Sexuality

SEXUALITY

SEX – term most commonly used to identify biologic male or female status.  GENDER – more appropriate descriptive term 

SEXUALITY is the degree to which a person exhibits and experiences maleness or femaleness physically, emotionally, & mentally.  Is defined not only by a person’s genitalia but also by attitudes & feelings. 

SEXUAL HEALTH 

The integration of the somatic, emotional, intellectual & social aspects of sexual being, in ways that are positively enriching & that enhance personally, communication & love.

SEX EDUCATION Is the introduction of sexual topics within an educational context.

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SEXOLOGY Is the systematic study of human sexuality

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SEXUAL IDENTITY 

Encompasses a person’s self –identity, biologic sex, gender identity, gender role behavior or orientation & sexual orientation or preference.

BIOLOGIC SEX 

Is the term used to denote chromosomal sexual dev’t: male (XY) or female (XX), external & internal genitalia, secondary sex characteristics & hormonal states.

GENDER IDENTITY Is the inner sense a person has of being male or female, which may be the same as or different from his or her biologic gender.

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TRANSGENDER Is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity or gender expression differs from their anatomical sex.

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CROSS DRESSERS People who routinely wear clothes associated with the other sex.

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INTERSEXED People whose sexual organs are ambiguous at birth.

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DEVELOPMEN T OF GENDER IDENTITY

Infant From the day of birth, 

female and male babies are treated differently by their parents.

Toddler and Preschooler Children can distinguish between men and women as early as age 2 years.  By age 3 or 4 years, they know for certain what sex they are, and they have absorbed cultural expectations of that sex role. 

Oedipus complex The strong emotional attachment of a preschool boy for his mother or a preschool girl for her father.

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"Electra complex" for the phenomenon in girls, referring to the Greek myth of Electra.

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Masturbation

Is self-stimulation for erotic pleasure; it can also be mutually enjoyable activity for sexual partners.

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School-age Child In school, the difference between boys and girls grows wider.

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Adolescent 

At puberty, as the adolescent begins the process of establishing a sense of identity, the problem of final gender role identification surfaces again.

Erotic Stimulation

Is the use of visual materials such as magazines or photographs for sexual arousal.

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Young Adult 

When young adults move away from home to attend college or establish their own home, they choose the way they will express their sexuality along with other life patterns.

SUMMARY

Human Sexuality refers to the expression of the sexual sensation and related intimacy between human being.

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Psychologically, sexuality is the means to express the fullness of love between a man and a woman.

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Sexuality involves the body, mind, and spirit, therefore it regards sexuality holistically and does not separate out the physiological mechanics of the reproductive system.  Sex is intrinsically a moral act with the context of marriage. 

There are a great many forms of human sexuality, comprising a broad range of behaviors, and sexual expressions varies across cultures and historical periods.

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Yet the basic principles of human sexuality are universal and integral to what it means to be human. Sex is related to the very purpose of human existence: love, procreation and family.

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Sexuality has a social ramifications, therefore most societies set limits through social norms and taboos, moral and religious guidelines and legal constraints on what is permissible sexual behavior.

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Sex within marriage fulfills several important roles: Sex strengthens the bond between husband and wife in all aspects of their lives; Sex expresses love and affection and fosters emotional intimacy; Sex reinforces the exclusivity of the relationship; Sex symbolizes mutual submission and dedication to the higher purpose of the marriage; Sex helps heal conflicts and mend rifts; Sex reduces anxiety and releases tension; Sex leads to children who are wanted and treasured by both parents. Marriage promotes sexual fidelity, and thus reinforces the security and binding power of the couple's sexuality. Studies have found that approximately 85 to 90 percent of married women and around 75 to 80 percent of married men in the United States are sexually monogamous throughout their marriages. [6]

Sex helps heal conflicts and mend rifts; Sex reduces anxiety and releases tension; Sex leads to children who are wanted and treasured by both parents. Marriage promotes sexual fidelity, and thus reinforces the security and binding power of the couple's sexuality. Studies have found that approximately 85 to 90 percent of married women and around 75 to 80 percent of married men in the United States are sexually monogamous throughout their marriages.[6]