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Sexuality and
Social Constructed

Asso. Prof. Dr. khemika Yamarat

CPHS, Chulalongkorn University

December, 24 2020

5300543: Sexual Behavior and Social cultural issues in human

sexuality and reproductive health
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Stereotype
Woman man
• Woman is at home
• Take care children • Xx
• Cry easily • Not cry
• Play doll • Play gun
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Social constructed
• Socialization
• Norm
• Cultural
• Taboo
• Stigma
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Why: sexuality?

Sexuality is a central aspect of being human throughout life and

encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism,
pleasure, intimacy and reproduction.

Sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires,

beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviours, practices, roles and relationships.

While sexuality can include all of these dimensions, not all of them are
always experienced or expressed.

Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of biological, psychological,

social, economic, political, cultural, ethical, legal, historical and religious
and spiritual factors.

(WHO draft working definition of sexuality, 2002)

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Understanding sexuality involves more than

just memorizing the definition. It implies
identifying a wide range of issues,
emotions, experiences and topics
included under sexuality.

An understanding of gender requires

appreciating its variability, its construction
by society, and that sex, sexuality and
gender are not interchangeable
concepts.
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UNDERSTANDING SEXUALITY

Sexuality is more than acts of sex. It can mean a

range of experiences that vary from person to person
– for example ;
to some it might mean sexual orientation,
for others the freedom to express themselves and
make choices regarding their body.
These varied experiences and issues related to
sexuality can impact people’s lives in significant ways.
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SEX AND GENDER

Sexual and reproductive health decisions cannot be
isolated from issues of sexuality. This makes it even
more important to understand and address sexuality.

Addressing sexuality helps reduce fear, myths and

misconceptions surrounding the issue. It also enhances
people’s well-being by helping them lead safer and
pleasurable sexual lives.
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SEX AND GENDER

· Gender is socially constructed, which means that it is determined by our
social, cultural and psychological surroundings and environment. It is not
innate in the same way that our biology (sex) is believed to be. Like gender,
sexuality is also socially constructed. A person’s expressions and experiences
of sexuality are influenced and determined by the social environment.

· Sex was considered to be constant and unchangeable until recently. Now

it can be changed through medical intervention (sex reassignment surgery).

· Gender is variable and can change from time to time, culture to culture,
and sub-culture to sub-culture.
· The way girls and boys are socialized to be ‘feminine’ or ‘masculine’ is
called gendering.
· Different cultures may value girls and boys differently and assign them
different gendered roles, responsibilities and attributes.
· Sexual and reproductive health decisions can be influenced by a person’s
gender. For example, in a marital relationship, it may be the man who has
the power to decide whether to have children or not, when, and how many.
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• Human sexuality encompasses the sexual knowledge,

beliefs, attitudes, values and behaviours of
individuals.

• Its various dimensions include the anatomy,

physiology and biochemistry of the sexual response
system; identity, orientation, roles and personality; and
thoughts, feelings, and relationships.

•The expressions of sexuality are influenced by ethical,

spiritual, cultural, and moral concerns.

.
(SIECUS Report, Volume 24 #3, 1996)
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Sexual identity

A concept that refers to how people view

themselves sexually in terms of whom they
are attracted to. This refers specifically to
whether an individual is attracted to
people of the same gender, a different
gender, more than one gender and which
category of these identities they want to
adopt for themselves.
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What is social constructed?

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social construct
• It is something that is not natural, but created
by society. It is an extremely important
concept in the social sciences because
without them, society would not be the same.
• The constructs very much shape our lives. But
we also shape them.
• If the existing society changed, new constructs
would develop and old ones may weaken.
• Different societies have different constructs;
what is the "norm" here may clash with what is
the "norm" in another country.
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• - What do you think gender and sexuality are social

constructed?
- What do you think why it is happen in our society?
- How gender is socially and culturally constructed in
different countries.
• - Explain the influence of socialization on gender
roles in your country
• In what way do parents treat sons and daughters
differently? How do sons and daughters typically
respond to this treatment?
• What can be done to lessen the effects of gender
stratification in the workplace?
• How does gender stratification harm both men and
women?
• Define sexual inequality in your societies.
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• How do the institution and/or system create

and maintain gender stereotypes? Give
examples of stereotypical behaviors,
practices, and policies in the institution.
• Have you observed any changes in the
institution or system that reflect progress
towards a gender-equitable society?

• How this issues of sex, gender and sexuality

related the public health?
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Which one is not social constructed?

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What causes health inequalities?
What are the Determinants of Health
and disease?

• Determinants of Health and disease ?

▫ Physical environment
▫ Social and Economic factors
▫ Personal Practices/behavior
▫ Demographic factors
▫ Cultural factors

• Social and Cultural Determinants of Health :

are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live,
work and age. These circumstances are shaped by the
distribution of money, power and resources at global,
national and local levels. The social determinants of
health are mostly responsible for health inequities - the
unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen
within and between countries.
http://www.who.int/social_determinants/en/
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Form of social inequality

• Gender inequality
• Racial inequality
• Class inequality
• Age inequality
• Health inequality
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Home work
• Search and review literature and choose
one interesting scientific paper connecting
any aspect of sexuality, gender and social
construction concept and public health
sciences.
• Assignments: with in one page;
- Summarize the paper.
- Explain what concept related to sexuality,
gender and social construct.