, and HIV/AIDS). Many can be transmitted
in other ways as well, such as during childbirth.
14. Reproductive Health: Includes:
Genital Care and Hygiene: Caring for and keeping one’s genitals clean, healthy and
free from injury. •
Breast Self-Exam: A simple self-help technique in which women feel their breast tissue
in a prescribed manner every month to check for changes or lumps that may indicate a
problem.
Testicular Self-Exam: A simple self-help technique in which men feel their testicles in a
prescribed manner every month to check for changes or lumps that may indicate a
problem.
Prevention of HIV/STIs and Unwanted Pregnancy: Decisions and actions taken to
reduce the risk of infection with an STI or HIV and the risk of an unwanted pregnancy;
includes abstinence, seeking advice and preventive care, open and honest
communication between sexual partners, and the use of condoms and contraception.
Prenatal Care: Regular check-ups with a trained health care provider during pregnancy
to monitor the health of the woman and the fetus and to help to identify any problems
early.
15. THE FIVE ASPECTS OF SEXUALITY have Five aspects namely sensuality,
intimacy, sexual identity, sexual health and sexuality to control others
1. Sensuality This describes how our bodies derive pleasure by utilizing different body senses such
as touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Sensuality includes one’s body image whether one feel
attractive and proud of one’s body. Fantasy also is a part of sensuality when the brain gives the
capacity to fantasize about sexual behaviors and experiences without having to act upon them.
2. Intimacy/relationships Intimacy and relationships refer to our ability to love, trust, and care for
others. We learn about intimacy from relationships around us, particularly from those within our
families. Emotional risk taking is part of intimacy. In order to experience true intimacy with others, a
person must open up and share feelings and personal information. We take a risk of having our
feelings hurt when we do this, but true intimacy is not possible otherwise.
3.
16. 3. Sexual identity Each person has his or her own personal sexual identity. It includes four
elements: • Biological sex: based on our physical status of being either male or female. •
Gender identity: based on how we feel about being male or female. • Gender roles:
society’s expectations based on our biological sex. • Sexual orientation: the biological sex
that we are romantically attracted to.
4. Sexual health Sexual health involves our behavior related to producing children,
enjoying sexual activities and maintaining our sexual and reproductive organs. Issues such
as sexual intercourse, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are all part of
our sexual health.
5. Sexuality to control others It involves the use of sex to violate someone’s rights or get
something from another person. Rape is a clear example of sex being used to control
somebody else. Sexual abuse and forced prostitution are others
