M1

• Human Sexuality


  Refers to people’s sexual interest and attraction to others, shaping through emotional and sexual attraction to particular genders or sexes
• Sexuality can be experienced and expressed in many different ways like desires, fantasies, values, behaviours, beliefs, roles, attitudes and relationships
• Sexuality is a natural and healthy part of life of being a male or a female
• Sexuality is an important aspect in masculine and feminine identification
• Your family, peers, community and the society you live with helps shape your personality
• A positive sexual understanding of yourself


  Improves and increases self-worth
• Sex refers to physiological differences found among male, female and various intersex bodies on the basis of their reproductive organs and functions
• Characteristics of Sex


  • Primary Sex Characteristics
  • Secondary Sex Characteristics
• Primary Sex Characteristics


  Those related to the reproductive system
• Secondary Sex Characteristics


  Those that are not directly related to the reproductive system, such as breasts and facial hair
• Gender


  Social or cultural distinctions associated with being male, female, or intersex
• Gender is generally regarded as a social construct where the concept is created by cultural and societal norms
• Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of biological, psychological, social, economic, political, cultural, legal, historical, religious and spiritual factors
• Dimensions of Human Sexuality

  • Biological
  • Psychological
  • Socio-cultural
• Biological Dimension


  Involves our physical appearance, responses to sexual stimulation, ability to reproduce or control fertility, and growth and development
• Psychological Dimension


  Involves our sense of being and a learned aspect of sexuality, including attitudes and feelings towards ourselves and others
• Socio-cultural Dimension


  The sum of the cultural and social influences that affect our thoughts and actions
• Sexual development is a continuous developmental process throughout life
• Sexuality is an integral part of what we do and who we are
• Sexuality helps a person define and determine who he/she is
• Sexuality can affect future choices and life decisions
• It is vital to have a positive outlook of yourself
• Understanding and accepting yourself helps you know what you must do to stay healthy
• Social influences on sexuality include religion, multiculturalism, socioeconomic status, ethics, the media and politics
• Religious and spiritual beliefs influence feelings about morality, sexual behavior, premarital sexual behavior, adultery, divorce, contraception, and abortion
• Multiculturalism affects views of sexuality
• A person’s ethnic background is usually determined by birth and is related to country of origin, native language, race and religion
• In the book Exploring The Dimensions of Human Sexuality, according to Greenberg, Bruess and Oswalt (2017) these are the factors:
• Factors that Affect One’s Attitudes and Practices Related to Sexuality and Sexual Behaviors

  • Religion
  • Multiculturalism
  • Socioeconomic Status
  • Ethics
  • Media
  • Politics
• Religion


  Religious and spiritual beliefs influence feelings about morality, sexual behavior, premarital sexual behavior, adultery, divorce, contraception, and abortion
• A study conducted at a southeastern university showed that both males and females who reported less frequent worship attendance and weaker religious feelings were more likely to participate in sexual behaviors than those with more frequent worship attendance and stronger religious feelings
• Multiculturalism


  Cultures in different countries differ in their views of sexuality
• In some western countries abortion and same sex marriage is legal but it is considered illegal in our country
• Socioeconomic Status


  Socioeconomic status and education influence sexual attitudes and behaviors
• Low-income individuals often think and act differently than middle-class individuals, being more likely to engage in sexual activities at an earlier age and having children outside of marriage
• The poor have less access to proper health care, birth control, and care during pregnancy, day care for children, and positive sexual role models
• Ethics


  The ethics of sexuality involves questioning the way we treat ourselves and other people
• Examples of sexually oriented ethical dilemmas


  • Should I or should I not participate in a certain sexual behavior?
  • Is it ethical not to disclose my full sexual history to a person I’m going to marry?
  • Is it ethical to engage in sexual behaviors with a person who is married?
  • Is it ethical to use position of power to obtain sexual partners?
  • Is it ethical to engage in same sex relationships and activities?
• Media


  Media help shape public attitudes on many topics on sexuality, gender roles, and sexual behaviors
• The depictions of sexuality we encounter in the media are mainly to entertain and sell products