UTS Module 5

• Sexual self


  Various aspects of our identity, including our sexual identity, which is essential in shaping our understanding of who we are
• Understanding the 'self' is incomplete without acknowledging the role of one's sexuality
• The sexual identity is not a static concept; it can evolve over time due to our experiences, whether they are internal or external
• The choices we make about expressing our sexuality play a significant role in shaping our identities and how we navigate the challenges that life throws our way
• Homosexual


  Individuals who are primarily romantically and sexually attracted to people of the same gender
• Bisexual


  Individuals that are attracted to both the same and opposite genders
• Heterosexual


  Often referred to as straight, describes individuals who are romantically and sexually attracted to people of the opposite gender
• Asexual


  Individuals experience little to no sexual attraction to others. It is a spectrum, and people who identify as it may still experience romantic attraction, form deep emotional connections, and engage in romantic relationships without a strong desire for sexual activity
• Puberty


  1. Signals sent by the brain to the gonads or sex glands, leading to the release of sex hormones such as testosterone in males and progesterone and estrogen in females

  2. Marks the onset of sexual maturation and the transition from childhood to adolescence

  3. Involves a series of physical, hormonal, and psychological changes that prepare an individual for sexual reproduction and adulthood
• Physiological changes during puberty

  • Extreme difficulty and discomfort due to surge of hormones
  • Sense of insecurity as development does not happen as expected
  • Self-consciousness caused by the changing body composition resulting from 'growth spurt'
  • Changes in digestion and appetite as a result of hormonal changes
  • Changes in body built due to development of muscle mass
  • Development of primary sexual characteristics
  • Development of secondary sexual characteristics
• Gender identity


  One's decision to be masculine, feminine or both
• Sex


  Biological characteristic based on chromosomes (XX for female, XY for male)
• Gender


  Sociological concept pertaining to the femininity or the masculinity of the individual as it connotes certain social roles and cultural expectations determined by social norms
• Promiscuity


  Having numerous/multiple partners often without commitment or emotional attachment
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

  • STDs caused by viruses
  • STDs caused by bacteria
  • STDs caused by fungi
  • STDs caused by protozoan
  • STDs caused by parasites
• How to prevent STDs

  • Keep a Monogamous Relationship
  • Practice Abstinence
  • Be Committed
  • Use Caution (use condoms)
  • Undergo Regular Medical Checkups
  • Be Knowledgeable about the Causes, Effects and Prevention of STDs
• Agender


  A term for people whose gender identity and expression does not align with man, woman, or any other gender
• Androgynous


  Identifying and/or presenting as neither distinguishably masculine nor feminine
• Bigender


  Someone whose gender identity encompasses both man and woman
• Cisgender


  A term used to describe someone whose gender identity aligns with the sex assigned to them at birth
• Gender fluid


  A person who does not identify with a single fixed gender, and expresses a fluid or unfixed gender identity
• Genderqueer


  A term for people who reject notions of static categories of gender and embrace a fluidity of gender identity and sexual orientation
• Transgender


  An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from cultural and social expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth
• Transsexual


  A generational term for people whose gender identity is different from their assigned sex at birth and seek to transition from male to female or female to male
• Two-spirit


  A term that refers to historical and current First Nations' people whose individual spirits was a blend of male and female