Introduction to Sexuality Flashcards
Sex
genetic and physical characteristics that differentiate male & female
Gender
psychosocial characteristics that differentiate masculinity and femininity
Sexuality
the physical, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual aspects of an individual that make up his or her unique sexual being
Beliefs and Values of Sexuality
communication (verbal/nonverbal), personality (personal choice), body image, self image, physical expression, socialization (relationships), gender (roles & orientation)
sexuality is mostly a…
learned phenomena & has physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects
Foreplay
Mutual sexual stimulation that may or may not lead to sex
Dailey (1984) described 5 aspects of sexuality
- Sensuality
- Intimacy
- Sexual Identity
- Reproduction
- Sexualization
Sensuality
the need & ability to be aware of and acceptation of our own body
Intimacy
the need & ability to experience emotional closeness to another human being
Sexual Intimacy
ability to give feedback & be heard in sexual relationships
Sexual Identity
the continual process of discovering who we are in terms of our sexuality
Reproduction
our values, attitudes & behaviours related to reproduction
Sexualization
use of our sexuality to influence, control, manipulate others
Values
the qualities in life that are deemed important or unimportant, right or wrong, desirable or undesirable
Moral Values
related to our conduct with and treatment of other people, more than just right or wrong. It looks at the whole picture
Sexual Moral Values
related to the rightness and wrongness of sexual conduct & when and how sexuality should be expressed
Sources of Sexual Values
our sexual values are learned in different ways, at different rates, and with different results
- we acquire our sexual values from our social environment (parents, friends, media, etc)
What are the perspectives of human sexuality?
- historical
- biological
- cross-species
- cross-cultural
- psychological
- sociocultural
Perspectives on Human Sexuality: Historical
moral and ethical behaviours tied to the supernatural and religion..
Prehistoric — stone age
evidence that female body was revered from reproductive ability
Agrarian Society
aware of male role in reproduction
phallic worship
Worship of the penis as a symbol of generative power
Incest taboo
The prohibition against intercourse and reproduction among close blood relatives
Ancient Hebrews
positive about marital reproductive sex
- disapproved homosexuality
Ancient Hebrews: permitted but practices
permitted polygamy, the vast majority of the Hebrews practised monogamy
Ancient Greeks
500-300BC —> valued family life
Ancient Greeks: Male Roles
male sexual roles varied, e.g.. pederasty —> admired male bodies and slim, sensual women
pederasty
sexual love of boys
Ancient Greeks: what flourished?
prostitution flourished and ranged from refined courtesans to concubines
courtesan
a prostitute— especially the mistress of a noble or wealthy man
concubines
secondary wife, usually of interior legal and social status
Ancient Greeks: viewed men and women as…
bisexual
Ancient Romans
- sexual excesses in upper classes
- male-male threat to family which was strength of society
- women more involved socially but still property of husbands
- being bisexual was common
Early Christians
- St. Paul (1st Century)
- Augustine (4th Century)
- sex distraction from God
- marital sex accepted, but not passion (no homosexuality)
- behaviours non-procreative disapproved
Eastern Religions: Islam
- valued family and pleasure in marital sex
- punished pre-marital sex
- double social and sexual standards for men and women
Eastern Religions: China
- sexuality linked to spirituality
- first manual art of lovemaking
- wasteful to “spill seed”
- women kept to domestic role
Eastern Religions: India
- ancient Hindus erotica
- Kama Sutra code of sexual conduct (3rd-5th Century)
- sex religious duty
- more restrictive after 1000AD
Middle Ages (Christianity)
- Western history 1st-15th Century R.C church strong influence
- Crusaders influenced change from women as sinful (Eve) to revered (Virgin Mary)
- upper classes courtly love, chivalry and romance
Protestant Reformation: 16th Century
- Luther and Calvin spilt from R.C church
- priest could marry
- pleasurable martial sex
- non-marital sex disapproved
- women mostly restricted to home until 19th Century
Victorian Period
- sexually repressive on the surface
- furniture legs covered
- but behaviours varied
- prostitution flourished but “proper” women believed not interested - “sexual anaesthesia”
- mens’ “vital fluids” limited in amount
- graham crackers
Early 20th Century
- until 1950s believed women did not desire sex
- double standard
- sexual scenes in media limited
Sexual Revolution
- mid 60s & mid 70s
- science, politics, social (fashion, music, media) and economics all part of change
- the sexual revolution resulted from many economic, social, and political factors
Late 20th Century
REVERSE PENDULUM SWING to more conservative attitudes
- open discussion about sexuality, more sexually active teens, AIDS, access to birth control, liberation of women, sex ed… where to from here?
Perspectives on Human Sexuality: Biological
Anatomical structures and physiological function of the sexual and reproductive organs — reproductive technology